Once in four years the world shrinks. And it shrinks really small - as small as a football. The latest such event happened some time ago in Germany. And for once, our lonely blue Planet began to turn black and white. It was football (or soccer as it is also known) everywhere and anywhere. Even a cricket crazy country like India forgot the Men in Blue toiling away in West Indies and decided to focus on the green turfs of Germany.
The madness started well before the actual start of the World Cup. And it was not restricted to countries which qualified for the finals (no one knew there was a country named Togo). Products were sold by organizing competitions promising the winners anything from a trip to Germany to even a Golden boot. And our office was full of posters / pamphlets / notebooks with the entire schedule and boxes to track the results. The subject of all our coffee corner gossips and cafeteria discussions were focused on just one thing - football. "Will Rooney play?" "Which country will spring a surprise?" "Is Ronaldo still good enough?" "Can Beckham bend it?" We also documented our predictions (just to ensure no one cheats!!!). Some of us wanted Germany to win from a corner of our heart because of very obvious reasons.
The madness reached unimaginable heights once the greatest show on Earth started with Germany facing Costa Rica. Any sane or insane person always had football on his or her mind. But India is in the wrong time zone - which meant long days followed by equally long nights. It was common to see red-eyed sleepless faces almost everyday. And questions were getting answered as the match count increased - Beckham can still bend it and Ronaldo is still good, though in patches.
India is a diverse country. And this was also reflected in the medium used by its people to view the matches. We had roadside giant screens erected by hardcore fans so that everyone can see the matches. This made the already pathetic traffic situation even worse. The televisions in front of electronic stores were crowded with anxious faces (some even demanded that the shop be kept open till late night so that they can see all the matches). The happy hours in pubs were conveniently shifted to accommodate the matches. Almost every pub or restaurant had a television or a giant screen to show the matches. But some preferred to meet in a friend's place and do some cooking, drinking and relax and enjoy the matches. Whatever the medium was, it was all pure fun - high fives with people you don't know, a big sigh if the ball hits the bar and a loud curse if someone was shown the red card (especially if it is someone who answers to the name of Rooney). Anyone who saw this would have imagined that Indian team is doing really good in the World Cup!!!
What a month it was - the pure artistry of the Brazilian players, the aggressiveness of the Portugal warriors, the determination of the French musketeers, the skill of the German sons and the never-say-die spirit of all the players sporting their country colors. It really made me feel one with every citizen of this wonderful planet. Football - a sport which touches and links every soul. One team won the World Cup, but the whole world felt the spirit. As they all say, till we meet again in South Africa - keep the spirit going.
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