WORLD CUP 2010 - III.

Seen in the picture is Ronaldo of Brazil during peak of his form playing for Brazil.

Preparation period for World Cup tournament is very short now compared to what it was earlier. After the final Draw in January every qualified team used to go for its preparation rigorously for about 4 months continuously, some of the teams even going underground in order to fully concentrate physically and mentally as West Germany did for 1974 World Cup which they finally won by defeating Holland. Now it is really agonizing to see some players of the qualified teams have been just released by their foreign Clubs while few are still not released by their Clubs. In such a situation how can we have a homogenous team to play and fare well? In 1970 at Mexico World Cup tournament England as reigning champions went to Mexico as full squad one month before the start of the tournament after undergoing rigorous training for about 4 months before that just to acclimatize with the climatic conditions of Mexico. World Cup tournament is very demanding and challenging competition in which every player must reach to his highest peak physically and mentally and each player must know his other colleague on the field, how he plays and what are his weak and strong points. Co-ordination with every player is very essential and to attain it one must spend long time with his team mates thru regular training together. In this World Cup this attribute is lacking in many of the national teams and as such according to me the standard of this World Cup will not be as high as it is expected. Selected players are devoting more time for their foreign clubs rather than for their national teams because of lack of patriotism and craze for more money coming from foreign clubs for the players. Surely in view of this the standard of soccer in this World Cup tournament will be lower than the previous ones. Many of the selected top players for their national teams are already over used and also misused by their overseas top Clubs. These top players need some compulsory relaxation for their minds and bodies which they were not given before the World Cup tournament because there is no time. Hence, to expect miracles from them in the coming World Cup is asking Heaven from them.


Seen in the picture is Roger Milla of Cameroon after scoring a goal for his team.

Which players will make a dent into this World Cup and which players will receive more attention? Everybody says Argentinian Lionel Messi will be the player to watch since he is dubbed as second Maradona. Lionel Messi is no doubt a great player currently but to dub him as Maradona is not only lowering the greatness of Maradona but it is an insult to Maradona and his magnificent form of those days. Footballers like Maradona appears on the soccer field only once in ages. Maradona could single leggedly and single handedly win the match while Messi cannot, Messi has to depend on others to make his moves. Maradona was not only playing but more than that he was making others to play by accurately feeding his colleagues while Messi lacks this aspect. Maradona was using his brain better than his feet while Messi is erratic not only in his brain but also in his kicking the ball. Maradona had superb accuracy while Messi not. Maradona had magnet to his left foot while Messi not, not only for his left foot but not even to his right foot. Maradona's direct free kick from outside the box means sure goal while Messi's not. Maradona was playing the game of two men while Messi is all alone. After their defeat from Argentina in 1986 World Cup tournament Bobby Charlton was asked “why and how England lost?” For this Bobby Charlton an ex England player and the member of England World Cup winning team in 1966 replied thus “Because Argentina played with 12players, meaning, one Maradona is equal to 2 players”. Can Messi come to this level?


Seen in the picture is French skipper Zidane disgracing not only France but also football with the headbutt on Italian defender.

The other footballer who will create a mark in this World Cup will be Portuguese Ronaldo who being the highest paid footballer in the world will equal the feat of former Portuguese great Eusebio. Again I say that Ronaldo is nothing compared to Eusebio who could single handedly win the match while Ronaldo not. Eusebio was giving his life for Portuguese National team inspite of being a Mocambiqan Negro while Ronaldo inspite of being genuine White Portuguese is giving his life for money and not for Portuguese National team. Compared to Eusebio, Ronaldo is still a kid on the field while Eusebio was like a gigantic Panther. Eusebio had killing instinct while Ronaldo lacks this aspect. Eusebio had equal power in his both legs while Ronaldo is feeble in one leg.

TO BE CONCLUDED.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

WORLD CUP 2010 - II.

WORLD CUP 2010 SOCCER TOURNAMENT.

Again another Poll was conducted a few years back to select the best footballer of last century and the result was Joint Winners Pele and Maradona. If I was given to make my choice, I would surely rate Pele above Maradona because though Maradona was the best during his era yet definitely not as best as Pele. Pele was a full and perfect player using both his legs with equal ease, he was perfect in heading the ball in aerial duel, his brain worked faster than the spark of an electricity and his running speed like that of an Olympian sprinter – in fact when he retired from National Soccer Team, Pele could run 100 Meters in 11 seconds. When I ran 100 Metres in 11 seconds I was just a 17 year old kid while Pele was 35 year old father and still at that ripe age he was doing 100 Metres in 11 seconds means he was a sporting genius. Now coming back to Maradona, he was not a perfect footballer as he was lacking in some major required attributes namely he was only one legged footballer using his left foot only; Maradona was not heading the ball, hence in the aerial duel he was handicapped; Maradona was not a sprinter like Pele to create upheavals with his speed in the citadels of his opponents and unlike Pele, Maradona was hot tempered on the field even receiving a Red Card against Brazil in 1982 World Cup.


