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.
