FIFA fans a frenzy

Gaurav Kanthwal

When there are 32 countries vying for top honours, there are bound to be thousands of fans cheering them too. FIFA World Cup is one event where you come across the freakiest of fans. In Russia, their colourful dresses, quirky antics and wild celebrations are creating a spectacle. Closely following them are football fanatics, who have travelled thousands of kilometres on bikes and on foot to shower their love on the teams.

Rihanna, Kanye West at play

Football fans from England sing the famous 1960s’ song, ‘Three Lions’, to buck up their team, but researchers from Brunel University, London, say music could help players deal with stress too. Playing popular music by Rihanna or Kanye West in the changing rooms could give the teams a big psychological edge over the rivals. The study says that ‘Post To Be’ by Omarion, ‘Pour It Up’ by Rihanna, ‘Blood On The Leaves’ by Kanye West and ‘The Catch Up’ by Drake are the most played songs among the players before a big match. “Our study illustrates how music plays a pivotal role in enhancing group cohesion in elite football,” said psycho-physiologist Marcelo Bigliassi.

Flirt zone

Even if one is watching all matches, there’s a lot of free time. Don’t know what to do with it? Try getting to know the Russians — on Tinder. The app is coming handy for fans from abroad, who don’t mind some love coming their way. Moscow’s World Cup fan zone, near the city’s main university, has become a flirt zone, a Russian daily cheekily suggested. “It’s a bit like holiday romances, except that we will stay here,” said Lyubov, a Russian teenager.

A warning given by Communist lawmaker Tamara Pletneva seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Ahead of the opening ceremony, Pletneva had warned local women that flings with visiting fans could leave them raising children “of another race” alone. “We should be giving birth to our own children,” said Pletneva, who leads the lower house of parliament’s family, women and children committee.

Mikhail Degtyaryov, an MP from the ultra-nationalist LDPR party, had the opposite to say. “The more love stories we have connected to the World Cup, the more children are born... the better,” he said. The Kremlin, however, holds a sober view. “Russian women can probably manage their own affairs. They are the best women in the world,” Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

How to get lucky? Oops!

The Argentinians are trying hard. Their football association in May drew flak for publishing a dubious manual offering tips on “how to get lucky with a Russian girl.” It was widely condemned as sexist and the federation’s head had to do the firefighting by apologising for the mistake.

Vuvuzelas are back

Remember the constant irritating noise during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. It is back with a vengeance in Russia. The 65,000 capacity Saint Petersburg stadium reverberated with this dreaded bugle for the full duration of the Morocco Vs Iran match on June 15.

Mordovian soccer

The fans who have gathered at Saransk, Mordovia, in eastern Russia, have taken a fancy to a localised version of football known as Mordovian soccer. The sport, also known as Lapotball, is turning out to be a huge hit with foreign fans here. Lapot in Russian refers to the traditional shoes made of vine, which the residents used to wear in old days. These shoes are made up of the inner part of the plant and are also called bast shoes. The bark of the same plant is used as a base to make a soccer ball. And that’s all you require to play this poor cousin of football.

Off the field

It seems South Koreans are taking their World Cup campaign very seriously this time. The team management has imposed on the team strict restrictions regarding use of social networking sites and bringing WAGs along. The players can meet their family members, but cannot bring them to the team hotel. They can’t post on social networking sites too. South Korea Football Association vice-president Choi Young-il said, “If we become a team that can reach Round 16 regularly, the players meeting their family members and girlfriends at the team hotel may be accepted.” South Korean head coach Shin Tae-yong has also imposed a strict ban on alcohol. “The players can not have a drink  before the game,” he said.