WORLD CUP 18. FRANCE CHAMPIONS.

They came to Russia last month as nobody without the celebrities like Platini – Tigana – Guiresse -  Zidane and others but while going they gone not like nobody but as somebody, as heroes of the World’s greatest single sporting event that is as Champions of the current Foot-ball World Cup, held in Russia where records were equaled.  For example the Team Manager of France Didier became one more person in the history of this  tournament winning  two Gold Medals both as captain of the French team in 1998 that won the World Cup FOR France  and also as Manager of this World Cup 18. Earlier Mario Zagallo of Brazil and Franz Backenbeur of Germany held this record though Mario Zallo won as a player twice in 1958 and 1962 and not as a captain and as a Manager in 1970.

The second record to equal in this tournament was by the Baby Boy of the tournament Mbappe when he scored a goal for his  winning team that is the current French Team just as  the great Brazilian Pele did for his World Champion Brazil squad in 1958 when Pele who was just 17 then while Mbappe was 19. The goal the French Baby Boy scored in this tournament was a powerful shot scored from  the edge of the box while the goal the Brazilian Baby Boy Pele scored was very classical from inside the box when he halted the ball on his chest and from there he lowered it to his foot and hit the ball into the opponent net from close range. 

Yet another new record was created by the agile forward of Croatia Mario Mandzukic when he scored a own goal the first of its kind in the history of World Cup.

I have been watching thru TV the World Cup-ball Tournaments regularly since 1978  but never I found the level of this tournament as high as it was this time.  Every team played a very high standard soccer, the so called minnows became the giant killers sending the so called giants back home prematurely, some of the so called giants were consigned to the dustbins even closing them the entry into this tournament by denying them qualifying in the final 32. Where  did the mighty Italy gone?  Why  another powerhouse Holland failed to qualify?

The days of taking things for granted are over, football is gaining more and more importance all around the globe where every nation is making progress and they will go on making more and more progress except our bloody India where soccer is run by most of the bloody administrators.  Because of this the exorbitant talent existing in India is simply washed out and worst still is that nobody is bothered about it, leave aside government lethargy.

In this World Cup tournament not only France won but more than that THE TEAM WORK has won.  The days of over depending upon one or two individual heroes by their teams are over, even in Brasil  after their humiliating exit from the 1966 W.Cup in England they refused to depend too much on the individual genius of Pele.  Thus one soccer expert Saldanha by name took charge of post 1966 Brazil squad vowing to produce not one Pele but a number of them for the 1970 squad and finally succeeded in doing so by creating a galaxy of Peles in Dr. Tostao, Zairzinho, Rivelino, Clodoaldo, Gerson and Carlos Alberto. It was these great players who were responsible for Brasil to win them for the 3^rd time the Jules Rimet Trophy and permanently.

While concluding I congratulate France for winning this World Cup tournament where they played well but the runners-up also played extremely well dominating the proceeding very beautifully especially after France  scored their 3^rd goal. Their positive attitude kept the tempo of the final very high even at the last minute that made the final very entertaining and interesting.

Kudos to Russia for organizing this tournament so well.

A.Veronica Fernandes.              

"AXEA" TIATRO OF THE LATE C. ALVARES.

This is in reference to the recent news of Tiatro “AXEA” written by  the ace Tiatrist – script writer – director – composer – duet singer – the late C. Alvares and directed by his daughter Capuchina. According to my information, it was well directed and very well staged by the artistes coming mainly from Bombay.  'Mojim porbim tumkam Bai Capuchina' and your entire troupe.  I hope more and more Tiatros of your father will be re-staged, some of them are much better, and also CD’s of the PRICELESS DUETS of your father.  Such duets will nobody compose in the future because there are no wombs in the Goan mothers to give birth to the sons like C. Alvares.   

 I had great wish to pen down a few lines on this Tiatro in a normal way in my Blog, goa-kranti.blogspot.com but due to my hospitalization recently I missed to see this Tiatro which  in fact first time I saw it as a small, boy somewhere in 1957/58 in my village Candolim which was attended even by a few  “Pakle” from Aguada.

