FIFA FEVER

Every four years the fans wait eagerly, patiently, and hopefully, while the players slog, work out, play hard, practice, practice, and practice some more….. and here we are waiting for the whistle to blow for the 2022 FIFA World Cup final game between Argentina and the defending champion France.

These two teams with many experienced, dedicated, quick footed professional players have clashed only three times, in 1930 and 1978 Argentina beat France in group matches, and in 2018 were beaten by France in the ‘round of 16’. France has won the coveted FIFA WC trophy in 1998 and 2018, while Argentina were the 1978 and 1986 champions.

Who will it be today?
As the hours drag by, I am mulling over a few things like- is this game today between two countries or is it Messi vs. Mbappe? Will the gentle football legend Messi achieve the one record he lacks? Is this really his last World cup? Who is going to get the Golden Boot? Who will win the Golden Ball award? We will just have to wait and watch…

Lionel Messi, the Argentinian hero, has left an indelible mark and is regarded as one of the greatest football (soccer) players all times. At 35, Messi holds the record of playing in 5 world cups, and scoring in his teens, 20’s and 30’s. In this World Cup, he has scored 5 goals and assisted or created chances for three more.

Kylian Mbappe, the talented French scorer, is just 23 years old. He is the highest paid football player earning 9.09 crores/year. Like Messi he is known for his dribbling, speed, and finishing touch. Both of them are vying for the Golden boot and Golden Ball awards. Both are the teammates and play for the Paris Saint-Germain club.

But as we all know, individual players alone can not win games and these two teams share this credit with their managers both talented professional footballers Didier C. Deschamps for France and Lionel Scaloni who coaches Argentina.

It is hard to make people understand that the sun will rise tomorrow, whether you win or lose. —Lionel Scaloni

B-TOWN CELEBS IN QATAR
Bollywood will make its presence at the FIFA World Cup 2022 with dancer Nora Fatehi taking part in the closing ceremony of FIFA World Cup 2022 and superstar Deepika Padukone is expected to unveil the FIFA World Cup trophy at the Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar ahead of the final on Sunday. It is a huge honour for Indian celebs. Shah Rukh Khan will be attending the finals of the FIFA World Cup 2022 from the studios of Jio Cinemas. The actor will be present during the broadcast of the game, while he will not be in Qatar.