Truly, it was an unsure Football fan that was born when I saw the match between France and Togo. I had been an honest follower of Cricket for quite some time, even putting my SSLC exams in jeopardy. But then, the game has faded away from my repertoire of interest since the match fixing scandals, the sudden rise and fall of Ganguly's men and the unsure attitude the team seems to project. The team has won triumphantly so many times, even has earned title of "Chasers", but, it is an instinct sometimes called the "Killer Instinct" still eludes our team. We lose tragically as though we can never win if a few things go wrong or a few signs of loss seem to loom. Cricket lovers may say otherwise.
For some time Tennis charmed me. There was just one reason, the same mentioned above, the 'Killer instinct". Matches are drawn out not by skill but by attitude. "You have to kill me to beat me" is the watchword. Each point is a war. Players seem to go any extent to save another pitch of the ball. It was mesmerizing when I had the first feel of it, when the "eternal Wimbledon loser" Goran Ivanesevic won the slam against all odds sheerly on his attitude. Detractors always claimed the climate and fortune to be his companion, still, Patrick rafter, Agassi were players at their peaks and beating each one of them must have taken something more than climate and fortune. Today we see a nearly 20 year old give, the best ever Tennis player, Roger Federer, a run for his French open glory and money alike. He seems to dig out some divine intervention just when things seem to go out of hand. We see players 2 sets down to come back fighting and win the match out of the blue. I guess that attitude prompted me to watch the match of France for whom yet another first round exit seemed destiny. A written off team of aging legs, missing out on their star playmaker Zizou trotted on the field against another of the African debutants. Situation seemed to be the same for Togo on the verge of losing their money ‘cos of lack of a good performance. They had to fight too. This raised the bars higher as ball started moving. The first half was a goal less one, but, very inspired one. Trezeguet’s vain assaults and uninspiring Henry carried through for France while Africans kept up the assault and matched the French. Togo defended very well as Ribery continued to torment the defenders with some excuisite display only to end up hitting the ball out of the post. Ribery was all over the field throughout the match. He seems to be emerging to as a force to reckon with. Second half came and just when portents of a drawn match emerged, Patrick Vierra came in from nowhere to kick the first goal for the French. It was celebration time. It was a good effort, with Vierra needing to turn around a complete 180 degrees before punching the ball into the net. As though this was not enough, Henry scored soon there after and sealed the game in favor of the Les Bleus to enter the round of 16. So Zizou lived on for another match to add to his tally. It was a very convincing win.But it was not all over yet. It was going to be Spain in the next round. And as my friends consoled me for supporting a team which was anyway going to lose to young blood of Spain, I remained steadfast on my bets. France it was and it will too, I proclaimed.
And the day arrived, the very day I was born 24 years back. Commentators claimed a 3-0 or 3-1 drubbing to be handed over to the French and truly it seemed to go that way with a penalty shot going in favor of Spaniards. It was 1-0. And then the turnaround happened, Zizou seemed to come back to life all of a sudden and so did the whole team. Although, the ball possession was a mere 31% compared to the 69% of spain, France scored 3 goals from Vierra, Zidane and Ribery. France had the turnaround. It was hilarious, awesome. So often it happens that when the underdogs fight all odds to emerge victorious, it evokes a feeling of invincibility in us despite all odds. I cherish that feeling irrespective of the sport. So wat next? Bets on France against Brazil. Yes it is!!!! HOPE- ‘cos
A human being can live for40 days without water8 minutes without airbut not even 1 second without hope.... a bit of an exaggeration. Still, hoping against Hope is a thrill to endure.
For some time Tennis charmed me. There was just one reason, the same mentioned above, the 'Killer instinct". Matches are drawn out not by skill but by attitude. "You have to kill me to beat me" is the watchword. Each point is a war. Players seem to go any extent to save another pitch of the ball. It was mesmerizing when I had the first feel of it, when the "eternal Wimbledon loser" Goran Ivanesevic won the slam against all odds sheerly on his attitude. Detractors always claimed the climate and fortune to be his companion, still, Patrick rafter, Agassi were players at their peaks and beating each one of them must have taken something more than climate and fortune. Today we see a nearly 20 year old give, the best ever Tennis player, Roger Federer, a run for his French open glory and money alike. He seems to dig out some divine intervention just when things seem to go out of hand. We see players 2 sets down to come back fighting and win the match out of the blue. I guess that attitude prompted me to watch the match of France for whom yet another first round exit seemed destiny. A written off team of aging legs, missing out on their star playmaker Zizou trotted on the field against another of the African debutants. Situation seemed to be the same for Togo on the verge of losing their money ‘cos of lack of a good performance. They had to fight too. This raised the bars higher as ball started moving. The first half was a goal less one, but, very inspired one. Trezeguet’s vain assaults and uninspiring Henry carried through for France while Africans kept up the assault and matched the French. Togo defended very well as Ribery continued to torment the defenders with some excuisite display only to end up hitting the ball out of the post. Ribery was all over the field throughout the match. He seems to be emerging to as a force to reckon with. Second half came and just when portents of a drawn match emerged, Patrick Vierra came in from nowhere to kick the first goal for the French. It was celebration time. It was a good effort, with Vierra needing to turn around a complete 180 degrees before punching the ball into the net. As though this was not enough, Henry scored soon there after and sealed the game in favor of the Les Bleus to enter the round of 16. So Zizou lived on for another match to add to his tally. It was a very convincing win.But it was not all over yet. It was going to be Spain in the next round. And as my friends consoled me for supporting a team which was anyway going to lose to young blood of Spain, I remained steadfast on my bets. France it was and it will too, I proclaimed.
And the day arrived, the very day I was born 24 years back. Commentators claimed a 3-0 or 3-1 drubbing to be handed over to the French and truly it seemed to go that way with a penalty shot going in favor of Spaniards. It was 1-0. And then the turnaround happened, Zizou seemed to come back to life all of a sudden and so did the whole team. Although, the ball possession was a mere 31% compared to the 69% of spain, France scored 3 goals from Vierra, Zidane and Ribery. France had the turnaround. It was hilarious, awesome. So often it happens that when the underdogs fight all odds to emerge victorious, it evokes a feeling of invincibility in us despite all odds. I cherish that feeling irrespective of the sport. So wat next? Bets on France against Brazil. Yes it is!!!! HOPE- ‘cos
A human being can live for40 days without water8 minutes without airbut not even 1 second without hope.... a bit of an exaggeration. Still, hoping against Hope is a thrill to endure.
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