Celebration called Football!

The carnival has come to its last stage. It has been a celebration all along. From the first goal by Philip Lahm,Germany to the rise and rise of Zizou. It has never failed to spring a surprise. It has not been just an event; it has been more than that. It was sprinkled with all emotions just as a bhaji pav(an Indian dish made by mixing all vegetables). The fans have had much to cheer about as well as jeer about. It has been a wonderful enigma in which everyone has been immersed.

The Football world Cup is an event which transcends boundaries and is the only one to do so. It makes people cry, howl, angry, anguished and also burst into joy. All packed in 90 minutes. It’s simple yet sophisticated. A street toddler will also watch the game with as much passion as a rich gizmo in his hallowed four walls. The trophy designed by an Italian draws so much fervor and anticipation that the players give more than a hundred percent. The penalty shootouts which always turn out to be nerve wracking are a part and parcel of the game. But behind all this excitement the big picture has a different say.

The Football World Cup is an event which brings people close. As President of Germany, Horst Koehler told the newspaper that Germans must try to sustain the new-found patriotism they discovered during the tournament, when for the first time since the war waving German flags and singing the national anthem were accepted as natural gestures of healthy national pride. "We are on the right track toward standing up for ourselves and taking pride in what we have achieved since 1945," he said. "The Germans identify with this country and its national colors. I think that is terrific."
How many times have we seen Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and Germany’s chancellor Angela Merkel enjoy the match together? France which has been labeled in the past as one of the racist countries, is now going gung-ho on the Algerian born Zinedine Zidane. Especially the matches between the countries who ruled in the past and the ruled country have been stimulating. After England lost out on penalty shoot outs, a humble town in the north of England called Ashton-under-Lyne, will still be celebrating the success of home grown Simone Perotta, the Italian midfielder. If Brazil lost, the whole of West Bengal went into a mourning. That’s the power of Football.

One more remarkable thing was the efficiency of German Administration. Almost every match went on smoothly. We have to give the credit to Franz Beckenbauer and his support staff. The fans, players and the German people have enjoyed the tournament to the fullest.

It’s been a beautiful show, with all trumpets and glitterati. It has been a tournament which has had its fair share of controversies, magic from the magicians, hard work from the not so talented, and of course a breeding ground for young legs. Its time we all sit up and watch the most beautiful show on earth on the 9th of July and savour it for life.