iSporter Hirok Banerjee is looking forward to one of the most exciting encounters in the first round of the FIFA WC 2010 when Brazil take on Portugal.
Friday 25th June, 7-30 pm IST Durban could be witness to one of the greatest modern rivalries in the football world. Christiano Ronaldo and Kaka face off in a match where the two teams play the same style of football. They play to mesmerize truly believing that sports is meant to entertain and they are the actors on a stage in front of an audience. They are both flamboyant teams who bank on a solid midfield with a fearsome striking power. Hardly like the European teams who are reserved and clinical and hence lacking in passion or beauty in their display.
There are two teams from Europe who play the beautiful game as a celebration of skill and grace. Holland and Portugal. While Holland has been known to underperform in every big stage event in the football world, the story of Portugal is interesting. Being confined to the fringes of European footbal post Eusebio, Portugal suddenly came back into the scheme of things in this decade riding on the shoulders of the enigmatic Figo. It is Figo's legacy that Christiano will seek to carry forward. Whether with distinction or not, only time will tell.
Brazil, on the other hand almost always start off as favourites irrespective of the team they have. With the likes of Kaka, Robinho and Kleberson it is a team which has a lot of potential. Maybe not the best Brazil have fielded but in a match if both play attacking football, it will be a treat to savour. Robinho and Kleberson have shown in the last world cup glimpses of the magic that Brazilian footballers are known for.
The world cup generally for the last 5 times have tended to throw up relatively unknown players and made heroes of them. Players who have come as stars and been touted as the ones to watch out for have not really taken the world cup by storm. Roger Milla in 1990, Schillachi in 1994, Zinedine in 1998 were players people hardly knew of. By contrast, the favourites were Baggio, Ronaldo, Figo who hardly made a mark in those. So, it would be hardly surprising if Robinho finds himself as the talk of the town in Africa.
Finally, the match would be won in the middle 60 yards of the ground. Whichever team controls that inevitably will win. If its Deco's day, then Christiano will have enough fodder to feast on in the 90 minutes he will get to pierce the net. If on the other hand Kaka plays then it will be tough to hold Brazil back. So here is hoping for goals galore and may the game truly live up to being a beautiful game.
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