Thanks

Unbelievably, the World Cup has ended. It seems like only yesterday I was writing about a certain team’s certain cologne…and then last night, we saw the joyous Italians making sweet, sweet love to Jules Rimet. Or least his trophy.

By now you’ve probably seen here that World Cup Blog will live on in one form or another, and that a new site, The Offside, will also get up and running. The Offside will focus on club football all over the world. Be sure to check it out.

Thanks of course to the many readers of the Ecuador blog, and thanks for all of your great comments. Your observations and conversations made the blog click (inasmuch as it ever ‘clicked’). You guys…and gals…and even player’s relatives…rocked!

Thanks to World Cup Blog master blogger Bob, and all of the BootsnAllTravel guys, who made this site possible, and who made it great. Not to mention all of the other bloggers who’ve helped us tell the differnce between one goalkeeping Ricardo and another, taught us when the ref should pull a red instead of a yellow, and showed us the passion–not to say insanity–of their teams’ home country.

Thanks to all of the Ecua fans, both those who read and contributed here, and those that didn’t. Or couldn’t. Hopefully the team’s historic run gave everyone a little pride and excitement during that warm stretch of German summer.

And finally, thanks to Luis Suarez and the players who gave their all at the World Cup. As you all know, Ecuador had never been past the group stages before, but this time they qualified with a full game to spare. From Mora’s facepaint, to the Hurtado-led defense, through the young Valencia’s midfield, all the way up to El Tin and Super Teno. And a special mention for Otilino Tenorio, who died last year but lived on at the World Cup through Ivan Kaviedes’ touching tribute.

I guess I should also admit that my faith in Coach Suarez waivered a bit in the run up to the tournament, but he achieved his stated goal. Bully for LFS.

As I said, this site will remain extant, and The Offside will be up and running soon, covering world club football from Australia to Zimbabwe and everything in between.

Thanks again.