At the Jackson Heights branch of Queens Library, World Cup Memory spoke with 10-year-old Simar who plays striker for and is captain for his local elementary school’s soccer team. He goes to the library at least twice a week, to do homework, read books, and play games on the computers with friends.
Simar shared one of the many World Cup moments that stand out in his mind, this one from several years before he was born!
“It was when Beckham faced Greece,” Simar says.
During the previous 1998 World Cup, Beckham had got a red card. “He was down on the ground and kicked somebody and he got a red card so many England fans hated him.” Three years later England faced Greece for a crucial qualifying match for the 2001 World Cup – they were 2-1 down and needed a draw.
“He scored that free kick right in the top corner and the goalkeeper was left speechless. He didn’t even move a bit,” Simar says.
Simar adds that it was powerful “because he did a redemption…If he didn’t make it then he would still be hated, but if he did make it then he would have redemption for the England fans.”
On why World Cup moments stay in people’s minds, Simar says:
“It’s a huge stage. There’s a big trophy and there are countries that compete from all across the World that really want to win it…It brings people together and families together who have a joy of sports and soccer.”
Listen to the conversation here:
And here’s that goal!
