I am not one of those who stay glued to television during World Cup Football matches. However, intrigued by the unbridled passion all around, I do catch a few. And once there, more than the game itself, what fascinates me is the pitting of man against man under extreme circumstances. In a level playing field, where each player is almost as good or bad as the rest, one or two still stand head and shoulders above others. What makes them better than the best?
I like to observe how men behave towards each other under extremely provocative circumstances. Do they stick to character? Do they care about right and wrong, fair or unfair – or is it all guns drawn and to hell with morality? I find fascinating the sharp contrast between a roaring Maradona with his obscene double finger gesture towards the field and the quietly effective Messi down on his knees with a grateful finger of each hand pointing to the Heavens. Two pointing fingers — each expressing the same joy — yet a world of a difference.
And all that aggression on the field! The taut lines of bodies, the bursting sinews, barely-controlled facial expressions, expletives dancing on lips and blazing eyes – how is such fury, such passion whipped up? And under all that blistering testosterone is the fear of meeting the expectations of millions. The adoration of millions can be a heady intoxication – but it doesn’t take long for public adoration to change to anger, pity or even hatred. The spotlight is not everyone’s cup of tea. While Ronaldo adores it and flowers under it, Messi shies away and wilts under all that attention. And yet, inborn talent is quite another force that drives them.
Then again, I wonder at all the antics on the field knowing these invite penalties – hitting, hurting, holding back, elbowing and kicking! For instance, in the Argentina vs. Nigeria match, I wonder if it was an unthinking raw instinct that urged Javier Mascherano to hold back Leon Balogun in the box, or a calculated move that went wrong? For those who missed the match, this was what led to the penalty that saw Victor Moses drive home a goal that gave Argentina a decided fright. When referees differ widely in decisions from one game to another over seemingly similar circumstances - don't you worry about how fair and square can a game be ultimately?
Does it not make you wonder over the part Destiny plays in a victory or loss – apart from all talent, discipline, practice and preparations? But then, whose Destiny? Is it the collective destiny of each individual who plays in the team, or is it the Destiny of the nation? Can one individual’s destiny change the decision for an entire team – just like one super talented individual can spell that difference for a team?
Then off the field, there are instances that reveal a lot about a country’s culture and its people’s values. The synchronised warm-up dance of Senegal was testimony to the country’s joyous celebration of life. The Japanese revealed discipline and sense of responsibility when they cleaned up the stadium after scoring a win over Colombia. Apparently, they do it even if they lose. Senegal fans also cleaned up after scoring a win over Poland.
However, the most touching scenes from the football field are right after a match – when all passion spent, the victors bow in gratitude and go into a team huddle with pride and unadulterated joy, while the losing side bows down in defeat and each one is alone in his despair. To watch grown men cry is heart-rending… And yet this is the defining moment where it all begins and ends. Glad I watched some matches – got interesting insights into human behaviour on and off the field.
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