Seen in the picture an encounter between Kuwait and England in 1982 World Cup.

When Alfredo de Stifano and Ferenz Puskas played at the peak of their form, their exposure to the world was very limited and TV coverage was almost not existing either, they reached their playing crescendo in fifties reaching their zenith in mid fifties and lasting till the beginning of sixties. They both played more for their Club Real Madrid in their adopted countries where they were gifted with Spanish citizenship thru naturalization. They were scoring goals like anything from any angle and from any distance; they were a big headache for their opponents’ defenders. One writer said that while on the playing field they were communicating with each other not thru their tongues and not by sign languages but thru waves without even looking at each other. They were beneficiaries of science of Telepathy. Both reached their pinnacle together and both faded also together. Their records and their games one can know only by reading their histories


Seen in the picture above is Portugal's mighty Black Panther Eusebio in 1966 World Cup.

Best of the footballing nations are from South America where in their soccer one will find lot of skills and also geometry in their passing. The ianugural World Cup tournament in 1930 at Uruguay where only 13 teams participated thru invitations, according to some experts was the most skilful. Though South American countries are poor economically compared to Western European countries yet for soccer they do anything. Just like Cricket is life and death for many in India so too soccer to these South American Countries. Brazilian soccer is the most entertaining and most artistic among all in the World. Like Brazil no other country in the world plays soccer as skillful as Brazil do. It is not their coaches only who impart skillful soccer in the blood of their footballers at an early age but more than that it is in the genes of Brazilians to play skilful soccer. It is very natural for them to play geometrical soccer and because such soccer liked by the spectators, world love Brasilian soccer very much. And hence Brazil is become the darling of soccer lovers.
Brazil gained love, affection and goodwill from all around the globe only because of its entertaining and skillful soccer. This helps Brazil even to increase its political and financial clout all around the globe.

Brazil won World Cup 5 times but only twice they played most exciting and entertaining soccer. What Globe Trotters did for the ball with their magical hands in Basketball so Brazilian footballers did for the soccer ball with their magicial feet in 1970 and 1982 World Cup soccer tournaments. In 1970 World Cup just with his right foot Pele made the ball to do what he wanted to, except talk, so also the then prized bachelor Eder in 1982 World Cup with his left foot made the ball to take any turn near the opponent’s goal mouth and even into the net. In 1970 World Cup tournament some soccer analysts said that all time great players have played for Brazil in this edition, namely skipper Carlos Alberto Pereira, midfielders Gerson and Clodoaldo, attackers Rivelino, Dr. Tostao, Pele and Zairzinho who had the unique distinction of scoring a goal in every match he played in that edition. Soccer experts say such a dream team will never come again, later part it was coached by their ex national player and their World Cup winning member in 1958, Mario Zagallo.


Seen in the picture above is Maradona scoring his first goal against England with his head but with the Hand of God.

However, according to me the all time great Brazilian World Cup squad was that of 1982 coached by their soccer Maestro Tele Santana. This team consisted of all the dream boys in their forward line namely skipper Dr. Socrates, Zico, Serginho and Eder while the midfield was orchestrated by their maestro Junior singularly running throughout nonstoppingly like a horse and the defense was manned by all the defenders who could even move upfront and score goals. The ball control of these defenders was such that it was as good as that of their forwards. While leaving Brazil for Spain in 1982 World Cup tournament, at their Airport in Brazil they were hailed in advance only as World Champions but after losing against Paulo Rossi’s Brazil in an anti-climax manner they were still called as world champions while welcoming back, not for winning the World Cup but for playing the most entertaining and most skillful soccer as never seen in the past in any of the earlier World Cup Tournaments. Will such a dream team we ever get to see again? And what type of soccer Brazil will dish out in the forthcoming World Cup in South Africa starting on 11th June 2010? Will it be entertaining and skilful or will it be like European soccer – hit and run since many of the Brazilian players are Europe based playing for the European Clubs and used to play un-artistic European soccer? Brazil plays real soccer on the soccer field while Europe plays money on the soccer field. That is the difference between the European and South American soccer while African soccer resembles Brasilian but Asian soccer is still 25 years behind European.


Dr. Socrates - Medical Doctor - Skipper of Brazilian mighty squad of 1982 World Cup.

TO BE CONCLUDED.

A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

WORLD CUP 2010 - I.

WORLD CUP 2010 SOCCER TOURNAMENT.

