Opinion – Juca Kfouri: Another World Cup final

Of the ten World Cups I’ve been to, I missed two decisions in the stadium: the 1986, in Mexico, and the 2006, in Germany.

Let me explain: the one between Argentina and Germany I left aside because, a victim of the so-called Mal de Montezuma before Brazil’s elimination by France, on penalties, I was weak physically and psychologically. I preferred to go back and watch it on TV.

In 2006, between Italy and France, I couldn’t get a ticket and saw it at the hotel.

The one in 1982, when Italy beat Germany and became three-time champions, I still felt sorry for Sarriá. The party belonged to others.

In 1990, in Rome, it was the Germans who celebrated, as a result of a non-existent penalty against Argentina.

In 1994, in the first tetra in game, Brazil gave, in a horrible game and penalty kicks no less than the Italians, in California. Anyway, with a body present, I celebrated.

As I was at the Stade de France, in 1998, to witness the French massacre to the sound of the Marseillaise over the traumatized Brazilian team.

In 2002, when Brazil won again and became five times champion, I saw it at home, because I preferred to feel the Cup in Brazil, at dawn, given the Asian times.

Until then, excluding, of course, the three decisions with Brazilians, I had no preference or rooted for anyone.

Out of compassion, in 2010, in South Africa, I wanted to see Holland be champions for the first time, but Spain won. Alright, Iniesta and Xavi deserved it.

At Maracanã, in 2014, I really wanted to see Argentina champion, even if I heard from everyone the warning about the hermanos mocking if they won in the middle of Rio.

Now, I don’t suffer from the Berlin Syndrome, nor the Stockholm Syndrome, to root for those who had stuck us 7 to 1 and subjected us to the greatest sporting humiliation of all time.

In vain, gave Germany.

Finally, in 2018, in Moscow, between France and Croatia, I got the weakest one and I got hurt again.

I think I’ll cheer for France this Sunday (18th) because… I want to see Lionel Messi lift the cup…

Not that Mpabbé and Griezmann don’t deserve it, because they deserve it a lot. But nobody like Messi.

Firstly, because the two Frenchmen already left, four years ago, and Messi still hasn’t, in addition to having his last chance.

Kylian Mpabbé, 23 years old, has at least two more World Cups, if not three, at 34 years old, one less than the Argentine is today.

Furthermore, no one will commit the heresy of questioning the Cameroonian’s extraordinary ability, which someone will probably do with Lionel Messi if he doesn’t win the title.

Let us therefore respect the natural order of things, although football is not exactly a sport that comes to such rationality.

The game at the Lusail stadium is indeed unpredictable and has everything to be sensational, a duel at dusk or at dusk, in this Qatar where the sun sets before 5 pm in December.

Without competition from the star king, who will shine more, Messi or Mpabbé?

Anyway, in my eighth face-to-face final, it is sad to note that I only saw Brazil in decisions twice, once with a victory after a terrible 120 minutes without goals, and another in the crushing defeat by 3-0 to the French.

Argentina, Argentina!

Janio de Freitas

I’ve already told it here and I’ll say it again: when I came to this Sheetin 1995, Seu Frias weighed in on the prediction: “He will be our Janio de Freitas in sports”.

I wasn’t, I’m not, I won’t be.

Whoever was born to be me will never be Janio de Freitas.

Anyway, it’s like Cristina Serra wrote.