WORLD Cup Russia 2018 ended on Sunday, July 15, with the finals between France and Croatia. Of course, as expected by most football fans, France trounced Croatia 4 – 2.
That’s not taking anything away from Croatia as they were a magnificent, talented and experienced team. But France, although a young team, was too much for them to handle.
Kudos to French coach Didier Deschamps, himself a World Cup winner. He was the captain of the French team that won World Cup 1998 for shaping a bunch of young but talented footballers from different ethnic backgrounds into the formidable Le Bleu along the way winning World Cup 2018.
France rightfully deserves to be champion, likewise for Croatia had they won it; both teams played magnificent football throughout the tournament. No drama, just football.
There was a post in social media and it goes something like this:
“France won the World Cup and our hearts; Croatia lost the World Cup but also won our hearts.”
And we segue to other juicy bits about the World Cup past and present.
Aside from Spain and defending champion Germany, perhaps the biggest disappointment of World Cup Russia 2018 is Brazil.
Brazil, the only country to win the original World Cup trophy, the Jules Rimet Cup (three times 1958, 1962 and 1970 – and get to keep it permanently) and also the only country to win it five times (add 1994 and 2002) played below par during this World Cup.
They were not only playing the standard that football fans were expecting them, which is above world-class; it’s Brazil, the football world is expecting them to play like that.
Worst, they were ridiculed for their antics and flops on the pitch, particularly their star Neymar. His “rolling on the pitch in extreme pain” has become a classic that it’s now called “The Neymar.”
Pele is respected while Neymar is ridiculed; this says so much of Brazil’s current and past football teams.
There was a time when Brazilian football was the standard of excellent football.
On a personal note, moi has always been a fan of Brazil not only in football but music and culture as well. Their “bossa nova” or “samba” is the epitome of jazz fusion.
And that “tall and tan young and lovely” girl from Ipanema (it’s a beach in Rio de Janero, not rubber flip flops) in a string bikini is the definition of sexy.
And who is not a fan of Brazilian women’s volleyball both indoor and most specially beach volleyball?
Pele is perhaps the most popular and respected Brazilian footballer and he won the World Cup three times (1958, 1962 and 1970) playing for Brazil. And for old former footballers like moi along with most fans of the game, the 1970 Brazil team is probably the best and strongest.
Sadly, Neymar currently of the 2018 Brazil World Cup team is no Pele, far from it. So moi is not surprised they were finally eliminated.
The surprise there is that Neymar and company got as far as the quarterfinals.
The other sentimental favorite and one that has affinity with the Philippines is of course Spain.
Spain is our “pais natal” or “mother country.” What we are is because of Spain. Our culture, religion, food and way of life whether you admit it or not is strongly influenced by Spain.
After all they ruled us for three centuries. Just take a walk down Iloilo viejo or calle real and you will see the strong Spanish influence.
Football was brought to us by the Spanish friars and it is particularly strong in Catholic schools founded and ran by these friars.
On a personal note, moi will always support Spain and Spanish football simply because my ancestors came on galleons from the Iberian Peninsula.
Of course, it was a disappointment that they were eliminated.
And then there’s England where football originated. The last time an English footballer held the World Cup trophy as champion was 52 years ago, the 1966 World Cup.
As the team progressed through the semifinals, the battle cry was “football is coming home” but it was not meant to be as England lost to Croatia, 2-1.
England is another team that has affinity with the Philippines, particularly Iloilo. It was an Englishman, one Nicholas Loney, that developed our sugar industry and built what we know today as “Muelle Loney” or the Port of Iloilo.
Moi of course supported England and was hoping for a France versus England finals. Unfortunately they were only good enough for fourth place, losing to Belgium 2-nil in the match for third place.
I’ve worked with Englishmen. For two decades I spent some time in England and Scotland and loved “Earl Grey” tea, English muffins and Scones.
Prominent on the playlist in my iPad and iPhone are basically English musicians i.e. Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Rolling Stones and David Bowie, so yes it’s but natural this anglophile supports the three lions.
Finally, please stop calling Alphonse Areola a Filipino because he’s not. He’s French, he represented France in the World Cup, not the Philippines.
Yes, his ethnic origin is Filipino but he chose France. He was invited to play for the Philippine football team but he declined the invitation.
Now there’s nothing wrong with his choice. What is wrong is this notion of claiming glory for the Philippines every time someone of ethnic Filipino origin wins something internationally. (brotherlouie16@gmail.com/PN)
