Author: WebDesk

Qatar Caught Up in the Perfect Storm   The Asian champions, who won the 2019 continental tournament so emphatically, just couldn’t get going on the big stage, with the lack of genuinely competitive action since then a big factor in the team’s limp displays.  Even if we steer well clear of the geopolitical and human-rights issues that have been central to almost all western-media coverage of this World Cup in Qatar, what’s noticeable has been the derision directed at the host nation’s team. Dismal in a 2-0 defeat to Ecuador in the tournament opener, Qatar were only marginally better…

Füllkrug Could be Key to German Progress   The old-style centre-forward has had a journeyman career. But the country with a matchless forward tradition now has a team with no real attacking focal point. It needs Niclas Füllkrug’s goals if the efforts of the midfield creators aren’t to be wasted. Germany’s two World Cup games so far couldn’t have been more different. Against Japan in their tournament opener, they had 74 per cent possession and rained in 26 shots at the Japanese goal, as many as nine of them on target. On Sunday night against Spain, they had the…

-Boria Majumdar When Brazil last won the title in 2002, this is how the victory was reported in the Kolkata press the next day, “India didn’t play in the world cup. But they won it on Sunday night on the streets of Kolkata. ‘Bra..aazil’ – some sang others shouted and still others hugged friends in delight. One man – a wizard called Ronaldo – had made their day. Kolkata celebrated Brazil’s record breaking fifth world cup victory as if there was no tomorrow, living up to its reputation of being a true soccer crazy city. Their faces painted yellow and…

-Atreyo Mukhopadhyay There are two things about something called a ‘grounder’ when it comes to the game of football. It means when you hit ball along the ground. First, it is difficult to hit with perfection when taken from a distance. Positioning of the body has to be perfect, head has to be lowered and placed above the ball, and the shooter’s body has to be bent from the waist. Otherwise, the ball will travel in air. Somewhat like cricket, where batters are advised to keep the head above the ball rather than away while executing the drive shot. Second,…

-Debasis Sen Atletico Bilbao strikers Inaki and Nico William’s dream of representing their respective countries in a FIFA World Cup got fulfilled. Nico already made his World Cup debut for Spain against Costa Rica on Wednesday while his brother Inaki started for Ghana in the Group H fixture versus Portugal on Thursday. Inaki could have spoiled the party for Portugal had he not slipped in the dying moments of the match at Stadium 974. Portugal goalkeeper Diego Costa was looking to kill the final few seconds with the ball in his hand in the box, unaware of Williams’ presence…

-Boria Majumdar It was in May 2021 and we were all reeling under the impact of the second wave. Covid had come close to hurting almost each one of us and the scare was deep. Not much was still known about the virus and vaccines were just becoming a reality for us in India. Yet we needed our lives back. The walls of the house were fast turning claustrophobic. Each day at home was grim reminder things weren’t right. Sport had not yet picked up globally and it wasn’t something we had ever seen before. Frankly, a lot of us…

Welcome, Gavi, We’ve Been Waiting   More than 60 years ago, Pele announced himself to football fans with an unforgettable first World Cup goal against Wales. On November 23, the 18-year-old Gavi scored an even better one. He and Spain offered a dazzling glimpse of what lies ahead. The debate over the greatest footballer of all time will never end. Was it Alfredo Di Stefano, the Argentine maestro who even Pele considered the most complete footballer of all? Was it Johan Cruyff, the talisman of a Netherlands side that revolutionized the sport with their Total Football? Was it…

-Boria Majumdar It is evident from reports in the Times of India that there is some truth in the claim that India did get an opportunity to participate in the football world cup of 1950. It is evident that the real reason for withdrawal was India’s inability to select a competitive team and garner the necessary funding to send the team to Rio. On 12 April 1950 a report published in the Times of India mentioned that an inter provincial football tournament for the selection of the Indian team for the Brazil world cup was to be held in Kolkata…

-Anilava Chatterjee, Qatar: All eyes were Neymar Jr. during Brazil’s training session at the Al Habibi Sports Complex on Wednesday ahead of their opening fixture of FIFA World Cup 2022 against Serbia. It could be the last World Cup for Neymar as he was seen in a cheerful mood during the team’s practice. The five-time world champions go into the Qatar World Cup as one of the pre-tournament favorites. The Paris Saint Germain (PSG) striker is expected to play a vital role for the five-time champions. He is expected to start against the Serbs as indicated Coach Tite in the…

 A goalless draw, an one sided encounter and the most interesting of all, the #GER upset!! Was an interesting day in #Qatar2022 . But who made it to our Fittest Athlete of the day? Watch & let us know your pick