Forget India as a whole. Just consider the states of West Bengal, Kerala and Goa alone where soccer is played in leagues like crazy with fans showing more interest than US fans in their soccer leagues,. Each state has a population greater than some European countries. I wonder why those two states alone can't produce some world class player while being footballmaniac.
open the 'market for soccer' I mean open possibilities of 'corruption' in Soccer in India and then you will see the deafening buzz about Soccer in India.
In general, utter corruption and total disinterest by Indian Political Parties to 'clean the act' not only allows the mess of Cricket but in general does not allow any 'game' to get nurtured in India. The unbelievable level of corruption, sycophancy and personal fiefdom style running of sports of organization all that is responsible for that. This is the country which has heads of Sports organization who complain to PM when the court responds to a public interest litigation that sport organization chief cannot stay more than 12 years as per the law of the land. Routinely Sports Organization chiefs occupy these posts for 2 or more decades; institutionalizing corruption and looting of tax payers money.
Not just Soccer, but no Sport has any future in India due to corruption (except some individual brilliance). This has nothing to do with abilities of Indian population or climate; all those can be overcome. Cricket is popular and there is some success; but it has been pulled down humongously by the roaring corruption too. Soccer in India has no chance to compete with Cricket in India as an avenue for corruption.
Most of the comments here are very true abt english side and more so about europeans...The most hyped spanish were running like headless chickens against the swiss who were surprisingly more aggressive.. So far I am impressed with non european teams' performance esp with SK, Japan, IC, Ghana, Mexico..and of course the most media flagged argentina....I am able to feel the passion of Maradona and Drogba both off and on the field......And of course Brazil is amazing me...they have style, spirit along with technical brilliancy....the only team I am betting on still from european side is Netherlands...maybe they are getting it right finally with this WC... neways some exciting matches this week and viva la futbol...
Despite football being a highly popular game in India, major victories at the international stage are few and far between. While the national team languishes at the rock bottom of the rankings, the All Indian Football Federation has done precious little to raise the standard of the game in India. However, Indian football has had its share of glory days as well. India qualified for the 1950 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, when all of their opponents withdrew from the competition. However, India refused to participate in the event, as FIFA required all the players to wear football boots, whereas the Indian players were used to playing barefoot.
India made its Olympic debut in football at the 1948 London Games, but lost 1-2 to France in the first match. In the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, India became the first Asian nation to reach the semifinals of an Olympic football event, defeating Australia 4-2 in the quarterfinal. The hallmark of the win was the hat trick by centre forward Neville D'Souza, who became the first and until now only Asian to achieve the feat in the Olympics. Between 1951 and 1962, during the golden era of Indian football, India was a major power in Asia, having won the football gold medals.
The Indian national football team won a gold in the 1951 and 1962 Asian Games at New Delhi and Jakarta respectively and the bronze medal in tile 1970 Bangkok Asian Games. India was the runner up of 1964 Asia Cup. India was the winner of the 1987 South Asian Football Games. T
Re: Golden era of Indian Foot ball
by Sriram Ramki on Jun 21, 2010 02:29 PM
It was after that period, Indian cricket team started to become prominent. Who knows, otherwise, Indian team might hv contested in the world cups atleast.. With no disrespect to cricket, I think too much following of cricket has killed other sports and talent in India. If an Indian kid aspires to be a footballer, their parents would say go for cricket atleast.
Re: Re: Golden era of Indian Foot ball
by Tethys on Jun 21, 2010 02:46 PM
Hmmm...good analysis and interesting insights..I never knew that India was good in football...and btw if I am the parent I am all for football if my kid aspires as cricket is a colonial game that is not even being aspired in england...nothing excites the sheer 90 minutes of this beatiful game...even gods come down to watch world cup
Re: Golden era of Indian Foot ball
by Suvir Suvir on Jun 21, 2010 02:30 PM
Good information.. But.. At this stage all this sounds like India was having lot of wealth, kohinoor... and now its just history. We cannot get it back...
Re: We are wasting our time..
by Sriram Ramki on Jun 21, 2010 01:50 PM
If fixing was true, every top team would only qualify, so that it generates more interest. With all the top teams losing or not 100%, maybe gives me an impression its not fixed and the teams are not performing to potential.. In general so far, all the teams are below par..
Re: Re: We are wasting our time..
by Suvir Suvir on Jun 21, 2010 02:33 PM
dear.. it depends on whom people have bet.. obviously people bet on big teams and this is why they have to loose to any ordinary team to make other bookies earn thier share..
Re: Re: Capello, don't lose hope.....
by CAT IIMA on Jun 21, 2010 04:28 PM
I still doubt if England will win - Ghana, NKorea and SAfrica are three too good teams for England - how can they play sooooo tough teams??? :).
