Teesri team for footie fans

Everyone had a ‘doosri’ team to support at the FIFA World Cup 2018 since we don’t have a team of our own, and then they all fell down — Germany, Spain, Portugal and Argentina, as everybody looked on in sheer anguish. Yet sports fans are a resilient  lot, and bounce back with gusto. While avid football fans await the day when India’s national team rises in ranking, till such a time, they now have a teesri (third) and chauthi (fourth) country to support.

They share their choices as the knockout stage and the FIFA World Cup reaches the quaterfinals.

Chris Jonathan, a student feels that the last minute change in their coach, from Julen Lopetegui to Fernando Hierro cost Spain its spot in the championship.

“Spain getting out of the tournament was quite shocking. The team had a lot of experienced players who have performed extremely well in La Liga, and they lost on penalties against Russia. I think one of the main reasons why La Roja performed poorly is due to the change in their coach, who was fired a few days before the first match. The team’s sporting director stepped in. I feel that they couldn’t cope with the changes. If not for Spain, Belgium is one country that has really proved itself. In the group matches, they won with quite a lot of goal difference. Also, their comeback in the match against Japan after they were down 0-2 was spectacular.”

Winning a championship is not possible without the backing of your team and that is what city-based businessman Puneet Surana feels, “Argentina out of contention is very sad, I think their captain Lionel Messi singlehandedly brought the team to the World Cup and to see them go, it shows there was no support for Messi. When you look at Argentinian players, they are the best in their clubs. But when it comes to the national team, many don’t play well. Messi has gotten the team to three major finals, but when the team doesn’t come together, it’s of no use. Since my favourite Argentina is out, Belgium with its quality players is my third team. Belgium now has my full support. If not for Belgium, I would prefer an underdog nation like Russia to win the World Cup.”

Poor form and no commitment is what cost Germany its place feels football fan Rohit Thomas who has a teesri country and chauthi country to support now, “Germany really shocked and disappointed as they didn’t play like world champions. It would not be right to blame just one person, I think the entire team did not come into form, and perform. I feel that the commitment to play was not there. Now, since Germany is out, Brazil and then maybe France or Belgium would be my next choice.”

With their inspired comeback from trailing two down against Japan, and that absolutely unbelievable header by defender Jan Vertonghen, Belgium has the most number of fans rooting for them, thanks to the team’s excellent attack and defense.

Anikit Raj says, “Since a bigwig like Argentina is out, I would now like to bank on Belgium as this team is being called the golden generation of Belgium as they have out-standing players. They have a perfect combination of attack and defence. Apart from this, Brazil too is in good form. I feel this is a world cup of uncertainty where all the bigwigs are no more. The sad part of Argentina leaving would be not seeing Lionel Messi. All fans will agree that he deserved better. The players around him weren’t up to the mark. The players did not step in and perform.”