The 20th version of the Federation Internatoionale de Football Association World Cup would have got off to its scheduled start well before this column sees the light of day. Also the result of the curtain raiser between the host country and Croatia will be known worldwide. It is a month-long football fiesta in the land of most successful nation in the history of the World Cup. Already the Jules Rimet Trophy under their belt five times -the original for perpetuity for three wins before others, the Brazilians are in search of the sixth title on their home soil. Many believe the team under supervision of famed coach Scolari is quite capable of earning the honour once more this time.
At a time when the land of famous Samba dance should have captured the euphoric mood of what has rightly been called the greatest show on earth involving 32 qualifiers, not all is well on the front of national unity. Allegations that the government of Dilma Rousseff is more interested in pouring money in FIFA-prescribed facilities, many of which are sure to become redundant soon after the WC is over, than in making it available for changing the lot of the poor have triggered protests -not without violence at times. Then there is the usual share of lawlessness involving drug business and related crimes.
Clearly, the on-field and off-field pictures have never been so conflicting in the previous host countries where football is not a near religion unlike in Brazil. This is most surprising. Today the game is more than a religion bringing together a cocktail of thriving business, entertainment, hero worship, national ethos, professionalism and on the negative side elements of scandals including that of sex, hooliganism and racial hatred. Then what has gone amiss that the Brazilians cannot be one in responding to the big event even though the tournament has returned to their soil after 64 years? A popular belief was that the all-consuming football passion runs deep and high among the Brazilians. It seems some are at least disillusioned with the game that may have gained in artistry, wizardry, speed and technique but lost the deep bond on account of intrusion of big money in it.
Turning a game of heart into a commercial product may transform it into a money-spinning industry, but in the process its soul simply gets sold. The passion and emotion that run high over football or cricket in developing countries like Bangladesh surely have their reasons ingrained in the peoples' psychology. With their colonial past together with a sense of inferiority haunting them subconsciously, they find an opportunity in this mega competition to exact revenge. It is the only world stage where countries not on a par with the most advanced ones prove their superiority. They derive a kind of vicarious pleasure courtesy of a select few of their kinds. The Latinos have proved it long ago, the Africans are fast catching up with them and the Asians too are improving but they still have miles to go.
This explains why the Bangladeshis or for that matter peoples of the sub-continent are most fond of either Brazil or Argentina. Sport god has also been amply kind in this respect. A long line of highly talented footballers has been produced by these two nations. And the greatest two of them -Pele and Maradona hail from Brazil and Argentina respectively. Today Argentine Messi and Portugal's Ronaldo are in contention for the top player of the world. Yet Messi and his team along with rising Brazilian Neymar and his team draw the larger following compared to Ronaldo and his Portugal in this part of the world.
Brazil have showcased their footballing prowess and this has got the better of the political agitation on the one hand and on the other helped at least some of the country's citizens see through the smokescreen that hides away the ugly marks of poor and developing nations. Any other country with less or no footballing legacy or tradition would have been on its feet and grateful for the honour bestowed on it to host the football's most prestigious event. Just imagine how a country of Bangldesh's stature would have overwhelmed by the favour granted to it for hosting the show. Qatar is no exception to this rule. Now the FIFA seems to be on the dock for allowing that country to host the 2022 World Cup. If FIFA officials have been bribed to get the hosting right, as reported, this should be thoroughly investigated to set things straight. If the football's highest body is unclean, the game will lose more than its share in the years to come.
Today football excels in professionalism and competitiveness because of the game's appeal to all and sundry. No other game is so simple and yet so beautiful. Even the illiterate and the man on the street can appreciate the thrill and fierce competitiveness of the game. So mesmerizing it turns at times with the most gifted of players or one so unexpected proving all predictions wrong seconds before the final whistle, creating footballing history. For some though it is fait accompli and for others it is rich dividends bestowed generously. Life unfolds in all its glory and then there is an inexplicable void that confronts a few. Both its bright and dark sides are on display through this game.
This competition will also produce a champion and an icon or two. Whoever is fortunate to hold aloft the Cup, the other deserving will feel they have been deprived of the honour by the Sport god who seems to be a little biased towards the elite club of eight so far.
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