Folks, brace yourselves for deadly fire from Selecao
What you need to know:
- A total of 64 matches involving 32 teams will be on the menu, all played in a single, action packed month. Already the tension has started building.
- Will the efficient Germans retain the title? Their talismanic goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, one time considered the best No. 1 in the world, has been ruled out of the Russian tournament.
- Brazil – and I have to publicly declare here that they are my favourites, have been since I started following international football several decades ago – have been sweating over the availability of their super, super star Neymar.
It’s that time to get delirious with football.
It is exactly one month to go before the madness begins. That time when grownups behave irrationally as they get caught up in this football delirium that comes once every four years.
It is that time when in many homes men, rarely seen in the house before midnight, suddenly take a keen interest in watching television and decree that since they in fact bought the contraption they will be the ones in charge of the remote control for the rest of the month!
That time when university students warn the power utility authorities with deadly seriousness that should there be a blackout, unmitigated destruction of certain properties will occur.
It will be that time when, for the umpteenth time, after several attempts to secure leave, but in vain, I will be resigned to the fact that it will be another Fifa World Cup season to balance between work and play.
A total of 64 matches involving 32 teams will be on the menu, all played in a single, action packed month. Already the tension has started building.
Will the efficient Germans retain the title? Their talismanic goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, one time considered the best No. 1 in the world, has been ruled out of the Russian tournament.
Brazil – and I have to publicly declare here that they are my favourites, have been since I started following international football several decades ago – have been sweating over the availability of their super, super star Neymar.
James Koileken, a good friend of mine who could easily have made it to Harambee Stars had his personal debate on football career versus academics gone the other away, but nonetheless a brilliant football brain with a knack for predicting results right, has observed that Brazil have the talent, and, in fact, play better without Neymar.
He has a point if you go back four years. The majority of Brazilians would think otherwise.
Argentina only just squeaked through the South America qualifiers and have a waning Leonel Messi. Spain are not the Tiki-Taka football poetry in motion team of a decade ago.
Aging Ronaldo and Portugal, the echoes of Eusebio exploits in 1966 now a distant clap, attempt to make a mark at this stage.
My colleague Japheth Mutinda, a passionate football fan who ended his nondescript playing career rather prematurely, avers the African teams – Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria and Senegal will struggle in Russia, the presence of star players Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane, Alex Iwobi, Kalidou Koulibaly et al notwithstanding.
Debate rages on in homes, pubs, offices and on the streets on who will win football’s greatest prize come July 15.
That has always been the case with the World Cup since its first edition in 1930.
But take note, that since Uruguay clinched the inaugural title only seven other nationals have won the crown – Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy, France, Spain and England.
So, what’s your pick? Keep it here at Nation Sports, as we countdown to the big kick off in Russia. May my beloved Selecao triumph again as my delirium takes me to Capocabana and silky-voiced serenading Samba girls.
