Now all the hoopla about football has come to an end (has it? don’t know still how many are still carrying these matches in their heart – I know many will) yesterday I thought of putting my feelings about this much sort after sport. Well I would like to go one step above that and wanted to write something about sports in general.
The much awaited world cup 2006 was started with much fanfare. Luckily or unluckily since I was in one of those countries which participated in this cup willingly or unwillingly I was made to witness what was happening around me.
The hype for the game started long-time before the competition actually began. Newspapers didn’t have to worry about what to fill because they had loads and loads to write about the game. It was not only about the game it was about the players and their families as well. Cars had their countries flag planted on to the top. Everybody believed that their country is a potential candidate to lift the cup though they were not the favourites. And I assume here it should have been the case in most of the countries which participated.
A small thought on why do people go crazy behind something’s? It makes them forget all their worries till that something is over. That something can be festivals, functions, competitions etc. I remember forgetting all my worries during Christmas, Deepavali or Pongal and eagerly wait for those festivals. Though I will be worrying about the quarterly exams I will be happy because Deepavali was just round the corner. All the worries magically disappear and they return back the next day after the event is over. Same thing when the cricket world cup is played it will remove from us the fear of exams which happens to fall during the same time period as the competition. The excitement of the game will make the exams light. So people want some escape route and these competitions provide them that.
Now coming back to the craze on football if we ask the question If everybody happy with the result? Does everyone agree that Italy is the world champion? Is everyone convinced that Brazil or Germany does not deserve the world cup because their performance was far below Italy or France?
When the Game started Brazil was the hot favourite with Argentina, Italy, Holland and France following very closely but they were also not able to rule out England, Portugal or whatever country was in the list.
During the middle of the competition they never thought France would make it to the semi-finals but it made it to the final.
If we closely look at most of the matches we can find that there were many occasions in which there were shots which didn’t become goals and shots which weren’t meant to be goals became goals. Matches that should have been drawn were won by either of the team because of those shots.
This proves clearly one thing that football is more like playing a game of poker. Unless otherwise the two teams playing have a huge difference in the so called talent, luck decides who wins.
For example if Brazil takes on India (which is still a toddler) then Brazils talent can help it win the game but if Brazil is taking on a team which knows the knacks of football it is obviously luck that determines who wins the game. But the winning team calls itself as the better team and takes all the credit. And supporters wave their flags and support those self proclaimed champions. It looks like we are witnessing WWF.
Take the case of the finals one guy from France missed a penalty shoot out and Italy is declared the champion there was a 50% chance the match would have gone France’s way also till the last kick was done.
All games carry a factor of luck we can’t deny that but not as much as football carries. Take the case of Tennis which gives the players equal chance to prove themselves.
Finally at the end of the match one team is crying and another team is dancing is this what sports was meant to do? Is this why the human race started playing games? If this happens in any other case the person dancing will be called a psycho.
Games which were invented to relax us are now making us cry and take away the relaxation. People become so obsessed with these games. Media makes the most of it by building up the tempo. Competitions may be necessary to bring out the talent but winning the competition shouldn’t be glorified to such an extent that the spirit of brotherhood is lost.
Look at what Zidane did in his last match. What makes him do that? Is this what we want to bring out of the people who play games?
The guy who missed the goal during the penalty shoot out will carry it in his heart to the grave because the world we live in made that so important in his eyes. But come on it’s just a game and that too football.
