A.T.M.Nurun Nabi :
Soccer’s world governing body, International Football de Associations (FIFA), an organisation of 208 members, was formed in Paris on May 21 in 1904, and the brain behind the World Cup Football was Sir Jules Rimet, citizen of France, who orchestrated the presidency of FIFA from 1921 to 1954.
The World Cup Football began its journey in 1930 won by hosts Uruguay, who beat Argentina in the final. So far, Brazil clinched the world titles highest five times followed by Italy with four. (West) Germany won thrice, Uruguay and Argentina twice each, England, France and Spain once each.
Brazil has made appearance in every World Cup (WC) and cruised into the final highest seven times close to which are (West) Germany with six. The nation from the South America won 11 matches in a row and reached the final thrice consecutively in 1994, 1998 and 2002. The other nation having this record is Germany in 1982, 1986 and 1990.
Brazil has scored highest 210 goals and recorded highest 67 victories.
Brazil won the WC in each continent except in Africa. Two other nations holding records of winning the title outside own continent are Argentina in North America in 1986 and Spain in Africa in 1910.
There will be played 64 matches in 12 newly built stadiums before curtain is dropped on July 13 in Rio de Janeiro. One of the stadiums is named after soccer legend Garincha, the little bird. Perhaps, he is the greatest player the world has ever produced. He has remained behind the screen because there is no initiative in Brazil to introduce him with the later generations.
The FIFA has declared $ 57,60,00,000 as prize money superseding all past records while the cost of FIFA World Cup is 14.1 billion dollar compared with $ 6 billion dollar in South Africa four years ago. The lavish expenditures earned wrath of the poor and the middle-income group, who have been demonstrating for one year, demanding more allocation in health, education and transport sectors.
All expect hosts Brazil to win the WC for the sixth time and in the words of a former Argentine coach, ” The World Cup in Brazil without Brazil is impossible. It will be deadly in case of elimination.”