That was the difficult period for Goans from Bombay to come to Goa as there was an official barricade put on this route by the Nehru's Congress Serkar making Bombay Goans difficult to come to Goa. However, with certain documents like “BILHETE IDENTIDADE” and after enormous efforts, the great C.Alvares came to Goa with an excellent troupe comprising attractive female artistes namely young and lovely looking Ophelia Cabral, beautiful Violet, majestic Cecilia Machado and Filomena Braz who played a magnificent role of an African “Khapurlem”.  Teaming up with the ace comedian Jacinto Vaz they both created havoc of laughter especially when he sings the song before kissing her with these words: 

“TUKAM BISCUT DITAM – TI NAKAM MAKAM

TUKAM CHOCLATE DITAM – TI NAKAM MAKAM

GHE HIM BHATTAM BENSAM 

TIM NAKAM MAKAM

BOREM BEIJU DITAM

TO ZAVO MAKAM”.

The Prince of Konkani songs then a very melodious singer Alfred Rose with his handsome looks and attractive appearance and also with meticulous presentation, rendered the opening song “Mandovi – Mandovi” with English version which was highly appreciated even by the Portuguese who attended this Tiatro by occupying the front seats even.

The role Alvares with the then charming Ophelia played was fantastic especially when Alvares lifted Ophelia and took her inside. The majesticity of Cecilia Machado was superb so also the beauty of lovely looking Violet who instantly captured the hearts of so many young Goan boys.

Once again I congratulate Capuchina and request her to Cd all the golden duets of her father for the benefit of posterity because such duets will not come again. So also some of his precious Tiatros.

A.Veronica fernand.

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WORLD CUP 18 - WILL FINAL REACH TO THE ZENITH.

And alas, England is ousted from this year’s World Cup tournament when they were defeated by the Croatians the small and young country in the Eastern Europe having such a small population of approximately 5 millions. Compared to such a mighty country wielding a Veto power in the UNO, England and UK, Croatia  is a tiny geographically political entity which was earlier a part of communist Yugoslavia but in 1991 when Communism  like a pack of Cards collapsed in Soviet Russia and Tito’s Yugoslavia, all the smaller pockets like Croatia seceded from their Communist Masters who earlier swallowed them  in the pre - World War  I and post World War II exactly what India did for some of the smaller states after the British surrendered India to Indians.  Those days Indian stalwarts mainly the Congressmen under the leadership of Nehru using its brute Military might forced some the smaller kingdoms to merge with Delhi.

For example, to bring Hyderabad under his domain Nehru government butchered mercilessly so many people owing allegiance to Hayderabadi Maharaja who was refusing to join with Nehru's Bharat.  In Kashmir their Maharaja also was not ready to join India knowing India one day WILL disgrace them and in the North India so many states including Assam, Sikkim and some more were forcibly brought under India’s banner. This type of hegemonistic policy India imbibed from Soviet Russia was very bad. 

• My beloved Goa was invaded and annexed to India by Nehru like what Hitler did during the World War II makes India a traitor in the eyes of outside World  and  on top of it India shamelessly from the point of Nehru till now talk ill of Hitler calling Hitler a dictator when India in some aspects is worse than Hitler.  h right Indian government had to enter into my Goa and grab it like Nehru’s father property? Did India and its leaders especially Nehru consult us Goans and got our approval for invading Goa and thereby beginning the process of liquidating Goa? Though I am against Portuguese ruling in Goa yet I still feel we were  much better ruled - governed - taken care and better protected in all respects under the colonialists than under this corrupt Bharati regime which was manned by most of the "Rostad" available in this Rostad governed Bharat. It is from the Soviet Russia that India acquired all the Hitlerian tactics otherwise our Goa would have been competing in World Cup today as an independent nation just like Croatia. 
• 
  
• As per my information, according to Indian policy, New Delhi is working thru whichever government occupies the Centre's Throne, to deGoanise Goa because Indian policy makers want more and more non-Goans in Goa to alter the demographic structure of Goa tilting against Goans. For  this reason every step the Government takes on GOA it is ferociously supported by the Centre.  The influx of non GOANS  descend on Goa was pushed by those anti-GOA policy makers in Delhi who doles all privileges to Delhikar in Goa.  While many of the small scale merchants coming to Goa from India are financed by their agents including their religious congregations, to purchase land from Goa and buy Shops. 

