Football Fever

Two months back, if you would have said Balotelli, I would have thought it was the scientific name of a vicious bacteria species. If you would have said D Maria, I would have conjured up the image of a short, fat plumber rescuing a princess. If you would have mentioned football, it wouldn't have meant more than a ball and two goal posts to me.

But this last month has been a new experience as I started looking at football through the right end of the telescope.  The whole world had their adrenaline pumping as thrilling goals and unbelievable misses made their way to our hearts. The FIFA world cup 2014 has brought with it a fever. A viral fever, spreading like wildfire from Brazil to Malaysia, America to Columbia. And with the whole world rotating on the axis of FIFA, why would India be left behind?

Indians have always been crazy about football. Even though our country is not one of the participating teams, the viewership for this game has been more than that of hockey and tennis put together and is second only to cricket. Every morning, once in four years, when FIFA grips the nation, we see tired office goers discussing the previous night’s (or early morning’s) matches, their haggard eyes still alive with the zeal of the match. And this year again, the fever has caught on!

And why wouldn't it catch on? There have been some amazing moments in this tournament. Remember that goal Messi kicked in the Argentina vs. Iran match? Right in the 91st minute! And those six marvelous goals by Rodriguez this season, the biting Suarez who trended all over every social networking site, the spectacular saves by Tim Howard against Belgium (15 saves in a world cup match!). The crowds cheering madly, the players lashing out at the ball, the rush of victory when a goal is scored, everyone piling up on each other with fervent exuberance! And the tears of outrageous frustration when the goal is missed! It is palpable, and it is infectious.

But footballers are not only goals and scores, they are style and funk too! What’s with their obsession with crazy hair styles? Be it David Luiz’s curly mop or Balotelli’s thin Mohawk. These players are a gold mine for bizarre hairstyles.

And the bizarreness doesn't end here! Why do the participating teams have sex rules? It seems Russia, Bosnia, Chile and Mexico players aren't allowed to have sex in the entire tournament. No wonder they didn't make it to the semifinals. Their extreme testosterone levels must have made them forget how to kick a goal!

Anyway, FIFA 2014 is gripping the world in its clutches. Its peppy official song with Pitbull and JLo singing “Ole Ole Ola” with all their hearts slowly grows on you! The tournament has reached its climax with Brazil, Argentina, Netherlands and Germany battling out the semifinals. I can nearly hear the thud of excited heartbeats everywhere as fans wait with bated breath, putting their faith on their favourite teams.

And for me, a non-football fan, I am just a by stander crooning “Put your flags up in the sky” under my breath and hoping the best team wins!

Cheers! :)