Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'FIFA World Cup 2018 was very interesting' that was published in Newsband

FIFA World Cup 2018 was very interesting

FIFA World Cup 2018 had a lot of surprises and excitement. It was most entertaining. The final was a thrilling spectacle featuring surprises, errors, and loads of goals. France, which secured its second World Cup, was the best of the lot.

French were workmanlike, conservative, efficient, organised, and clinical. Deschamps achieved the ultimate objective. Kylian Mbappe, who at 19 became the youngest to score in the World Cup final since Pele, showed glimpses of his extraordinary potential. France had players of African descent making up over half the squad.

This was a World Cup of shocks: Germany crashed out in the opening phase. Spain and Argentina faltered in the round-of-16, and Brazil in the quarterfinals. The likes of Croatia and Uruguay advanced farther than expected.

Russia put on a great show as host. The baton has now been handed over to Qatar, which in 2022 will host a winter World Cup for the first time. FIFA has approved the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams in 2026.

In cricket, surprises are welcomed by the fans because cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties. But football is a game of, by and for individual brilliant players. Fans would not relish unexpected victories or losses. If this trend continues sooner or later the game would lose the spectators.

The French captain commented about France's multicultural society, which got reflected in its national team & its performance & they are feeling very proud about it. We Indians should take similar pride in our plural nature & nurture it without falling in the trap of communal game of politics by some political parties.

We always wait for FIFA world cup for four years. We too follow the preliminary rounds. Football is a people's game & should remain a people's game but football has been hijacked by corporate sectors. There are corruption, scandals, political meddling. There are business tuned to crores & crores. The crisis ridden European countries used this FIFA to hide their economic crisis & raise raw Nationalism. As a whole it is the victory of Black power & migrants. So we can say WE ARE THE WORLD & People without border.

For India football should be promoted. At least football grounds should be given to play in all schools. Rest will emerge in India. We have enough talents.

Even though the results are unexpected and there was no proving excellence by branded teams and players, the spirit of the game was kept and the hosting country made good reception and hospitality both to the players and the fans of football. Even in the global tournament to come only spirit of the game is to be cherished rather than celebrating branded countries for their nuanced performance.