What do you know about Belgians that can’t be summarized with the words “waffles, Hercule Poirot, Jean-Claude Van Damme?” Very little, most likely, and that’s a shame because Belgians are just like you and me. They enjoy the good things in life: tripping the elderly on the edges of canals, raising giant breeding cats in small apartments, and biking to the seaside to insult dolphins for being shrill.
USA/Algeria World Cup Referee Will Watch Gladiator Before Match
They also love World Cup soccer, and though the Belgians did not qualify as a national side, they will take part via officiating.
Belgian referee Frank De Bleeckere isn’t so different than you, and here’s proof: he likes Gladiator just like every other red-blooded man in the world, and will watch the film to prepare for the upcoming USA/Algeria match.
This may seem odd, but it’s really a neutral for American soccer fans. De Bleeckere could have chosen so many worse movies to watch before a game the Americans would prefer to win:
- The Battle of Algiers. Pretty self-explanatory, though he could just borrow a copy from the Algerians, who watched it to get up for the game against England.
- Lost in Translation. "I'd like to give a red card here, but I'm too alienated and lonely to do anything."
- Up. " [PROTRACTED SOBBING THROUGHOUT MATCH]
- The Savage Beating Of Koman Coubilaly and Jorge Larrionda. It's a film I'm pitching to Hollywood. Very simple plot, but very satisfying, though most likely not to Mr. De Bleeckere.
- Jonah Hex. A ref angry at wasting two hours of his life is not a happy ref, and we want a happy ref here.
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