Countdown to Football World Cup

by Wasimul Haque

April 14, 2006

Football world cup is the biggest ever-sporting event on this planet apart from Olympics. Less than two- month is left for the commencement of 18th football world cup. Whole world is waiting anxiously for this mega event.

Focus is now on Germany this time where world cup will be held. All the qualified teams are preparing and planning judiciously what to do to deliver the best possible performance. Crazy football fans will also congregate in Germany to support their teams.

The football world cup was started in 1930. The first winner of this coveted tournament was Uruguay. The trophy cup awarded from 1930 to 1970 was the Jules Rimet Trophy, named for the Frenchman who proposed the tournament.

This cup was permanently awarded in 1970 to Brazil the great football-playing nation and the winner of five-world-cup (1958, 1962,1970, 1994, 2002) and a new trophy called the FIFA World Cup was put up for competition. (West Germany) was the first winner of the new trophy, FIFA world cup in 1974.

Football without Pele is just like drama without Shakespeare. As a player, Pele played four world cups from 1958 to 1970 and out of four Brazil won three world cup titles. Pele thrilled the fans in 50s and 60s, Beckanbour of Germany; John Cyruff of the Netherlands delighted the crowd in 70s with their play.

The era of 80s belonged to Maradona the magician of football. In 1986 world cup in Mexico, he played like a superman. His second goal against England is considered the greatest ever goal in the history of football. In the end, Argentina won the 1986 world cup.

Zinedan Zidane of France scored two goals in the 1998 final against Brazil. He was a schemer. He knew how to play the best football in crisis. Many other players had left their name in people’s mind.

Defending champion Brazil is once again considered the favourite to lift the world cup. They have outstanding players. Their forwards are capable to dislodge the defense of other teams. Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Adriano, Kaka, and others are gifted players. When they attack on their opponents then the entire world, entice towards them. How to stop them is the main worry for their rivals.

It does not mean that other teams would surrender easily. All the playing nations in the world cup know the plus and weak points of their competitors. We should not forget the 1982 world cup. Before the start of the tournament, Brazil was the hot favourite because they had the players of the caliber of Zico (Present Japanese coach), Socrates, and Josimer.

That Brazilian team was called the dream team but in sport, anything is possible. Italy’s poly Rossi short-circuited the Brazil’s hope and emerged as the new hero of the world football. Eventually Italy lifted the 1982 world cup crushed Germany in the final.

South American and European nations have won all world cup titles. They are superior to other continents teams. Gradually the gap of standards is decreasing. African and Asian countries standards have gone up in recent years.

Since the 1990 world cup, African and Asian teams are not considered the minnows. In the 1990 world cup in Italy Cameroon stunned the world after beating the defending champion Argentina 1-0 remember that the greatest footballer of the world Maradona was also playing for Argentina in that match. Roger Miller scored that winning goal for Cameroon.

The same thing happened in the last world cup held in South Korea and Japan; When Senegal upset the defending champion France. In the 2002 world cup, South Korea and Japan performed beyond their expectations. South Korea created history and reached into the semi final in 2002.

In this world cup, expectations are high from the African and Asian teams. If we talk about the Asian teams this time South Korea, Japan, Iran, and Saudi Arabia are ready to cope with the top teams of the world. South Korea and Japan could thrash any team. Their players have talent, speed, stamina, skill, strength, and the most significant is the determination to achieve goal

Saudi Arabia and Iran had also won matches in the world cup. In the 1994 world cup, Saudi Arabia defeated Belgium and Morocco in the league matches and reached into the second round. Iran’s triumph over their political foe U S A was celebrated in Iran with great enthusiasm in 1998 world cup in France.

Hooliganism is the major worry for the security officials. Fans always create problem especially after the match. English supporters are famous for rioting and street fight. To stop them is a hard nut to crack for the security men.

This great sporting festival is beginning on June 9 and concludes on July 9. People are also gearing up to reshuffle their schedules for watching the most popular game on their TV sets. Even in India during the football, world cup passionate fans forget cricket and talk only about football.

This one-month mega event is a gift for the sport lovers. People would be busy to watch their favourite stars. Many new faces will emerge as the new heroes and old heroes reputation may sink. It is difficult to predict the winner because nothing is impossible on the sporting fields. It is needless to add that Brazil is the hot favourite and Germany have the home advantages, but actual winner could become known on July 9, 2006.
 

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