Coming back to the semi-final match between England and Croatia, the Croatians are the deserving winners though they were caught unaware with the very beautiful early goal that they conceded. But then after  the Croatians roared like Lions usurping all the powers from England and thereby subduing England in every department of the game.  The exchanging and passing of the ball, running, dribbling, heading and protecting their citadel, Croatia excelled well. England with this stuff of players has no right to figure in the final.

When England reached in the final in 1966 World Cup defeating Portugal in the semi-final with the help of questionable referee's decisions, they had gigantic players in their rank then, namely, Gordon Banks under their bar, Geoff Hurst in upfront along with Bobby Charlton, their skipper Bobby Moore orchestrating their moves like a Maestro and others including Jackie Charlton.  Those players created miracles for the home English team to win that tournament. And above all outside the field they had a great general to guide and advise them on anything and everything pertaining to their game, their Team Manager Sir Alf Ramsey.

No doubt both the teams missed sure chances of scoring goals when their attempts hit the posts yet it should be noted that in football each team is having not only 11 players but plus  3, totally making it 14.  Who are the last three? They are the 3 wooden pieces, that is, 2 goal posts and one Cross piece and their role is coming into picture in emergency time only when all the 11 players are beaten.  These three wooden pieces are very important to protect you from conceding goals.

Now the final will be played on Sunday between Croatia and France the country that tasted the victory in this tournament earlier.  Both the countries will enter the field without having a Hero and that both the finalists will be playing without having any individual hero, probably first time in the history of this tournament, it proves again that the game of soccer is necessarily a Team work game and not necessarily individual game. The 3 real heroes namely Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar gone home with their heads down in shame because they proved how shabbily  they performed inspite of their high billing. I think the real hero in the final will be youngster Mbappe of France who has already indicated his skill to play high standard of soccer at this young age. HE will be a thriller to watch in the Final.

My prediction for the final ; CROATIA :2 – FRANCE: 1.

A.VERONICA FERNANDES.

     

WORLD CUP 18. FIRST SEMI-FINAL

WELL, the first semi-final between France and Belgium held yesterday and won by France, was played on a grueling pace where Belgium played better yet they could not send the ball into the net of France because the custodian of France under their bar was extremely in good form. If not for him,  French men would go down by at least 2 to 3 goals after equalizing the goal Frenchmen scored first. Besides the Frenchmen guarded their citadel extremely well even with double marking.  And in the aerial duel, the deep defenders of France were extremely difficult to out beat.

During the second half the men from Belgium mounted heavy pressure on the defensive wall like the great wall of China, erected by Frenchmen giving no chance to their opponents to penetrate the ball past the French custodian who played an exceptionally good game bringing out some beautiful saves.

If France plays defensive game throughout in the final as they played yesterday in the second half then their position will be precarious because you cannot defend your citadel continuously for long since point of saturation will come an thence you are at a loss. “Attack is the best form of defense, proclaimed the Brasilian squad of 1970 World Cup” which finally paid very good dividends.  While defending your citadel you also have to create openings for counter attack. In the second half Frenchmen played with fear and nervousness though the youngster Mbappe was like a shining star in the constellation on French Sky. His dribbling power was excellent though once beaten he surrenders to his opponents to dictate the terms.  This youngster will be a thrill to watch in the semi-final. 

As a whole the game was played on very fast pace both the teams giving their best and as such it was found very interesting to watch.  

Wishing the French team all the best in the final.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

FOOT-BALL TEAMS AND THEIR MANAGERS

The position of the Foot-ball team Managers is very powerful and as such it is very important.   In Brazil it is considered as as the second to that of the National President.  He is considered as a maker of the team or destroyer of the team. He is the man like 12^th member of the team wielding immense powers. In soccer crazy countries like Brazil and some other South Americans when their teams lose they are even ready to  go for the blood of their team Managers if their team returns home empty handed.

