The Cup of Life is here again and football fanatics are ready for the big fight in Russia. An otherwise cricket-loving nation that revels even in an entertainment sporting event like the IPL is all set for the real ball game that begins on June 15. Football fans have already short-listed their favourites this World Cup and started a mental math of who are going to prevail in the quarters. Though teams like Italy and the Netherlands did not qualify and this is a real setback, it has not reduced the excitement even an iota. Why? Because this is the last chance for Messi to snatch the Cup home, because there are two debutants which might spring surprises, because not-so-favourite teams like Egypt can be the Dark Horse in the quarters line-up with their favourite players and because not one or two team defines World Cup.
As the cup brims with expectations and excitement, Monojit Mandal speaks to Shillong Lajong FC team members to know what they are looking forward to. From their favourite teams to players, the football fans speak their heart out with a little introspection about India’s chances to be there and do that.
Aiban Kupar Dohling,
Footballer
Dohling, a Manchester United fan, is supporting England but also loves to watch France play as “they have some really good players”.
England has a young team this time with many first-timers.
The 22-year-old footballer says Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Spain are the teams he is expecting in the semifinals. “They have good experienced players in the biggest leagues for the best clubs,” says Dohling whose picks this World Cup are Kylian Mbappe and Marcis Rashford.
Portugal, the winner of Euro16, is Dohling’s dark horse pick. “The team probably has the best player in Cristiano Ronaldo. They are a very different team in the knockout rounds as we saw in Euro 2016,” the young footballer observes. However, Dohling does not see much hope for the host team though he admits that Russia have some exciting players. Round of 16 is his prediction.
This World Cup will see two debut teams – Iceland and Panama. What does he think about them? Dohling points out that the Cup is a big event and “shocks and disappointments” always mark the game. “So you never know,” is the reply.
But how long will Indian football fanatics worship heroes of countries and when will they get to see their countrymen rub shoulders with the likes of Messi and Ronaldo — this is the question that every exasperated football fan in the country asks before World Cups. Dohling has an answer.
“I think we have failed because of the lack of development at the grassroots level and for poor infrastructure. Also, our country is cricket-crazy so we have more kids going into cricket… but I feel football has improved very much in the last five years… we are growing and to be honest we are in the right direction and let’s hope we are not far from being in the World Cup.”
Taking the conversation out of the field, Dohling says he loved the official song of the Cup, Live it Up, by Nicky Jam but his favourite is Waving Flag from the 2010 World Cup because it “had the emotions and passion of both a footballer and a fan”.
“It’s a special event… I can’t wait for it,” says Dohling.
Alison Kharsyntiew,
Coach
“It’s going to be very competitive this time because most teams are equally good and with top quality players,” says an excited Kharsyntiew, who has been following World Cup since childhood without any break.
Besides the dominating names in the game, Kharsyntiew is also prepared for big surprises from small teams because “that is the beauty of football”.
But some important teams, like Italy and the Netherlands, will be away from the action and Kharsyntiew says he will miss seeing them play. The other two teams who did not qualify for the World Cup are Chile and the US.
“Moreover, we will also miss to watch some of the top players like Dani Alves (injured), Christian Pulisic, Alexis Sanchez and Arjen Robben, all of whom failed to qualify,” he says. Like every year, this time too Kharsyntiew is supporting Brazil. He says the squad has an attacking force that includes players like Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City), Coutinho (FC Barcelona), Neymar (PSG), Willian (Chelsea) and Roberto Firmino (Liverpool). “Hopefully they will combine well as a team and win the Cup.”
Besides Brazil, Kharsyntiew is also banking on France with their balanced team and impressive bench strength.
“But if you ask me pick the Dark Horse, it is Iceland (Vikings Thunder Clap) because in Euro 2016, they defeated England in the round of 16 and qualified to the quaterfinals. They might shock the world again,” says the experienced coach. The debutant have “good players who have played in foreign leagues”.
When asked about the other first-timer, Panama, Alison says it is the most veteran team in this World Cup and have an experienced coach in Hernan Dario Gomez. “He took charge of Columbia in 1998 WC and Ecuador in 2002 WC. I hope he can bring out the best in the players and the team. Panama are in Group G with Belgium, England and Tunisia. It will be very difficult for them to qualify for the next round but early to say that, they might cause problems to teams who will face them.”
Kharsyntiew echoed Aiban while talking about the host team, which is in Group A with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. Despite the advantage of home support, the Shillong Lajong coach is doubtful about the team reaching the quarters. He has already made a list of Top 10 players and France’s Kyllian Mbappe tops the chart followed by Argentina’s Paulo Dybala and Brazil’s Gabriel Jesus. “Let’s hope Mohamed Salah recovers from his injury before the Cup because he has been brilliant for Liverpool this season and I’m confident that he can perform well for Egypt as well,” says Alison whose favourite Cup song so far is Cup of Life by Ricky Martin from 1998.
Indian setback
Talking about Indian hopes, Kharsyntiew gives a sequence of events in the history of domestic football. He says India began its football journey in 1938 and the team’s first game was with Australia, the host. India won the game, lost three and drew one. In 1950, India were automatically qualified for the World Cup in Brazil but they could not participate because of travel cost. In 1952, India got selected for Olympic Games in Finland but they were disqualified because they played barefoot.
The period between 1951 and 1962 was the golden era in Indian football. In 1951, they were champions of the Asian Games. In 1956, India finished fourth in Olympic Games, in 1962 they won the Asian Games by beating South Korea.
