The CONMEBOL Renaissance!

Humanity has to be eternally grateful to Europe for umpteen reasons. For starters, they salvaged history and the arts from the dark ages to the 'let-there-be-light' zone through renaissance. Then they found the New World and annexed the souls of its inhabitants for the holy church and retained gold from its palaces for the royal treasuries.

And then the revolutions, paving way for democracy and human rights and the rest of the fringe benefits of the political circus that replaced monarchy.

And they still follow the rich traditions, fighting injustice and raising their voice when and wherever it is required and, at times, even when it is not required. The French are masters of the art, but of-course - The French Revolution – how can we ever forget!

And in South Africa it was Nicholas Anelka who did a ‘pseudo-Napolean’, with some good-old rants garnished with a couple of F-words, directed at the Le Blues' nutty-professor Domenech. The Coach and the blue-bloods from the French Football Association weren't amused. Anelka gets the Guillotine.

But the French, following rich traditions, rise and revolt, abstaining from practice the next day. Indeed patriots! But aren't they supposed to play football and bring forth a revolution through goals!

At least the French can learn from the English. They never revolted against the totalitarian rule of Don Capello. Instead they played their best; which is as boring as watching the “Sitcom hit” FRIENDS.

Ex-Captain and lover-boy John Terry stood up though, only to be shown the seat by Mr Capello, probably saying: “Thou shall warm the benches from now on.”

Defending champions Italy are not far behind, but with the Azzuri, it is their coach Lippi who is doing the lip-work saying, “they are disobedient”.

But then, at least, the Europeans at the World Cup are doing justice to their illustrious history by fighting against injustice even if it means forgetting what they are there for in the first place. The only blot being Holland, who are very busy winning matches in style.

On the contrary what are the much-hyped South Americans doing at the World Cup. Brazil won their two matches easily with patches of brilliance; Argentina were ‘Messifully clinical’; Paraguay, Uruguay and Chile are playing their version of 'El Jogo Bonito'.

So far, the teams from Latin America have been the best lot in South Africa.
But why aren't they fighting for humanity? How one-dimensional these Latinos are, just playing football and not creating any fuss about it! Where is their social responsibility?

For your information, football is their social responsibility! And the smiles on the Latin American fans after each match show what these players are doing for their so called impoverished countries.

Hope through football in a way; renaissance in a way; revolution in a way... VIVA CONMEBOL!

Klose your big mouth!

They say ‘what goes around will come around’; and the age-old saying is all so true on the soccer field where good-old poetic justice is just a strike or a miss-hit away.

And for lovers of the game, it is a pleasure to witness justice when the ‘big-talking’ ‘gyaan giving’ players of the World Cup get a taste of their own medicine, not by verbal volleys, but on the field.

Ask Miroslav Klose and he will tell you more!

Klose made fun of England the other day, pointing out the Three Lions’ dismal record in taking penalties. “If we play England we know if it goes to a shootout we will beat them,” Klose was quoted in an English tabloid. The German striker adding that he wants to face Steven Gerrard and Co in the pre-quarterfinals as he knows they will win on penalties.

Klose was speaking just after Germany ran through Australia in their opening Group C match while England’s opening match was a howler-featured 1-1 draw with the Americans.

Klose can, of course, be pardoned for being confident. But there is a fine line between being confident and over-confident. You have to be either a Maradona or a Messi to be overconfident dear ‘German goal-machine’. Otherwise fate will hit you hard and it could happen just in a matter of days!

Time: Early evening; place: Port Elizabeth; Date: Friday (June 18); Result: Soccer triumphs! Lucas Podolski stepped up to the spot with just the Serbian goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic in the “Christ-the-redeemer” pose in front of him. The scene was from the 60th minute of Germany’s second Group match against the minnows of the Cup.

The Germans were searching for an equalizer after going behind 0-1. Podolski faltered or rather Stojkovic guessed right as he jumped to the left to parry the weak penalty kick wide. And the “best team in the Cup” so far lost to Serbia, who I would say, played with passion the Germans could only talk about these days.

And where was Mr. Klose when all this happened? He was cooling off in the dressing room after getting sent off earlier in the match. All talk and no action eh ‘Herr Striker’.

Efficient planners that they are, Joachim Loew and his men were already scheming for a possible second round match against England. Now they will have enough time to plan on how to get there first, somehow.

While, Klose can now sit out fingers crossed as his countrymen fight to stay alive in the tournament. Justice indeed!

Cup beginnings

This is simple. It is just an attempt to pen my thoughts during the big event in South Africa - the Fifa World Cup. Of course, other big events may be featured in the future. I know, the last sentence sounds like a disclaimer. Maybe it is.

So here we go!