Just 3 more days to go and the much awaited ball will start rolling on June 9 in Munich with the opening match between Germany and Costa Rica. The biggest soccer event, FIFA World Cup, may just a game for some but for some football is far more than just another game.
Be it a land of Pele, Brazil or Maradona's land, Argentina or the town of downward glances football is just not a game either.
For the Marxist philosopher Janus Mazursky,"Football is a religion in Brazil, that unifies a nation ravaged by many ills." For the average Brazilians the national football players are gods and the mood of the nation rests on the performance of their star players.When it comes to soccer, Brazilians stand united despite its deep-seated equality problems and poverty, the government corruption scandals,the low salaries and unemployment. Despite of all these problems, it continues to be the world leader in football.
During the world cup, big screens will be erected in street corners and pubs, while offices will close four hours before the start of every match Brazil plays. The Sub-way Metro plans to increase the frequency of trains during that period to enable people to reach their destination.
Surely, for the next few weeks the land of Pele and Samba will run high on patriotism and festivity.
Which side you belong to?
Argentina will play against IvoryCoast on June 10 in Hamburg. Well, this will not be a must-see world cup match for most of the Germans, but in the small town of Herzogenaurach, a decades-old feud will be played out on the pitch when they meet on June 10.
This small town, known as the " town of downward glances" is a home of two famous sportswear makers, Adidas and Puma. Argentina is sponsered by Adidas while IvoryCoast is sponsered by Puma and here at this place-bitter rivals founded by two brothers who fell out almost 60 years ago and never made up.
Strangely enough, here in Herzogenaurach, the shoes you wear are the statement of which side you belong to.
For decades, life in the town has been defined by the two sports wear brands, making some places no go areas for people with the "wrong" shoes. And can you imagine, so strict is the line that locals claim even marriages between Adidas and Puma families were rare until the 1970s!
Isn't it strange?
I am sure you get the reason why its not just another game.
Its just more than a game.