In 1966 World Cup when their Italian team returned home with exit blow in the early stage itself, due to the fear of their own Italian people who were waiting outside the Airport to lynch their Manager and players as well, their entire team headed by their Manager gone underground. Sensing the worst happening, on the advice of the intelligence service, the security personnel at the Airport exited the Italian squad thru the back door and hurriedly sent them home without anybody’s notice. But in the next W.Cup tournament held in Mexico, 1970, the same country’s defeated squad returned home after their worst and humiliating defeat in the final against Pele’s Brazil team consisting some of  the genius players Brazil has ever produced, namely the skipper and defender Carlos Alberto Pereira, midfielders Gerson and Clodoaldo, finishers besides Pele, Rivelino and Dr. Tostao, the defeated Italians were welcomed home with the slogans and banners saying “welcome home our heroes because since Brazil this time is unbeatable, we accept you back with our open arms as real heroes of Italy.  You are like Champions of the World minus Brazilians who cannot be defeated even if the entire world joined together”.  Though the Italy’s Mnager was afraid knowing he would be the first target of the ire of his people, thank God fear for life finally turned into pleasure of life.

In 1982 tournament in Spain, Brazilian squad was so powerful that even a street boy in Brazil would say their team will win that year’s World Cup and when their team came to the Airport to fly to Spain, they were given a heroes send off saying “we hail you as world champions now only”.  The Brazilian team then was trained by their genius coach Tele Santana.  However, when they reached to the knock-out stage, Brazil unexpectedly lost to Italy where their rejuvenated Paolo Rossi played havoc singlehandedly with the Brazilians by scoring a magnificent hat-trick minus two beautiful goals of Brazil scored beautifully one by their skipper Dr. Socrates and the other by Falcao. To move ahead Brasil needed only the draw but that they could not achieve.

Then Brazil returned back home where their Manager Tele Santana was not only insulted wherever he was spotted but his house was stoned giving him the shock of his life time.

On the positive note, the position of the team Managers especially of National team is become so important and so lucrative that the chain smoker Team Manager Cesar Menotti of Argentina held World Cup 1978, almost for three months continuously, for every 48 hours he was receiving one offer from all over the World offering him the post of Manger of their Teams, either National or Club. This indicates how important is this post.

When Kuwait embarked on to totally revamp  its policy on Soccer and to build not only a strong national team but also to lay a strong foundation for its foot-ball, Kuwait hired the services of a World best Coach from Brazil, Mario Zagallo who was the Coach of 1970 Brazilian World Cup winning team, who also did his job for the Brazilian squad of 1974. When Kuwait hired Mario Zagallo in 1974 Kuwait was paying him 20,000 dollars per month with everything found. Some foot-ball pundits from all around the globe knowing Zagallo joined Kuwait which is like a foot-ball mosquito, they scorned at Zagallo but Zagallo had confidence in him and besides such a fantastic remuneration who will pay him?  Within a short period he totally changed the outlook not only of Kuwaiti National team but also put a strong base for its junior level soccer.  As a result, within a year Kuwait won the Arab Cup, played not only in the Olympics but also played in the World Cup 82 held n Spain. THIS is the power and importance of the Team mmanager who is capable of creating wonders for this reason the services of expert Team Managers are sought all over the world. 

   

A.Veronica Fernandes.

SEMI-FINALS OF WORLD CUP 18.

Victory to England against Sweden was deservingly gained and loss of home Country  Russia against Croatia is a big blow to them.  But none can do anything about it to undo this loss to Russia.  It was very sad view to see the thousands of vociferous Russian spectators supporting their home team to win this match.   The decider acquired thru the Penalties looked to be very unfortunate even though both the teams fought well to gain the supremacy of this clash.

The first clash between the two European teams  Sweden and England though not so rich in terms of display of the play yet England had an upper hand throughout where skipper Kane played in a heroic role the “captan’s inning” extremely well. He also as  on now is the leading goal scorer  with the tally reaching to 6 goals. Will he succeed in creating a new record by scoring more goals in one tournament than all his predecessors?  Or he will go for “Match Fixing” phenomenon which is very much common in Cricket?

