From Russia With Love20/7/2018 32 countries. One dream. One shot at glory. For a month, the world stood still. Billions watched with bated breath. The World Cup has its own magical aura, one that transcends time, space, culture, and religion. There is something quite ethereal about the World Cup that is difficult to capture in words. Despite the quality of football being lower to the elite teams of Europe such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, or Juventus, international football holds a certain gravitas that unites people from all countries, cultures, and backgrounds. Perhaps it is due to the frequency of the tournament, which makes it rarer than a blue moon, shining bright. Perhaps it is the raw passion and nationalism on display by the fans and players alike, compelling them to play through injury, sickness, and fatigue. Or perhaps it is the opportunity to show supremacy due to diversity on a global scale, as demonstrated by the success of the French national team, comprised largely of African immigrants, in winning the cup. Football has always been rife with social and political issues. From the fierce and gritty competitiveness between Liverpool and Manchester United dating back to the industrial revolution, to the highly intense and culturally significance of El Clasico between Real Madrid and Barcelona manifesting as a fight for independence, football seems to shape, and be shaped by, the events of the times. Hence, it is not completely unforeseen that the biggest sporting event of the biggest sport in the world, held in one of the more politically volatile countries in the world, would be shrouded in controversy reflecting the tense political atmosphere of modern society. From the moment of its inception, there were accusations of Russian doping and match fixing. Certainly, it was amplified due to their scarce representation - with the US not qualifying and England having low expectations as norm - that made the West more inclined to find faults. Russia’s human rights were also called into question. However, nothing could stand in the way of this World Cup. Invigorated by the Soyuz spirit of the Motherland, the game seemed to have been rejuvenated. It felt as if the sport had been reborn, injected with new life, one that burns bright and fast, bringing in a sense of chaos, surprise, and unpredictability. Thousands of years ago, David struck down Goliath with one swift stroke. Today, that myth was reincarnated in this World Cup. The unexpected became the expected. One by one, the giants of football fell – Germany, Brazil, Spain, Argentina – and from their ashes, like a phoenix shining bright, rose a new generation of players, paving the way for a new era of the sport. An era, at its core, defined by numbers. Numbers, everywhere. Numbers behind the finances of clubs and teams, as football begins to embrace commerce, discarding its political and cultural roots. Numbers, behind the movements of players, their fitness, their skill. Numbers of profit and loss. The beautiful game is no longer beautiful, but merely an asset for businessmen, billionaires, and multinational corporations. Moving on from the days of the Brazilian flair joga bonito and the rapid tiki taka Spanish passing showcasing the natural talents and artistry of the players, the game has now evolved. In a way, it is ironic that football goes back to its English roots of tactical, defensive, counter attacking play, whilst in the middle of Russia. Evidently, there is a clear trend showcasing the decline of beauty of football, while simultaneously portraying a rise in practicality. Perhaps, even now, the sport continues to reflect the current political atmosphere. As the world begins to shift away from a more idealistic, utopian perspective to a more conservative, self centered one, so does football. After centuries, the two seemingly remain intertwined. Yet, the appeal of this edition of the tournament was unprecedented, akin to how countries have begun accepting radical notions with an alarming majority. The interconnectivity between football and the world’s politics does not look to diminish anytime soon. FC Barcelona and it’s reign over Spanish football still stands as a symbol of freedom against Spanish rule. The French National Team still represents the strength and prosperity possible through unity and diversity. The US National Team is still a lesson in disguise, elucidating the dangers of clinging on to ancient and conservative ways of thinking. The most prominent symbol of all, however, is the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar in 2022. Shrouded under the large shadows of corruption and human rights violations through slave labour, the next edition of the competition is already highly controversial. But perhaps, it represents something more. Perhaps, it depicts for the growing, rotten mentality and corruption that taints the beautiful game. Perhaps, it is a microcosm for the deteriorating condition of society under questionable leadership. Whether it be FIFA or certain world leaders, one thing is clear – recent years have been a warning, as the world transitions from the beauty of the good old days to potentially darker days. In the middle of this, the Russia 2018 World Cup stands as a reminder of better times, but also acts as a metaphor, showing the changing of the guard as the old paves the way for the new. It also shines as a beacon of hope, indicating that things may not be so bad after all, whether it be due to VAR in football, or due to the increasing unity between the peoples of the world. One thing is set in stone: regardless of how bad the situation gets, people will always look forward to the World Cup. It transcends all boundaries, and absorbs everyone and everything in its magic, inspiring passion and unity across countries. What comes next remains to be seen.
Till then, Do Svidaniya. From Russia, With Love.
2 Comments
Aayush Guptaa
20/7/2018 20:08:18
Allez les bleus
Reply
Aayush Gupta
20/7/2018 22:14:02
Oui Monsieur
Reply
Leave a Reply.Aayush GuptaAspiring writer and photographer, looking to showcase his work. Archives
June 2018
Categories |