I went to a World Cup Game!!!!⚽⚽ by Kayode D. '27

The world cup is happening!!

Richie’s delusions aside, it’s been a good time!! I was in South Africa during the first game of the cup, South Africa vs. Mexico. Unfortunately I was sick, and double unfortunately South Africa lost, but the experience cemented me as a SA supporter for the cup. Surely that can’t go wrong, right? [UNFORTUNATE FORESHASOWING 😔😔😔] 

I was fortunate enough to go to the Germany v. Paraguay game!! I’ve been a New England Patriots fan my whole life, and so it was too good an opportunity to NOT go to Gillette… I mean Boston Stadium and watch. The world cup won’t be in the U.S. again until 2106 or something, so I gotta take advantage!! 

Gillette Stadium is HUGEEEEEE!!! It would be so cold in the winter. [This would be good for the Ice-Type gym Leader that Gillette would have in the winter]

And the sunset was so cool!! Soccer Soccer Soccer!!!

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But I have a confession to make: I’ve never watched a full soccer game from beginning to end. In all honesty I’ve always found soccer somewhat boring. A 90 minute game that can end in 0-0 final score?? What?? 

But then I actually went to a game. AND IT WAS EPIC. WHAT A GAME. I love the underdog, and so I rooted for Paraguay, and they won!!!! They went all the way to penalty kicks and while I didn’t really understand the strategies or what was happening beyond the obvious, it was fun. It was entertaining when I wasn’t distracted by a phone or commercials. I get it now.

While I was at the game I was reminded of this meme: 

I couldn’t find the reel that I liked so here’s a recreation. The Dynamax theme was playing over it, too. Pokemon memes have gotten a lot better over the last few months.

And as I watched the world cup game I understood it a little bit better. I LOVE Pokemon, I have since I was little. I love thinking about what it would be like to live in the world of pokemon, what it would be like. Here are some thoughts I have if anyone cares: 

How Pokemon Gyms would work⁠01 I thought about this a lot on the bus ride back. I think if Pokemon were real and the Pokemon League was real, there would be different levels gyms and circuits. For example, there would be a Greater Boston League with gyms at Harvard/MIT, Fenway Park, the Aquarium, etc. , A Massachusetts League that has gyms in Cape Cod, One in Boston, and more all over, and then a regional League with gyms all over New England. This system makes the 10-year-old going on a journey more viable, as they would only travel in their immediate area on their journey which is more realistic. The higher leagues would be for more experienced trainers that have already completed the smaller tiers and want more of a challenge. This would also make it cool to see gym leaders come in and out over time. In an area like Illinois, the regional Gym Leaders might just be like the Fire Chief for the area, or a Teacher at a local school--people who have gone on their own journeys and create an adventure for rising trainers to go on in their regions

 How realistic teams would work⁠02 I think this is one of the coolest things to think about. Realistically, most people would not have crazy rare Pokemon on their teams. Like Garchomp?? If you don't live near a desert area, you'll probably never even see a Gible, let alone train one to be a Garchomp...which is what makes Cynthia having one so cool. And I honestly think that starter pokemon would not always be fire/water/grass. I think that Rattata is an acceptable partner, or Cacnea, or Spheal, or Meowth. Whatever would realistically be in your topological area is what would actually make up a standard trainer's team. Which is exciting!! If everyone had the same team like in *COUGH* <em>current meta</em> *COUGH*, battling others wouldn't be as fun. Using your favorites and diversity is what makes it fun!! I think I would have a Noctowl and a Pineco. And maybe a Rapidash, because Kentucky. I love Johto.

How an international Pokemon Series could work⁠03 The highest level of Pokemon League in each country would have gyms in all of the major cities. I think in the U.S. it would be cool if the chosen eight change or shift every year, so different cities host incoming trainers on their biggest journeys. This would culminate in a national Pokemon Championship to crown that year's top trainers. Those top trainers would then go on to an international championship between the different countries and their top trainers. Having more than one feels like more fun, and you're able to see more play styles and strategies naturally arise. I also think that it would be cool if similar to Basketball or soccer, Gyms battled one another. So if Boston's main Gym went against New York's main gym, it would be the lead Gym Leaders and the trainers they staff at the gym. So it's a team of top trainers, being trained by the top leader. This feels more realistic, and also cooler to see a series of different trainers battling one another at a high level. I think this is so cool!! I would LOVE to see a series or story of some kind showing the inner workings of Pokemon Gyms and trainers battling one another. I'm biased, but specifically the Johto Gym Leaders feel like they're so unexplored. Unlike other regions, most of them are young adults, seemingly from the same group of rising trainers. To see how Falkner, Bugsy, Whitney, Morty, and Jasmine assumed their positions as top trainers would be SO COOL. Who was it before them? How is the competition between the gyms??? This is by far the nerdiest blog post I've ever written.

Imagine if the ENTIRE WORLD was so interested in Pokemon⁠04 as interested as me, lol that we could do an international competition to crown a true absolute World Champion. And if Pokemon were real, I would be genuinely so obsessed with the World Championship– the best trainers from every region competing for the top spot?? SO COOL!! Now I get it. I would be all about that. Unfortunately, I don’t think I understand soccer strategy to the level I understand Competitive Pokemon Strategy, so I couldn’t appreciate the game as much as some other people could, but it was still fun!! Soccer may not be my cup of sinistea, but when I look at it through this lens, I can get behind it. Go world cup!!!

Anyways, here’s my Pokemon VGC Reg-B team: “Have Yourself a Holly Jolly Christmas.”

My Strategy : I lead with Mega Glalie and Whimiscott, get the prankster tailwind to double speed, and then Mega Glalie hits Refrigerate boosted STAB Explosion and wipes the board, except for Focus band Whimsicott.  Whimsicott knows endeavor and Dragonite knows extreme speed, so that cleans up most unsuspecting teams. The Dragapult and Dragonite [I call them tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum, because there is little to no strategy with them. They slam Draco Meteor until we win.] spam high damage coverage moves to end the game. Sometimes I lead Flip-turning Palafin to have him in the back, but lowk he kinda takes too long to set up and we lose the jump with Glalie’s Explosion. 

This strategy honestly isn’t very good but it’s a lot of fun when it lands. Glalie is my favorite pokemon. 

Sorry if you didn’t understand any of that. Go world cup!!

how i feel every time i post a blog