In their first time ever participation in the World Cup tournament held in England in 1966, Portugal was one of the most powerful teams among all the 16 participating teams since this was the maximum number of contestants permitted then.  The increase came later on by 8 teams first and finally by another 8 reaching to the current 32. Portugal had a very powerful team comprising the world best front liner, a Mocambiqan  born Eusebio along with his compatriot and the captain of their team Coluna who like a Wall of Gibraltar stood firm to guard his team’s citadel. Among the others who were of world class standard were the forwards Torres and Jose Augusto.  With this powerful team in the qualifying round itself, Portugal defeated Pele’s Brazil and sent Brazil back home.

Pele was astonished to see in another Portuguese speaking country, Portugal, there appeared in the Constellation of most shining Star in Eusebio whose  goals made Brazil as cockroach in front of Portuguese Lions. After the match Pele came to Eusebio hugged him tightly and gifted his Jersey to Eusebio by saying “ Take my Jersey for you because now YOU ARE PELE”.  The real Pele is no more the king of foot-ball, now you are the King of Foot-ball”.  Then the world Press and commentators flashed this  news to all over the globe.  Immediately then Eusebio scripted his Autobiography titled “MY NAME IS EUSEBIO” which was an English translation, original being in Portuguese the language Eusebio spoke.  Additonally this book was translated into 3 – 4 more languages. In this Autobiography, Eusebio by paying rich tributes to Pele says “Pele is really a great player and do not compare me to him, he has his own uniqueness and greatness as I have mine too. Hence, do not call me Pele but call me Eusebio because MY NAME IS EUSEBIO”.  Before his departure back to Lisboa from England after Portugal lost in the semi-final against the home country England, Eusebio was invited by the then British Premier Wilson and when the British premier got up to welcome Eusebio, in the words of Eusebio himself, “Purely in a Portuguese style I shook hand with the British premier’.

In that book, Eusebio says that when Portugal was qualified to participate in that World Cup tournament in England he was sure to win the award for highest number of individual goals in a particular tournament.  Yet still he decided to have a pact between him and Jose Augusto whose job will be to supply more and more Balls  to Eusebio so that Eusebio scores more goals.  And precisely because Jose Augusto did his job well, Eusebio implemented his plan successfully, finally Eusebio became the highest individual scorer of that tournament.  Portugal that time was so sure to win the Cup but in the semi-final in a last minute change in the venue, the encounter was shifted to Wembley Stadium which was more advantageous to England. Then for the Third Place spot, Portugal clashed with the Soviet Russia whose goal posts were manned by the mighty Keeper Lev Yaschin who was considered as the greatest Goalkeeper this planet has ever produced.  In the second goal Eusebio scored from the Penalty, Eusebio pointed his finger to Yaschin indicating his intention to Yachin that he is shooting the ball to his right corner and he did it but yet Yaschin failed to dive to the direction Eusebio indicated.

After that encounter, a mediaman asked Eusebio why you hit the Penalty so hard?  Replied Eusebio “Penalty means 100% goal and to ensure that it becomes a goal, if by chance the opponent’s goalkeeper puts his hand to the ball to prevent it from going into the net, the power of the shot should break the hand of the goal-keeper and the ball must enter into the net.

Will we ever get to see another Eusebio?

A.Veronica Fernandes.

                                                                                                          

WORLD CUP 18 - THE LAST GIANT FINALLY COLLAPSED..

Belgium played well yesterday and deservingly they merit the victory. It is not an  easy task for any team leave aside Brazil, to recover from such a lead especially when Belgium is not a minnow. No doubt it may not have the fabulous grandeur and rich tradition as a foot-balling nation in Europe and in the World but from what soccer they dished out yesterday, it really makes them the deserving winners. Brazil basking on its past glories though their team was very good yet they failed themselves and also to their supporters miserably. 

The team that concedes two goals one after the other in the first session itself especially the mighty foot-balling powerhouse like Brazil has got no right to move further.  The first goal was a self goal, I agree, but instead of bringing an equalizer, Brazil conceded yet one more goal which was so beautiful. It was one of the best goals scored so far in this tourney.  It all happened because yesterday Brazil defense was in total disarray leaving big space empty especially from their left side.

