Ghost of Berlin

The field at Berlin's Olympiastadion resembled the Elysium Fields of Greek mythology as a once mighty god drifted like a near- invisible shadow of his former greatness.
When Ronaldo snapped a quick shot over the Croatian bar about 50 or so minutes into the game I startled by a sudden realization: Ronaldo was on the field. Actually, a somewhat fatter shade of the once great player knows as Ronaldo. And the speedy, incisive running of his replacement, Robinho, threaten to chase away the incorporeal shadows of his predecessor and any lingering memory of that guy who started up front for Brazil with Ronaldinho and Adriano.
Brazil seemed to treat the game almost as a training session, though the Croats often flattered to remind them that this was in fact an actual group game with points to be one. But whenever the Croatians found the ball at their feet with space to shoot, they conspired to shoot the ball into Dida's waiting arms. The Brazilians could have been had, but knowing this was their hardest game in a group with Japan and Australia, a tie would probably have suited them.
That being said Ronaldo was nowhere to be seen. Kaka and Ronaldinho traded playful flicks with one another. Adriano powered his was into the box. Roberto "thunder thighs" Carlos and Cafu made forged documents of their birth certificates as they flew down the wings like 18 year-olds. Emerson practiced his black arts of the subtle foul in midfield. Amidst all that wandered this ghost of figure who appeared to have enjoyed too many slushies at the heavenly Dairy Queen.
Homer wrote of the plains of the Greek afterlife:

"... life is easiest for men. No snow is there, nor heavy storm, nor ever rain, but ever does Ocean send up blasts of the shrill-blowing West Wind that they may give cooling to men ..." [Homer, Odyssey 4.561ff.)

And while it's far too early in the tournament to draw too many conclusions, Ronaldo's waltz through the short grass today made him look like he could use a cool breeze off the ocean. He appeared to wipe his brow as he came off which made me wonder if perhaps the jog to the sideline had winded him. At one point in the first half he looked like he didn't have the energy to run back onside when Brazil regained possession. His performance today didn't make me cast my mind forward in hope of a future, head shaking, how-the-hell-did-he-do-that display of Brazilian trickery but backward, and wonder: "Hey, that guy looks a lot like Ronaldo."