Cup set to lift blues in Brazil
SIMMERING civil tension and the stench of corruption threaten to sully Brazil's global soccer party when the World Cup kicks off today against a backdrop of protests, unrest and alleged political graft.
What was to be a soccer celebration is in danger of being hijacked by off-field issues as a growing furore surrounding Fifa over alleged vote-buying for the 2022 cup stews and anger over political corruption broils throughout Brazil.
The gloom is a far cry from what was envisioned when Brazil was selected as host nation in 2007. But if any country can perform a feat of spiritual alchemy using football as its tool, Brazil can.
The home of what Pele termed the beautiful game is likely to respond like few others could, if its heroes can carry all before them.
A joyous festival of football would indeed be testament to the power of soccer if the sport shrugs off the unseemly smog enveloping the lead-up to this tournament.
Brazil will be confident of providing the perfect fillip when they open the World Cup with a Group A clash against Croatia in Sao Paulo.
The hosts are favourites to clinch a record-extending sixth World Cup crown come the July 13 final at Rio's Maracana stadium, and, certainly, it would be a triumph finally to exorcise the ghosts of 1950.
Sixty-four years ago the tournament was held with a round-robin format and the Brazilians needed a draw to win the title in front of 200000 fans at the Maracana.
But they were beaten 2-1 by Uruguay in a national tragedy known as "the Maracanazo". While there will be 100000 fewer people in the rebuilt Maracana for the 2014 tournament, expectation will be no less weighty.
Brazil have their script – one involving locals suspending their anger at the eyewatering cost of the tournament held against a backdrop of rising inflation, urban gridlock and soaring crime.
But there is no shortage of other teams and players ready to take their place among the soccer giants.
And Argentina's Lionel Messi tops the list. Considered by most to be the world's best footballer, the Barcelona phenomenon has never hit the heights at a World Cup.
Unless he does, as the likes of Pele, Johan Cruyff and Diego Maradona have before him, there would always be a hint of a question mark over a superb career in which he has touched the stars in every other way.
At the age of 26, a veteran already of two lukewarm World Cup campaigns, Messi has never really been embraced by Argentine fans. It does not help that he was brought up in Spain after local clubs allowed him to slip through their fingers.
But a triumphant World Cup in their biggest rival's backyard could elevate the short – 1.7m – forward, four times World Player of the Year, to the level of the similarly diminutive but much-revered World Cup-winning Maradona in his homeland.
The formidable Germans also have their minds set on a slice of history for themselves. No non-South American team has triumphed in these parts, but Joachim Loew's stylish squad have observers lining up to say that spell is ready to be broken.
But another European powerhouse is not ready to relinquish its grip on the World Cup, and champions Spain will be a major force.
Ghana, known as the Black Stars, are back again but, along with the other four African representatives, they will have to punch above their weight to win. – Reuters
