FIFA World Cup Final – Argentina vs France – One of the best matches I have seen. Both were equal. Finally, someone has to win. Argentina won in penalty kicks – score equal (3:3) after regular-time and extra-time. Congratulations Argentina.
I watched most of the matches on TV. Here are my observation and thoughts:
Cannot imagine Argentina losing to Saudi Arabia (initial rounds)
Tunisia upsets France, defending world cup champion (initial rounds)
Morocco upsetting Portugal (quarter finals)
The mighty and favorite Brazil eliminated by Croatia (quarter finals)
When smaller countries like Senegal, Croatia, Morocco can qualify for world cup, why can’t bigger countries like India, China, Pakistan qualify?
Japanese spectators cleaning the stadium after the match. They are the classiest fans.
A friend of mine went to Qatar to watch couple of matches. He said all the stadiums were fully airconditioned.
One thing I loved in all the players from every team is their theatrics. Any slight contact with the opponent player, they will fall down crying as if every bone in their body was broken. If they were in such a pain, medics and ambulance should take them away from the game. But they get up and continue to play.
These are only games. Are famous and popular star players being bigger than the game?
Not with Portugal’s Coach Fernando Santos.
Fernando Santos dropped their world-famous player and Captain Cristiano Ronaldo for the last round 16 game against Switzerland due to Ronaldo’s attitude problem. Santos made him a substitute for the quarter finals against Morocco and allowed him to play late in the second half.
My thought goes: Will any of the Indian cricket team’s coach/manager has the guts to drop a world-famous Indian cricket player during the world cup quarter finals because of his attitude problem?* Just leave alone the Indians.
Will any of America’s National Football League’s coach/manager has the guts to drop their famous quarterback during playoffs towards Super Bowl because of his attitude problem?
I think not.
Salute to Fernando Santos.
* I was informed by Mr. KP that an Indian coach dropped a female cricket player for the semi final match during world cup. I do not know if she was dropped for disciplinary problem or any other issue. In the case of Ronaldo, I was mentioning disciplinary problem.
France was off-colour In first half though they were good in the second half. Arg was good throughout.
ReplyDeleteIn India Women cricket the coach Romesh Powar dropped Mithali in Semifinal of a world cup.
Thanks for your comments Mr. KP. I am glad you told me about Romesh Powar and Mithali. Thanks for the info.
DeleteI need to watch the highlights of the finals. Will do it soon.
ReplyDeleteI have not heard about Croatia or Morocco as being heavyweights in Football. So, Kudos to both the teams.
Thanks for your comments Rajesh. Croatia and Morocco are not heavy weights. But they beat heavyweight s in the quarter finals to come to the semi finals.
DeleteWhat a final!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments ashok. Yes, Sir.
DeleteI am not a football fan, I just watch a match or two because friends are watching it and yet the final was so thrilling for me. I can only image how exciting it would be for those who were actually supporting a team and really invested in the match
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Pooja.
DeleteWell said. I am not much of a football buff, but the final was fun. To me, the highlight of the tournament was the conduct of the Japanese team. For all the hoopla and noise around FIFA, they proved to the world, once again, that grace and discipline stands apart
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Dwiti.
DeleteSo true. After falling, the players rise up and continue playing despite the drama a few seconds earlier!
ReplyDeleteThe football fans feel rewarded.
Did you watch the video of Argentina fans out on the streets celebrating their victory?
Thanks for your comments Anita. Yes, I watched the celebrations. It was a spectacle.
DeleteNot a football fan but good to read your blog . Advance new year wishes :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Shilpa. Happy New Year Shilpa.
DeleteThis World Cup was full of surprises!
ReplyDeleteTrue, India has so many football fans and, the game is quite popular too. It's surprising India isn't able to get into the world league, not just in football, but in various other disciplines,
Interestingly, we seem to be doing better in individual sports, rather than completely team events.
Thanks for your comments Pradeep.
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