Wednesday, July 25, 2018
World Cup of Soccer-2018
For the past
several months, many of my television channels have been telling me
that the World Cup of Soccer
was on its way. It was supposed to arrive some time in June. A quick
scan of my channels tells me that it's here, emphatically. I do
manage to sneak around the channels and fine the odd baseball game.
Last night I lucked into an Australian Rules Football game, one of my
personal favourites.
But
once every four years, soccer takes a stranglehold on the sports
spotlight, thus earning a few words of ink from your wretched,
ink-stained scribe. The whole shebang comes off under the
organization called “FIFA”. That groups controls all aspects of
the games. A very powerful group.
Once
they had determined that Russia would host these games, the
preparations began. There had to be enough large stadia. There had to
be competitive teams. They have several tournaments and games in the
years leading up to the World Cup to determine which teams could play
in the big event. Only 32 teams qualify. The host country gets a free
entry. They must round up volunteers, in this case roughly 35 000.
Referees, broadcasters, media, accommodation, sponsorship....we are
talking about billions of dollars.
After
all of the pre-Cup competitions had finished, Canada, the United
states, and Greece, to name a few, had failed to qualify for the Big
Show. No doubt that would affect some of the sponsorship activities.
Nonetheless, there is plenty of dough in the rest of the world, so I
do not see that as a big concern. Eight years from now, FIFA will
stage the show in North America, the United States, Canada, and
Mexico! Does that mean that we will have to become friends again?
Will we lift tariffs? Will NAFTA raise its flag again. Will “The
Donald” still be in the White House?
This
is the 21st
time that FIFA has presented the world with the championship, and the
first time that games will be played in Eastern Europe. Many teams
have been to most World Cups. Iceland and Panama are there for the
first time. I have forgotten the teams they defeated to get there. It
may have been England.
There
will be 64 matches played, at 12 venues in eleven cities. The final
game will take place at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15.
The
teams are shuffled together in groups of four, and are categorized
with an alphabetical letter. For example, Group “A” has Russia
and Uruguay. Each won its first game. Three points are awarded for a
win, one point for a tie. The groups are round-robin affairs, and
after they have squared off against each other, the two top teams
move on. The bottom two teams go home. In case of ties, there is a
mathematical formula to determine the winner. It is more difficult to
understand than an American-North Korean peace accord.
Some
of the teams have yet to take to the pitch for their opening games.
The bars are filling up in Toronto, as the fans begin to feel the
pitch. If you happen to be a fervent Portuguese fan, and you enter a
Spanish bar in all your regalia, I might suggest you re-think your
position. Soccer fans tend to take their game seriously.
I
would not doubt that the Russian border guards have kept close eyes
on the fans entering the country. The hooligans come from all
countries of the world, and they can become more stoked as their team
moves closer to the final game. Perhaps they are issued photographs
of Siberian work houses as they enter Mother Russia. No thanks.
Enjoy
the games.
James
Hurst
June
18, 2018
# posted by James Hurst @ 8:55 AM 
