New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) Who will win, Spain or Holland? Football fans across the country are divided between the red corner for Spain and orange for Holland as they await the finals of the World Cup 2010.
The FIFA World Cup has turned a cricket-crazy nation into football fanatics, at least till the tournament lasts.
In India’s football-mad city Kolkata, fans who had lost interest with the exit of football giants Brazil and Argentina, have found a new favourite – Spain.
The city is now gunning for revenge against the Netherlands, who knocked out Brazil. So Spain has naturally become the new favourite of the football crazy Bengalis. The mind-blowing performances of Xavi, David Villa and Andreas Inesta have won them fans among football crazy Bengalis.
‘The Dutch will have to pay a heavy price in the finals. We cried after Brazil crashed out. Now the Dutch will cry,’ said Dhruva Mondal, a Brazil supporter who is now supporting Spain in the finals.
Supporters of Spain in Howrah are keeping a fast since morning. ‘We are on fast and we won’t even drink a glass of water. We will break our fast only after Spain lifts the cup,’ said Ranjan Patra.
In the southern state of Kerala, the coach of the Kerala football team and former international player M.M.Jacob said, Spain had ’60 per cent’ chance to lift the cup for the first time.
‘Spain’s consistency since the Euro Cup should help them win,’ said Jacob.
Similarly, in the coastal state of Goa, 25-year-old Agnelo Fernandes believed the boys in Oranje would never be able to outdo the Latinos. ‘Spain will take the cup and that’s 100 percent. Spain have proven that they are champs because they are already the champions of Europe,’ Agnelo said.
There are lots of supporters for the Oranje team too. Kerala-based Xavier Pious, one of the most talented footballers the country has seen who spent many years playing for Mohun Bagan, said even though Spain is his favourite team, he feels they have problems in finishing.
‘Spain creates so many chances but Holland hits the target most of the time. The Dutch will lift the trophy,’ said Pious.
According to former Indian goalkeeper Brahmanand Shankhwalkar, the giants Spain might just be knocked out at the World Cups’s final stage.
‘The Netherlands will win today… Although Spain played very well so far. It’s been like that so far in the World Cup. Argentina Brazil Germany,… all played excellent games but collapsed. I expect it to be a well contested match,’ Shankhwalkar said.
In the national capital, Pulkit Sood, who intends to watch the final wearing an Orange t-shirt, wants the cup to be lifted by Holland. ‘They have worked very hard to reach here as they were the underdogs of the tournament. They deserve to win the cup.
‘Moreover, I want Paul the octopus to be proved wrong as he has truly been a spoilsport.’
