Pagalavan's Avatar

It has been 3 weeks since I last posted an article in my blog. I am sure you know why! I started watching World Cup since 1982 when I was still in primary school. I had never missed any of the World Cups since then. As the greatest show on earth, it proves to be one of the most exciting sporting event that everyone waits for, every 4 years. I watched the Final of World Cup 2010 between Spain and Holland in Hong Kong as I was attending a Rheumatology conference then. By co-incidence, I watched the opening match of World Cup 2014 between Brazil and Croatia also in Hong Kong, as I was having a family vacation.

Of all the World Cup that I watched over the last 32 years, I must say that this years’ World Cup is the best I have seen. It was a World Cup filled with goals, excitement, upsets and unexpected underdogs. Top European countries like Italy, Portugal, England and Spain crashing out of the tournament in group stage where as underdogs like Costa Rica, Algeria, Columbia , Mexico showing flowing football that brought most of them to Round of 16 and Quarterfinals.

Who would have thought that Holland will whack Spain by 5-1 in one of the earliest of the group matches. Who would have thought that Brazil, the country where football is second to religion will be trashed 7-1 by Germany and 3-0 by Holland? It was a spectacular show with tactical football taking over the stage. Individual skills come second. Brazil should start playing like a team rather than depending on individual skills. Those eras are gone! I am glad that I was in front of the TV when Germany trashed Brazil 7-1 in one of the tournaments biggest upset in history! It was the most humiliating defeat by Brazil, furthermore in their home ground.

Germany has always been the most consistent team in World Cup since 1970s. They work as a team with superb energy and spirit. They deserve to win this World Cup 2014. Along the way they broke numerous World Cup records such as all time top scorer, the country with most number of goals in world cup, the highest score line in a semifinal, the biggest thrashing of a home country, the first country to reach 4 consecutive semifinals , the first european country to win in a south american soil etc etc.

I could not update my blog over the last 3 weeks as I was having sleepless nights while working everyday. Age is catching up and I am not as “fit” as I use to be. Watching the game early mornings is becoming a torture. BUT I will continue to watch these World Cups till I am 6 ft underground!

Good bye World Cup 2014 and I will wait for Russia in 2018………………….