Sport: English Football in Brussels

Tonight the wife had a company dinner, so I took the opportunity to walk my way back down to the Ponds of Ixelles to an Irish Pub whose name escapes me at the moment because it has a very non-irish name. Something like "de valera Irish Pub" or something difficult like that.

Also, as bad luck would have it in the information age, no searches on google maps for a business by the name of "? irish pub" or anything like it on the exact street on which I know the place exists yields a result. Frustrating.

So, if you are looking for a place to watch Premier League football in the Ixelles area, search Cafe Belga, and then go across the street.


Note: I later found the website for the pub...see Hints below.

Anyway, it was a great atmosphere. They have a large outdoor deck with good seating and gas heaters (nice). Good service, plenty of beer, and an abundance of English football fans.

On the deck at least, for this Champions semi-final, the Liverpool fans greatly outnumbered the Chelsea fans (mostly silent). The cries of "Come on, Red Men" got progressively louder as the drafts flowed. Being neither (per-se), I enjoyed the game and the company immensely.

I will say this - I sat at a table with some Dutch fellows. I don't quite have a grasp on the culture just yet. They could speak English, and knew I spoke no Dutch, yet they chose to speak only Dutch the entire evening. Hence, I was left out of all the conversation, and they didn't seem to mind. No problem, I suppose - I don't speak Dutch - it's not their problem, and why should they speak anything else? Well...because it's friendly I guess. However I don't want to characterize a nation based on such limited experience, so if you have any anecdotes or insights into the Dutch culture, do please share them. I suppose it could only improve my relations, either with a new understanding or lowered expectations -whichever is more appropriate.

Now, as for the game - for a Champions semi-final, I found the level of play altogether quite low. Even after the players should have been settled into the game (2nd half) the number of bad passes, poor tackling, wild headers and such was quite absurd. The score was eventually tied to 1-1 by an own goal, so that should give you some idea. I am perhaps a Brazilian football snob, but the play was uninspiring, despite the presence of some quality players. I can hope the game later this week with FC Barcelona is better.

Cheers.

HINTS

• I finally found the pub's url and location. The name is De Valera's Irish Pub, and you can see the website with a map here.
  
• Apparently the place is named for a former prime minister of Ireland.
• It would be good if you speak a bit of Dutch if you sit with some folks who prefer it.
  
• Get there early for game days,
  

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