Futbol Mundial!. Review on Soccer

Man has come a long way from the time he first indulged in a sport (whatever it was). There are a thousand different indoor and outdoor sports being played in the modern day but the one that draws the most attention and has maniacal fans rooting for more is undoubtedly Soccer or Football as it is called in this part of the world.

The mass adulation that the game and its exponents enjoy has been on the rise continuously over the years. Its mass appeal perhaps lies in its simplicity and the spirit of teamwork that it stands for. All it needs is a simple football and two makeshift goalposts to start playing the game. The credit for visualizing and giving shape to the Football World Cup goes to the Frenchman Jules Rimet, the first president of the World Football Federation in 1926. It was his opinion that “Soccer could reinforce the ideals of a permanent and real peace”. He dreamt of an international event between teams of all continents that would make no discrimination among the players on grounds of their amateur or professional status.

Thus it was that the very first World Cup came about in 1930 at Pocitos Stadium, Uruguay. 13 teams competed and the trophy was won by Uruguay. The format and the number of teams taking part of the competition have both undergone tremendous changes and have made it the most widely watched event on Television over the years.

FIFA World Cup 2002

The seventeenth edition of this quadrennial extravaganza is being co-hosted by Japan and South Korea and will be played over 63 matches (excluding play-offs) spanning 20 venues. The tournament kicks off on May 31st and lasts till June 30th. 32 teams from across the world are grouped into 8 groups and the top two from each group will make it to the Quarterfinal stage. The previous version saw worthy winners in France thanks to some brilliant playmaking from it’s star player, Zinedine Zidane who scored twice in the Finals. Brazil, surprisingly went out with a whimper and lots of controversy surrounding the off-colour Ronaldo who supposedly had an attack of fits on the morning of the crucial match.

A team is only as good as the collective strength of it’s players allows it to be. Each team has its fair share of star players who have the ability to single-handedly turn around the fortunes of their respective teams. All eyes however will be peeled out for “Group F” comprising Argentina, England, Sweden and Nigeria. Dubbed as the “Group of Death”, all the four teams are brilliant and capable of outplaying the others on their day.

Here’s a look at the teams that are expected to take home the glittering trophy at the end of the tournament:

France – The defending champions are the hot favourites this time around too. Led by Dedier Deschamps, the team boasts of Zidane who is the costliest player in the world. This attacking mid field maestro has sublime dribbling skills, impeccable passing sense, a tremendous ability in the air and is a master in dead-ball situations. Giving him company will be another mid-fielder, Zizou. These two were in full flow in the recently concluded Champions League Final where each scored a goal to lead Real Madrid to victory. Thierry Henry will be spearheading the forwards with his usual flamboyance.

Brazil – The only country to have won the World Cup thrice has more than its share of injuries and worries. Easily the one-man army of the team, Ronaldo will have a lot to prove on the field and erase the bad memories of the last defeat to France.

England - David Beckham injured his left foot just before the team was picked and his entire country went into a series of prayers for his early recovery. Stand-in captain, Michael owen is an excellent player who and gave us “The Goal of the World Cup 1998” by single-leggedly (sic) dribbling past 4 Argentinian defenders and scoring a stunner of a goal.

Argentina – Another traditional soccer powerhouse, the team will be looking up to Gabriel Batistuta lovingly called “El Burrito” (Little Donkey) by his fans back home. Shouldering the responsibility with him will be mid-fielder, Juan Sebastian Veron (La Brujita or the little witch), one of the costliest players in the English league and an unpredictable player. Incidentally, Batistuta has 9 goals to his credit in the World Cup and needs just 5 more to become the joint all-time highest scorer along with Muller of Germany.

Italy – The “Azzuri” have been plumbing new depths in recent years, mainly due to lack of a inspirational leadership and controversial selection decisions. AC Roma player, Fransesco Totti is a sensational mid-fielder and could wreak havoc with the opposition in tandem with Alessandro Del Piero and Vieri. Handsome hunk Roberto Baggio was left out of the squad at the last minute due to his indifferent form this season. Always a big game player, his presence would surely have inspired his team mates and given them a very good chance of wining the cup.

The other teams that have a chance of springing some surprises are Croatia (Third in the last World Cup), Spain (watch out for Raul Gonzales!), Portugal (led by Luis Figo) and Sweden. My nomination for the dark horses of the tournament are “The Super Eagles” of Nigeria and “The Roaring Lions” of Cameroon. The hosts, Japan are a vastly under-rated lot but will be riding high due to the immense home support to grab their place under the sun.

I would expect someone among Batistuta, Vieri, Raul Gonzales and Zidane to win the “Golden Boot” – awarded for the most outstanding player and top scorer of the World Cup.

We’re nearing the end of the countdown folks! Two days to go for the mega event and the entire world have it’s eyes fixed on Japan and South Korea. 30 days of sweat, grime and tears will see a worthy team smiling on June 30th and another team that almost made it but lost out on the home run. All the teams will however go back with the satisfaction of having given their best on the field and of having conveyed an important lesson to the world that true sportsmanship and mutual harmony are the keys to success.

What are you waiting for? “Ten Sports” and your local Cable operator permitting, bring out the popcorn, pop into your comfortable sofas and get set to see the world’s best gladiators fight tooth and nail for the ultimate glory!