   

Another main reason behind their defeat was that when they entered the field in the first session they look as if they are come to play a friendly game for the Carnival without indicating much of the seriousness normally they indicate.  Marcelo was the main culprit in holding the ball in his possession for the longer period thereby alerting his opponents to fortify their citadel even though he played a leading role yesterday.

Neymar is also another culprit who failed miserably by conceding the ball to his opponents after unnecessarily trying to dribble past number of opponents when he could easily pass the ball to his colleague.  Once he loses the ball to his opponents he is incapable to regain it whence he totally surrenders.  He now looks to me immature to rise up to the occasion. Though Brazil lost to a better side yet with their exit much of the interest and charm existed in this tournament is gone. After all Brazil is Brazil with the fabulous tradition of rich soccer.  

  

The second match between Uruguay and France was very  nice where France to my astonishment played extremely well and rightly carried the day by demolishing not only the game plan of Uruguay but also their traditional roughness which is ingrained in the blood of South Americans.  Earlier we saw how Columbia behaved on the field using rough tactics even using their heads to hit their opponents.

When I saw France yesterday it reminded me of their earlier foot-ballers like Platini, Guiress, Tigana and others  who belonged to that golden era of French soccer.  They will do very well in the next encounter because every time they take up the field they come up with improved performance and now they are already in that groove just like Italy was in 1982.  That time the Italians came up like slaves when they started their campaign but while going home back they went like masters taking the World Cup along with them where Paolo Rossi was the hero not only of their team but of the entire tournament though just before the beginning of their journey he was discarded. Their national President Sandro Pertini  gave them the Presidential welcome in his special Plane back to Italy.  I think something similar will happen to France this time.  They have a well balanced team in all the segments but not a single hero to turn into a zero ultimately.  Their finishers mainly the trio of Rafael, Criezmann and youngster Mbappe are in devastating form that will make them unstoppable.

All the best for the above semi-finalists.

A.Veronica Fernandes.  

  

                                                  

WORLD CUP 18 KNOCK-OUT STAGE.

After completing the second phase of the World Cup tournament in Russia, from today the third phase of second knock-out stage is going to start where 8 teams will be vying for the penultimate spot in the cluster of 4 teams.  In the first phase  where all the 32 qualified teams participated, who  ever thought that the giants of foot-balling nations like Argentina, Germany and Spain  will collapse like a pack of cards in the first round itself while Portugal in the second round? Other than Portugal the remaining teams are previous World Cup winners not only once but more than once like Germany and Argentina.

That in this tournament organized by Russia, giants will collapse came to be known when another giant Italy was thrown out in the qualifying stage only thereby giving an impression that some “Surprise Teams” will unexpectedly come to the fore and rule the world.  In fact,  almost in every World Cup  tournament there is bound to be a Surprise Team which may reach to the penultimate  stage or not but these teams create surprises especially for the giants as North Korea created in 1966 World Cup, good that the Mozambican born Black Panther, Eusebio  D’Silva of Portugal produced a class of a hat-trick when they were down by 3 goals and went on giving a magnificent victory of 5-3 to our former masters. Earlier North Korea ousted  Italian giants from that tournament.

The 2 of the giants knocked out of this tournament in the first stage Argentina and in the second stage Portugal were under the impression that their 2 World best heroes namely Messi and Ronaldo respectively will win them the Championship for their countries.  But I pity their soccer wisdom because foot-ball is not an individual sport where one relies on individual but foot-ball is a TEAM Sport where every individual is as important as the other, where every team member plays his individual role in co-operation with the other.  What Messi and  Ronaldo with all their individual brilliance can do without the excellent support of their other colleagues?  In 1986 W.Cup, Maradona though excellent as an individual player yet he attained the success only because of the presence of his other colleagues like Valdano in his team. Even during Pele’s time from 1958 when he first time played for Brazil in the World Cup at the baby age of 16, Pele was not the only player responsible for Brazil to win them the World Cup though he was highly skillful and important member of the Brazilian squads in both the winning World Cups in 1958 and 1962. 

