Chandigarh, July 3
The battle lines have been drawn and the excitement is building for what promises to be the most popular sporting event in the world. The World Cup Football 2006!
All eyes are now fixed on the outcome of the first semifinal match between Germany and Italy, to be played tomorrow i.e. on July 5 and in another semifinal the 1998 champions France will face Portugal, who have made it to the semifinal after a gap of around 40 years, on July 6.
With five times champion Brazil's dismissal at the hands of France, the whole scenario of the world cup this year has gone topsy-turvy. This year's world cup holds significance as for the past five years the Latin American teams dominated the scene.They remained winners three
times. But this time it is going to be an all-European affair after a draught of 24 years.
The ouster of teams like Brazil, Argentina and England have paved the way for the favourites Germany and France, who are supposed to be the hot contenders for the World Cup 2006. Of the two, Germany squad is riding an unprecedented wave of support.
A cross section of people were unanimous in their views that Germany and France would face each other in the final, but on who would be the champion between them, no one seemed to be sure as both teams are well balanced.
Jatinder, a coach with the Chandigarh Football Academy, is of the view that age factor also plays an important role in this game of speed. “France's stalwarts are all 30 plus where ones stamina and strength is on the verge of decline, that's what we say generally, as a coach. Comparatively, Germany has a better bunch of players and above all they have the home advantage. On the other hand, France will have to depend on their strikers Zinedine Zindane and Thierry Henry that, too, if they could maintain their winning spree. So in my view, both the teams would cross swords in finals and Germany has an edge over France. But I must say, it was a biggest upset with the ouster of Brazil. If the final would be between Germany and Brazil it would have been Brazil. Now, at present state, Germany will clinch the coveted winners' title with one or two goals lead without any goal against it, I suppose, as their goalkeeper Lehman is an asset to the team,” he opined.
Vikramjeet Singh, the Indian u-14 football team captain, was of the view that it would be interesting to see the semifinals between the European teams. Germany and France will face each other in the final tie. As I feel France will defeat Portugal in the semifinal, though Portugal's Ricardo and Lui Figo are good players but they lack distribution sense and play somewhat individual game. In another semifinal, Germany will thrash Italy but their key players Ballack, Lehman and their coach Juergen Klinzmann will have to make strategy to find an answer to the France's strikers Zinedine Zidane and Henry. If France plays the same way they did against Brazil, Germany has little chance. In all, it would be a spectacle to watch the battle.”
The India u-17 football team member, Sukhwinder Kumar felt, “France is my favourite team. With France beating Brazil in quarterfinal match, their confidence level must have shoot up and players like Sagnol, Arik Abdil and Zindane make a good overall package. France's defence is in full flow which they showed in the match against Brazil. I am sure they will be hard nut to crack.”
So keep your fingers crossed for Wednesday.
