Cup Fever
The 2010 FIFA World Cup is driving us insane. As 32 nations fight for the ultimate glory in world football, there is a party happening in every football loving city, which practically means the entire world. But the World Cup is just not about the game. The passion, the frenzy which consumes players and fans alike transcends to a mélange of interests and activities that range from food to music, from dancing to hooliganism, from clothing to movies. We make an attempt to encapsulate the spirit of the World Cup in our special feature on its madness and its triumphs
Run Messi Run...
Indian national football team captain Baichung Bhutia shares his thoughts on teams and players to look out for in World Cup 2010
Baichung Bhutia
What if India is ranked 133rd in world football rankings? What if we are not part of the football extravaganza? No one is stopping us from watching the game on TV and being part of the frenzy and excitement. Folks, it is indeed the “Waca Waca time” here in South Africa and
India at large.
And our very own football captain, Baichung Bhutia is not lagging behind. Starting
11 June, the biggest sporting event will witness Bhutia along with the whole of India cheering for his teams and players.
For Bhutia, too, has his favourites. According to the Indian skipper, the top eight teams in the tournament will be Argentina, Brazil, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, England and The Netherlands. However, Bhutia’s money is on Spain, who he thinks will lift the FIFA World Cup this time around.
The skipper fondly remembers the first time he watched the World Cup. It was in 1986, when Maradona had netted the everlasting memories in the mind of football fans with the “goal of the century” against England in the quarter finals. An ardent admirer of the “Diego” style, Bhutia believes Maradona’s trump card - Lionel Messi - is one player to follow closely this World Cup.
The other players who he thinks can make a difference are Christiano Ronaldo fromPortugal and Wayne Rooney from England. Their national squads depend heavily on these former Manchester United mates.
As for the Spaniards, Xavi Alonso, Fernando Torres and Andres Iniesta are sure to catch the eye of the soccer fans and experts alike. On Bhutia’s wish list, the Brazilians are not far behind; hence, Julio Cesar, Kaka and Maicon will surely enchant the fans with their dribbling skill. A few other names that the Indian skipper believes can turn heads are, Samuel Eto'O of Cameroon, and Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka of France.
Bhutia, who is an exceptional footballer himself and the only Indian to play for a foreign club in England 11 years back, laments about the state of the game in India. A sport which he represents in the highest order is nowhere in the reckoning on the world platform. He fervently believes that there is a lot of scope for improvement in Indian football.
But he sees a silver lining on the horizon as young and talented players like Subroto Paul and Sunil Chhetri are beginning to make it in world soccer. This indeed gives hope to other budding footballers from India to dream big.
And when it comes to dreaming big, the most controversial and talented footballer- turned-coach Maradona can’t be far behind. Maradona is ready to run naked if Argentina wins the World Cup and Bhutia believes, “If Beckenbauer (Franz) could realise his dream, so can Maradona.” So here are ‘best whishes’ from Bhutia and rest assured he will be cheering, ‘run Messi run…’
As soccer mania grips the world, Bhutia will be at his home in Kolkata, changing diapers of his newborn twin daughters and savouring the daily dosage of football carnival.