In fact along with Pele there were other giants in their squad namely Garrincha, Zagallo, Vava and others who could change the outlook of their game at the spur of the moment  and put their opponents into total disarray.  In fact according to some soccer experts during that period, it was commented that Garrincha could be much better than Pele if he was not after Drinks.  With his bended legs he was scoring goals directly from the corner kicks.  Poor guy at the time of his death he died a very miserable death as unsung and forgotten hero deserted by his wife and others, even Pele did not attend to his funeral where his Funeral Cortege was brought to the Maracana Stadium in order to respect him for his excellent display of artistic soccer he played at the Maracana Stadium where thousands of his fans and spectators and well wishers too thronged to have his final glimpses. He played his last World Cup in 1966 in England where he even scored one of his trademark magnificent goals. HE spoiled his life at the early age itself by going after excessive women and Drinks. 

From 1978 I am watching the live coverage of every World Cup, thanks to Kuwait that afforded me so many opportunities to see and to enjoy so many things, of course without missing a single match. Only this time I missed a few encounters in the first round because of my hospitalization.  Besides, to supplement my thirst for more information on these World Cup tournaments I was regularly reading some of the World renowned soccer Magazines either as a subscriber or as a member of British Council Library.  In fact when I got myself registered as a subscriber of World Best  Soccer  Magazine “WORLD SOCCER” from England in 1975 the year I landed in Kuwait, I was told that I was the only subscriber of this magazine in whole of Kuwait. From my first meager salary in Kuwait I purchased the most expensive and the MOST Best book on soccer written by Pele, the title of that Book was “PLAY FOOT-BALL WITH PELE” where Pele gives 11 different lessons to the 11 different players on 11 different positions. 

When I saw this Book in one of the Showcases in the topmost Book Shop in Kuwait, I asked the price of that Book with the Palestinian Counter Salesman there who not only in his traditional prideful discipline downgraded my capacity and willingness to purchase it but more than that he scorned at me by posing a counter question,” you will buy such world renown books?  And what is your foot-ball quality to buy such books? You are an Indian who does not know to play the game of soccer" and concluded by saying insultingly of course, “please get lost from here and don’t waste my time”.  I remained cool and removed my purse from my pocket”.  Surprised he became told me in a defeated tone that this is the only book we received for Sales Promotion and it is still lying in our Showcase for over a year. But you being an Indian you surprised me, said he, but I did not utter a single word because I wanted that book to come in my hand first before somebody a crazy person like me, after foot-ball, could purchase it.

After watching so many World Cup Tournaments, I feel this is so far one of the best tournaments where in every aspect of the game all the teams rose up and displayed the same type of soccer standard as displayed by the best in the World though some of them may be losers.  The attacks were initiated from both the flanks keeping the space in the middle for both the outers and inners to  mount pressure on their opponents near the goalmouth of their opponents thus creating goal scoring opportunites.

The other most  important aspect I noticed in this tournament was the accurate passing,  pushing the ball even thru the small gaps and openings and these passes were very hard hitting. Erratic long distance shooting was avoided and most important improvement was the physical fitness where every player runs like a sprinter and exchanges his position without anybody’s notice.

The other major improvement was the skill of goalkeeping where the goalkeepers use not only their hands but their entire bodies from heads to the toes for stopping the ball from entering into the nets.

Regarding the one and the only remaining super footballer in this tournament, the Brazilian Neymar, I feel it is our luck that we got an opportunity to see more of his excellence which is really fantastic especially running with the ball even thru the wall made by the defenders and feeding his colleagues who are really exceptional and whom I can rate much higher than those of magnificent Brazilan squad of 1982. Especial mention must be made for the rocky defense Brazilian are creating with sure footed goal line clearances.  It is going to be a thriller to watch the Brazilians entertaining the spectators and viewers all around the globe. 

Meantime, watch out Uruguay and Croatia for producing Surprises in this tournament.

Good Luck to all the Quarter finalists.

       

A.Veronica Fernandes.