Issue No. 593
Sports
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4 - 10 July 2002 Issue No. 593 Sports |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Recommend this page | ||
Happy have-nots
Amid a recession, Latin America has something to cheer about. Hisham El-Naggar writes from Buenos Aires
At last, some good news for Latin America. To the litany of depressingly familiar economy jargon bandied about by the local media -- country risk, default, recession and budget cuts -- a decidedly more cheerful one was added on Sunday. In Portuguese, it sounds best: Pentacampeao.
Brazil has won the World Cup for the fifth time in its history. No minor achievement this; no country has won the cup more than three times. As the final whistle blew, the streets of Rio, Sao Paulo and a myriad of other towns and villages erupted in a spontaneous, perfectly synchronised expression of joy. It was carnival time in July. What would the Germans have danced had they won? The waltz?
The joy was shared by much of Latin America. It may seem odd to the outsider who has heard a great deal about rivalries between neighbours in this part of the world. Brazil shares borders with virtually all countries in South America and because it is the biggest country and its native language is Portuguese rather than the usual Spanish, it is occasionally less than popular on the continent.
But not when the final of the World Cup is between a Latin American and a European. We should have no difficulty understanding what the situation implies: As is common wisdom, and loosely translated from Arabic: my enemy's enemy is my friend. And in this case, the disciplined Teutons are the opponents.
The Argentinians, as well as other latin Americans, shared the Brazilians their celebration for the cup
This part of the world is grateful there is such a thing called football, in which the have-nots can deal a blow to their counterparts who have, Germany being one.
At any rate, there has been a tradition in World Cup tournaments as far back as anyone can remember: Latin Americans have alternated with Europeans in grabbing the crown. As the tournament was usually held alternately in Europe and in the Americas, bookies and practitioners of macumba (the Brazilian version of voodoo) could not help but notice that the Europeans invariably won in Europe while the Latins made it to the top when they could count on the cheers of several hundred thousand locals.
What made this tournament unusual is that even though it was Latin America's "turn," it was held in Asia, or neutral ground.
The idea, praiseworthy in itself, was to make football more popular in parts of the world where it is not that widely played. And if the new market is as prosperous as East Asia, so much the better for a FIFA not at all indifferent to financial considerations.
From the beginning then, ugly rumours spread about FIFA "wishing" at least one of the joint hosts made it to the semi-finals, although neither had a track record of any substance. Of course, Korea did just that, in part by winning games in which the referee cancelled goals the opposing team scored.
I can speak for Latin Americans who did not complain as much as the Europeans about the officiating. Not surprising, considering the major victims were Italy and Spain whose local press fumed at supposedly arbitrary arbiters. In point of fact, Latin America did not do too badly when it came to real or imagined errors committed by referees. Brazil decidedly benefited a couple of times, leading some local wits to claim that the team's finest assets were three R's: Ronaldo, Rivaldo and the Referee.
Every World Cup has its share of dubious judgements by officials. Remember the "hand of God" goal Maradona got away with at the Mexico tournament?
It would be good to remember some basic truths: referees are human; the whole idea is for nations to compete amicably; it is all being done in the spirit of fun and games; and, despite the crass commercialism, the world finds the month- long suspense every four years exciting and entertaining.
But FIFA had better clean up its act, otherwise a superb team like Brazil, which everyone agrees played masterfully most of the time, could find its victory devalued.
Sorry about that; another financial term.
For the moment the thing to do is enjoy, indeed, exult in Brazil's victory. Most of the Argentines with whom I watched the final game rooted for their neighbour. What about the traditional rivalry between the two football giants? Remember who the enemy is? Brazil is not if its adversary is Germany.
"Not that I like Germany less but I like Brazil more," said an elderly Argentine with an impish grin as he cheered the Brazilian team. On the café table next to him was a newspaper no one was reading, detailing the opprobrium Horst Koehler, the president of the IMF, poured on hapless Argentina. And Koehler is from...
It must be a coincidence.
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