And for a Friday ….. as the Worlds most watched …..Football World cup is curtains down …. some thoughts …. some musings ….
Whilst cricket is India’s national passion ….football too has huge following … particularly in West Bengal, Kerala, Goa, Mumbai , North East etcetc ….. & ofcourse a national TV audience …the 2026 World Cup had for the first time 48 countries qualifying for the finals …… but the dominance of the European countries is reflected in the numbers …… of the 21 countries from Asia , Middle East & Africa only 3 remained in the knockout round of 16 as compared to 7 of 17 from Europe ……. notwithstanding the huge build up ……the Finals was a damp Squibb…. Spain completely outclassed Argentina ….. they had strategised & executed their plan so well to neutralise Messi ….. imagine Spain had 20 attempts at the Argentinian Goal post to none by the Argentinians …. such was the Spain dominance …..whilst most Indian fans rooted for Messi ….the World Cup winning Goal by Spain’s Ferran Torres was equally rewarding ……as many recalled him as also the Hero in the Under 17 World Cup Final Match at the Salt lake in Kolkata …….he is a favourite of Indian fans ….
This World Cup will be also be remembered in annals of Football history as the most Americanised …. most commercialised & arguably the most politicised ….. particularly around the FIFA president Gianni Infantino & his various omissions & commissions …..the most talked about ofcourse was the US player Folorin Baloguin whose officially issued Red card was reversed enable him play the Quarter finals against Belgium……. also many controversies around the use & rulings of VAR ( Video Assisted Referee) particularly the one which resulted in Egypt’s ouster ……this tournament had its human romanticism too ……. photos released of baby Lamine being bathed by his Mother & Messi …. & as just a teenager at 19 plays opposite the same Messi at age 37 in the finals of the World Cup …..poignant moments in football history ……
World Cup 2026 is over next is the 100 th centenary year in 2030 …. across .6 countries & 3 continents ……Let’s look forward … the sporting way …. the exciting way … the SEEGOS way.