On 11th June this year, 19th World Cup tournament will be held in South Africa, first time in the African continent. Earlier it used to be held in rotation in Europe and in South America except in 2002 when it was jointly hosted by Japan and South Korea. To participate in World Cup tournament every participating nation has to undergo a very rigorous qualifying process lasting over a year but only in the first tournament in 1930 when Uruguay hosted this tournament the participating teams were invited, some even at the last moment; India was also invited but last minute had to refrain from participating because Indian players were not accustomed to play wearing soccer boots, Indians then were known to play barefooted. The first ever World Cup tournament was won by the host country Uruguay by defeating their rival and neighbour Argentina and the next day as a mark of joy, Uruguay declared a national holiday. FIFA is the governing body under which World Cup tournaments are supervised. To organize World Cup is not a joke, the organising country must provide many and best of facilities in number of fields including best of world class soccer stadia with all the necessary facilities. Japan and Korea being industrial giants in Asia could not individually organize this tournament in 2002 and to make this edition a success FIFA had to allot this World Cup jointly to two countries, to Japan and Korea.


Seen in the picture above is World Cup winning Italian captain Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.

Currently 32 national teams participate in the World Cup but earlier in the beginning and till 1978 only 16 national teams were allowed and from 1982 the number of participating teams increased to 24 which number lasted till 1994 and finally it brought to the current level of 32 teams in France in 1998.

Brazil is the only country in the world to participate in every World Cup tournament since the inception time in 1930 at Uruguay and Brazil is the only country having a distinction of winning the World Cup Tournament 5 times, followed by Italy 4 times, Germany 3 times, Uruguay & Argentina twice each and England and France once each.
Almost every World Cup produces a great player and prominent among them in 1958 was Brazilian Pele and in 1962 again a Brazilian, Garincha; in 1966 Portugal’s Eusebio; in 1970 West Germany’s Gerd Mueller; in 1974 Netherland’s Johan Cruyff; in 1978 Argentinian Mario Kempes; in 1982 Italian Paulo Rossi; in 1986 Argentinian Diego Armando Maradona; in 1990 Italy’s Salvatore Schillaci; in 1994 Brazil’s Romario; in 1998 Zinedine Zidane; in 2002 Brazil’s Ronaldo and in 2006 Italy’s Fabio Cannavaro.

The highest number of goals scored in a single W. Cup tournament was 13 in 1958 at Sweden by Frenchman Just Fontaine and till now none of the later on highest scorers managed to break this record of Just Fontaine. When Fontaine created this record of 13 goals the number of participating teams was only 16 but later on it increased to 24 and then 32. Inspite of being bigger competitions having bigger number of players from around the world, none managed either to equal Frenchman’s record or surpassed that record.

Every World Cup tournament produces a surprise team like in earlier tournaments produced, namely Cameron, Algeria, Israel, Tunisia, North Korea, Croatia etc. These surprise teams came from the third world and they created upsets for the gigantic teams as North Korea an Asian minnows in soccer sent mighty Italy packing its bags back to Rome Airport without even reaching to the quarter final in 1966 in England. Which will be the surprise team in this year’s edition in South Africa? Will it be from African continent or Asian? Only the time will answer this question.


Seen in the picture Brazilian skipper Dunga receiving World Cup in 1994.

Being the biggest soccer sporting event, World Cup tournaments give best of footballers to the soccer world and with their super talent and sheer artistry they delight the spectators all around the world. Some of the footballers whose memory from the minds of the people will never erase are Brasilians Pele nicknamed Black Pearl, Garincha nicknamed Small Bird, Carlos Alberto Pereira, Dr. Tostao, Rivelino, Zairzinho, Gerson, Dr. Socrates, Romario, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho; from Portugal Eusebio nicknamed Black Panther; from Hungary Ferenz Puskas; from France Just Fontaine, Platini and Zidane; from Germany Uwe Scheler, Backenbeur, Sep Meier, Gerd Mueller nicknamed Bomber and Rummenigge; from England Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan; from Argentina Alfredo di Stefano, Daniel Passarela, Osvy Ardilles, Mario Kempes and Maradona; from Mexico Mario Campos and Hugo Sanchez; from Cameroon’s Roger Milla.

Among the best footballers in the world as per my observation in their rankings are (1) Argentianian and later on Spanish Alfredo de Stefano; (2) Hungarian Ferenz Puskas; (3) Brazilian Pele; (4) Argentinian Maradona; (5) Portuguese Eusebio; (6) German Backenbeur; (7) German Gerd Mueller; (8) England’s Bobby Charlton; (9) England’s Bobby Moore; (10) German Karl Heinz Rummenige; (11) Russian Lev Yaschin; (12) Dutch Johan Cruyf; (13) Dutch Ruud Gullit and (14) Brazilian Roberto Carlos.
In the later part of last century, approximately in early eighties, France Soccer Magazine known all around the globe as very interesting organized a Poll of experts to select 3 best sportsmen of this planet of past century. The result was Footballer Pele first; Olympian Athlete Runner Jesse Owens second and on third place came World Champion Boxer Mohammed Ali (Cassius Clay).


Seen in the picture above is West Germany's skipprt Franz Backenbeur joyfully holding the World Cup in 1974.


A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.

TO BE CONCLUDED.

N.B. All the pictures seen in this article are provided by the well-known Kuwait based Goan scribe Gasper Crasto from Navelim. Mr. Crasto was a well known national footballer from Goa representing Salgaocars Sports Club, Goa.