So this is it. Germany are the World Champions in Football now. FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brasil was a big success in many aspects. Right from the outset it was all about twists and surprises including unceremonious exits of 2006 and 2014 champions. And the grand finale was befitting to be one. It was the best team versus the best player. And in the end Football succeeded in proving that at any given day, it’s the team that matters and not the brilliance of one star.
The mood of the game can best be described by one gesture: Miroslav Klose’s gaze on Mario Goetze who substituted for him and went on to be the most talked person on planet for the time. It was symbolic of the arrival of the young to fill in the shoes of veterans and legends. So befitting!! And then there was this inglorious thrashing of the hosts by Germans in the Semi-finals. 7-1 was unprecedented… In sports history, there is perhaps only one parallel to it: Sri Lanka humbling India in 1996 Cricket World Cup Semi-finals and then going on to win the cup.
Bill Shankly has famously said “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it’s much more serious than that.” That’s true for a large extent for the Football fans and freaks all over the Soccer world. Well, we Indians also enjoyed the Soccer fever which returns to India every four years like a Kumbhmela. Otherwise only the true blue fans are concerned about the game. Knowing off-side rule becomes a matter of pride in this time. Soccer analysts mushroom like anything in every nook and corner. And Media enjoys (and encashes) the fever in turn adding to it.
Sports have revealed an interesting form of favouritism. The ‘developing nations’ or ‘former colonies’ empathy bonding is quite apparent in these type of tournaments. After Messi magic, this was second major reason of Indians largely supporting Argentina, despite accepting that Germany was a better team. Even in cricket, many of us (sometimes secretly) want lesser ompetent teams to defeat Australia or England. History still affects our choices. But are we defeating the purpose of sports, which is to unite all nations, by bringing in factors outside sports? This deserves a deep thought.
Life will be quite different, albeit a bit boring after the FIFA World Cup. We will miss the blundering referees, diving and falling (rightfully or wrongfully) players, over-animated coaches, crazy fans, glories of the goalies, blood and bites, jokes on Brasil’s igominy and above all, the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer (Christo Redentor) standing tall in the background of a glittering stadium. Thank you FIFA, Thank you Brasil. The FIFA World Cup is always an event to cherish. If there is any greatest global show on the earth, I suppose this is it…
Expressions and Impressions 