Qatar World Cup Reflections- Day 8

Words can't really describe the emotional ups and downs of World Cup team fans. Some face disappointment. Others elation. Others both ... in a span of minutes.

The day started with us taking it very easy by the pool knowing the exertion required for the two massive quarter finals, the first Brazil against Croatia and the second Argentina against Holland. We met with a friend who had just arrived from Switzerland for the games and we all had lunch together. Football banter and the politics of football was the primary and only topic really. Come to think of it, I haven't read the news in days. Does anything else matter right now? Occasionally, an Argentinian fan (they were all over) would swing by and we would chat and wish them good luck.
There were Brazilians and occasionally Croats, but no Dutch. Of course, most of the Dutch had decided not to show up on "moral grounds" like the Danes and some other Europeans. The problem I have with this approach is first it disrespects their national team, sports in general, the host nation, but above it misses the point of the importance of engagement diplomacy. Instead of preaching morals in what may come across as cultural arrogance, why not engage and lead by example. Surely, these developing societies are learning. The evidence is clear: Commercial engagement is allowing these societies to make massive leaps forward. Overtime, through similar social engagement so might social engagement. Sadly, seeking commercial engagement, while rejecting it's social counterpart smacks of arrogance if not outright hypocrisy.
It is for this reason that I think the biggest beneficiary of this World Cup is going to be Arab Latino bilateral relations. Why? Because people showed up and respectfully engaged with each of their customs, habits, passions, chants ... Deep inside, I have to admit I have a strong preference to see any of the remaining Latin teams or Morocco win it.
Heading first to the Education City stadium, we were all hoping the Brazil-Croatia game would end in 90 minutes, so we would be able to make it in time to Lusail on the other side of town for the other game. Boy would we be surprised. Brazil fans filled the stadium with yellow and green flags. But Croatians to their credit had an entire section of loud and organized fans, most likely all of which travelled to Doha to support their team (Brazil in contrast had travelling supporters but also has a lot of local support). We were seated among the Brazilians, chanting Ole and Samba tunes, reminding me of an experience I'll never ever forget in Kazan, Russia in 2018 where we were also watching Brazil play Belgium. As we headed to the stadium, we had come upon and joined a large contingent of Brazilian fans chanting and "samba-ing" their way to the stadium. All of a sudden, we needed to cross through on a tunneled overpass. The leader of the contingent of a few hundred must have noticed the amazing acoustics in the tunnel, and beckoned everyone to halt. Caught right there in the middle, we witnessed them play some of the most uplifting drumbeat-led chants we had ever witnessed with Brazilian fans jumping up and down. It was as exhilarating as it was scary with the concrete overpass shaking under our very feet! There is no question that the fans really make the World Cup.
The game itself was interesting. Brazil was dangerous and came close multiple times, but Croatia is a hardy team, very organized, and has plenty of experience, having reached the final in the last World Cup in Russia but beaten in the final. The Brazilians didn't have a great game really, and Croatia absorbed most of what Brazil threw at them with general Luka Modric leading proceedings and Joski Gvardiol brilliant in defense next to former Liverpool player Dejan Lovren. As a result, Neymar didn't really have a good game, neither did Vinicius. Rafinha was better. But who else but Neymar would break the deadlock with a little magic? At that point we were in extra time and thought, ok this is over, so we packed up and started heading to our stadium-to-stadium transportation for the Argentina-Holland game to watch the opening ceremony and the spectacle that is Argentina fans. Of course, the football Gods would have the last laugh. As we were getting on the bus, we heard that Croatia had tied. Oh no not again! One fan pulled out his phone and we all huddled around it watching the penalties and the agony of Brazil crashing out of the World Cup. There goes many a prediction of an Argentina-Brazil semi-final!
On the way to Lusail we heard there were massive traffic jams. Lusail is the largest of stadiums, which fits around 90,000, and which will be the venue of the final. We were lucky to find only a bit of traffic, most had already passed. Meanwhile, I was receiving messages from friends from all over asking if I was attending and where I was seated, in order to exchange photos. One friend would catch a group of us because of the Lebanese flag.
Coming into the stadium turned out to be quicker than expected. We all sneaked through the VIP security entrance, which had few spectators, and proceeded to our gate. Once in, it was magic ...
Argentina fans for those who may not know do not go to the games to watch, but rather to participate in the game. They live it. They sing, they chant, they jump, they celebrate, they despair, they cry of joy, and they cry of sadness. Argentina is undeniably a football crazed nation and has always been so. They idolize their heroes, they despise the villains. Maradona was a God in Argentina and carried his nation on his shoulders for years. Messi is doing it now. There is a nice saying in Argentina, which says it all, "Sin potrero no hay 10." This translates to something like: without grazing pastures to play on, there cannot be playmakers (like Maradona or Messi). Ironically, it is this earthly popular relationship with football that turns Argentine players into Gods.
And there he was, aging but supported and adored by his team mates and fans. A Qatari friend told me that he had been to many games during this World Cup where he would see people go in and out of their seats at all times, except those with Argentina and Messi. "Everyone is always glued to their seats." And indeed one needs to be, because at his age, Messi can be quiet for long spells and yet any instant can produce a moment of magic. And he did. Multiple times, one of them leading to a through ball that was guided into the net by Molina. Messi himself later scored a penalty leading to wild scenes of jubilation among the Argentine fans
We all thought it was over, but weren't going to tempt the football Gods; so we remained stuck to our seats in an excruciating affair that saw more than a dozen yellow cards and Holland claw itself back to the chagrin of all the now-despairing Argentine fans around us. And yet the team was egged onwards unceasingly by their fans chanting and singing. It was fascinating to watch the Argentinian women in the stands and how they were leading their men in chant. In Argentina, I guess behind every great man fan is a strong woman!
The last minute of extra time, would see Argentina come close and strike the post. Was it written that they would not go through. Were the Dutch destined to go through with their dozens of fans in the stands; and for the tens of thousands of Argentinians to go back home in a most cruel ending to this fascinating game of football?
Ah, the agony of penalties. Messi opened proceedings scoring, and saluted the fans. He was really enjoying what is likely to be his swan song of a tournament. Sadly, Liverpool legend Virgil Van Dyk missed for Holland... After several back and forth, the last kick was converted by Martinez. The Argentinian fans celebrated wildly inside the stadium and outside for well into the night ...
The football Gods had smiled on deserving fans who had made the massive sacrifice to come to the World Cup from the other side of the globe and in the middle of a financial crisis without any prejudgment or prejudice. The God's clear message to the world today was clear. "Those who are here for the love of the game and nothing else are welcome to stay and play on ... "
As for Holland, a dear Dutch friend I chatted with in Amsterdam, said "Those few fans who made it there have sent back messages that this may very well have been the best World Cup ever."
































































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