“India had a very strong culture and good history of football. India’s current FIFA ranking is 97. It’s the best ranking in 20years. But what was holding us back to reach to a higher level? I will give you an example of Germany, the power house in world football. After their failure in Euro 2000, they brought a change to the fundamental level of football in Germany. They constructed 52 centres for football excellence and 350 regional coaching centres in the country.
“Another example is Iceland. With a population of 335,000, they initiated an ambitious project of building seven indoor football halls and 200 small all-weather pitches in some of the remote villages in the country so that football can be played by anyone all the year round. Moreover, Iceland’s most promising talents were quickly moved on to more competitive European leagues to get better experience. So far, they have proved that with the right direction and right investment, everyone has a chance.
“With good football infrastructure, good investment, good coaching education and a competitive league, I’m sure that India will be closer to reach the World Cup,” says Kharsyntiew with much hope.
So what is he looking forward to this World Cup? “The quality of transition, excellent tactics and strategy from the coaches and brilliant team/individual play,” he says.
Birendar Thapa
Team manager
Thapa is also a Brazil fan. “It is the only team that has not missed a single World Cup berth since its start. Also, Brazil has produced so many great players — Pele, Zico, Romario, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho to name a few… This time too they have good players and they are a very strong side,” says Thapa who feels Belgium can be the dark horse this time.
However, he dismisses the host team saying they hardly have a chance.
Eden Michael Hazard, Mohamed Salah, Messi and Antoine Griezmann are the players on his list of favourites this time.
Thapa says he has not seen Iceland and Panama play but since they have qualified “they will definitely have decent teams”.
When asked about India, Thapa says it is a long way to go for the country. “First we have to look for the overall development of football right from the grassroots level by having good administration, good ground for training, coaches who have good football knowledge, among other things.”
Thapa says he is excited to see what the Cup has in store this year. Though he likes the official song this year, Thapa’s favourite so far is ‘Waka Waka’ by Shakira.
Habamutlang Lyngdoh,
General manager
The young and emerging talent in France can make an impact and the team is Lyngdoh’s most favourite. He feels they have a chance to win.
But there are other favourites on Lyngdoh’s list. For example he would like to watch Brazil play for their flair and creative players, defending champions Germany which have a well-balanced team, Spain which have a lot of composure and skilful players and Argentina, which “might not have the strongest squad… but I feel Messi will be at his best after a good season in Spain with Barcelona”.
Lyngdoh counts on Belgium and England to emerge as the dark horse.
Asked about his favourite players this time, Lyngdoh quickly gives his list — Isco and Marco Asensio of Spain, Reuben Neves of Portugal, Antoine Griezmann and Nabil Fekir of France, Firmino of Brazil, Leroy Sané of Germany and Kevin De Bruyne of Belgium.
Talking about the host country, Lyngdoh says, “I think Uruguay are favourites to top Group A but Russia have to overcome Egypt to advance to Top 16 round. If they do make it to round 16, I doubt they can make it further due to lack of quality players in their team.”
Lyngdoh is confident that both Panama and Iceland will give a tough fight to their opponents. “I don’t think Panama can win any point in the group stage against England or Belgium but stand a chance against Tunisia. On the other hand, I have a feeling that Iceland might upset Croatia in their group and advance to top 16 with Argentina.”
Talking about the excitement factor this time, Lyngdoh points out that this will be the first World Cup in Russia. “Also, since the World Cup is held once every four years, it will be special to see stand-out performers from countries that are not favourites but can upset the bigger teams,” he adds.
On the official anthem this year, Lyngdoh says the tune could have been “more catchy” like ‘The Cup of Life’, which is his favourite.
Asked about India’s missed chances for decades now, Lyngdoh says there are several impediments like lack of grassroots football in the last 50 years, no proper infrastructure and vision plan “but it’s good to know that all these factors are under progress for the last five years and we hope India can reach the same levels of European team in 25-30 years”. A long time before Indian fans can cheer for their home team but for now Lyngdoh is all geared up to cheer for his favourites from around the world.
“My expectations and excitement for this edition of the FIFA World Cup are very high. There are many countries which have become more competitive and it is not possible to point out just two or three teams as favourites to win the Cup,” he says.
Samuel James Lyngdoh Kynshi,
Footballer
The youngest I-League goal scorer from Meghalaya who was part of the U-18 Youth League Champions of the Indian Squad says he loves Brazil’s style of play and is supporting the team that have the “best squad”.
Kynshi picks Egypt, with Mohamed Salah in the team, as the dark horse. Besides Salah, his player pick is Neymar as “he’s one of the best forward right now and because he’s my idol”. He too does not see much hope for Russia and feels Iceland and Panama won’t qualify for round of 16.
Asked about the Indian dream, Kynshi says football is not really a sport enjoyed by most Indians. “But I think by the way the sport has grown in the past couple of years, grassroots programmes being launched in different parts of the country, it won’t be long till India qualifies for the World Cup. I can’t say exactly when but maybe in the next 10 years,” he asserts.
Kynshi, whose favourite World Cup song is ‘Waka Waka’, says for him, the special moment would be Brazil winning the Cup for the sixth time and Neymar winning the Golden boot or Golden ball.
WC trivia
India withdrew from the 1950 World Cup because of FIFA regulations that players would not be allowed to play barefoot
Oliver Kahn is the only
goalkeeper in the history of FIFA to have won the Golden Ball trophy
Out of 19 world cups, South America and European
countries have won 9 and 10 titles, respectively
Sir Viv Richards is the only person to have played both World Cup Football and World Cup Cricket. He played football for Antigua in 1974 World cup qualifiers