India seems to be a cricket-crazy country where cricket is a religion and Tendulkars, Dravids & Kapils are demi-gods. Ever heard of Ronaldinho, Nedved, Ballack, Klose, Wanchope, Drogba, Ronaldo, Beckham, Cole, Rooney, Viduka, Hargreaves, Rossi, Totti, Robben, Nistrelooy.......
Bade ajeeb se naam hai ?? Well, a considerable population of India does know these names (are they really names or some continental dishes). To these few, one-month long football frenzy means a lot. The rollicking start of FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany on 9th June, 2006 was just a highlight of the passion generated by this game in India. Fans across India are worshipping for their teams, be it Argentina, Brazil or even our rulers, England. To these football crazy fans, the ongoing cricket Test match between India & West Indies is a secondary topic. While writing this, I am anxiously waiting for Brazil to headstart its carnival later today against Croatia.
Football experts around the world are hoping (me included) for an England-Brazil final on 9th July in Berlin but such fancies are always brought to an end by lesser known names (such as Ivory Coast, Costa Rica in this World cup). Trinidad & Tobago had already ruined Sweden's dream of winning their match against Trinidad (the match ended in a goal-less draw). Hope, everyone would have remembered France's early exit from 2002 World Cup, thanks to the underdogs Senegal. To the best of my knowledge, there are as many as five countries who are playing FIFA World Cup for the very first time. Who knows, one of these can be the World cup holders this time.
Host Germany are banking on Klinsmann for using the "being-the-host" advantage to the maximum. He was a part of the title winning West Germany side in ITALIA 90. Brazil, on the other side, can boast of World's best player, Ronaldinho, forming a magical quartet with Ronaldo, Adriano & Kaka, not to forget old warhorses Roberto Carlos and skipper Cafu.
In my thoughts, nobody is paying heed to Czech Republic (ranked at No.2 by FIFA, No. 1 is obviously Brazil). They might prove a force to reckon with, spearheaded by magical duo of Paul Nedved and Milan Baros. I can also put my money on Portugal, provided they remain consistent throughout the tournament and use the skills of Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo.
whatever will happen, myself, as a fanatic football fan, will be following the World cup enroute till its final. May the best team win (cos India is not playing and is placed at a cool FIFA ranking 117, as of April 2006).
If you also wanna go crazy, spare some time at http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/, the official site of World Cup 2006.
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