The Faltering Three

The Azzuri have certainly not being Knaan's “Waving Flag” and if they have they are yet to take any inspiration from it. In a reverse to the lyrics framed by Knaan they have grown OLDER but failed to grow STRONGER. 2 boring draws and 3 goal spanking by newcomers Slovenia have unceremoniously dumped the World Champions out of this years tournament.

Les Blues however have a different story to tell, their players were set on a mission which if they did choose to accept was to infiltrate into the national team and force it to dump itself out of the championship. Well led by Anelka and his Domanech the mission was achieved in such supreme skill that it would have Tom Cruise blushing. Les Bleus were trounced by Uruguay and South Africa, and plunged into a national crisis that required presidential intervention by their own implosion.

England were on a similar trail before Defoe bailed them out only to face their nemesis Germany and by the looks of current English squad the Germans are gonna parade all over them.

What seriously is wrong with these sides, England's failure in the top tournaments has always been a question but then what about France and Italy. True the French are without Zidane or any of the midfield quartet of Viera, Makalele, Thuram who won them the World Cup and the European Championship but then they still have class players such as Ribery, Gallas, Henry, Goercuff, Evra. These names might not be as great as the ones mentioned before but then you cant expect them to get outplayed but Mexico and South Africa. Throughout the time spent in this years Championships France appeared hamstrung first and foremost by a bureaucracy unable to effectively harness the abundance of resources at its disposal. But then all teams face the worry of not gelling well, France however haven't gelled since the last European Championships.

For Italy too its been a downward spiral since the last World Cup, as they were knocked out of the European Championships quite early. Italy has always relied on a watertight defense which would look to soak up all pressure allowing sole strikers such as Del Piero or Totti to roam free and try and score out of the chances created by Pirlo. Cannavaro who was excellent last year letting in just 2 goals had formed a virtual wall around him and he did so without forcing himself to needless tackles. 3 matches this WC and the “WALL” has conceded 5 goals 2 to his own mistakes. Pirlo and Gattusso were injured this year but both together didn't do jack in the European Championships as Italy made a early exit.

The English too have probably the best midfield in the tournament with Lampard, Gerrard, Gareth Barry and James Milner and probably with Rooney up front the best finisher too.but all put together till date and these famed group have managed 2 meekly draws and a nervy win against minnows Slovakia. Rooney has not even looked close to the form he was with Man Utd and has clearly struggled to score even when opportunities fell on his feet. Top of that there were 2 “Howlers” against Slovenia both of which should have been converted. But above all the main problem of the English seems to be with their Keepers. Green was left scrambling for what should have been a clean pick and David James has been just OK. The defense led by Terry seems to the only thing going after Carregher was coxed out of retirement by Cappello. They face Germany next and are almost sure to duplicate the acts of France and Italy if most of its big player fail to stand up.

But then where are these teams going wrong. Though they have players have excelled in there roles for their clubs they have been punished in the World Cup for failing to embrace newer ways of playing the game. Stuck in old ways; there was a staleness and familiarity to the styles of play in personnel of Italy and even England which even the lesser known nations were quick to benefit on. The more establish teams like Brazil, Germany, Argentina and Holland that have embraced innovation and diversity, and a willingness to reinvent themselves and play in a style that can hardly be termed stereotypical of their game. Brazil have reorganized the way they play the game after the defeats in 2006 settling for a more organized back four and a solid midfield core hat allows them to dominate the game and win it with a few flourishes of breathtaking skill and vision. The Dutch too blessed with talent such as Robben, Van Persie, Snieder have a strong defensive midfield set up in De Jong and Bommel who would look to break down attacks. The Germans on the other hand have gone reverse and added a bit of flair in their almost military style of unsmiling physical domination and athletic attacking of a generation ago, to incorporate a lot more flair and guile with Schweinsteiger, Podolski and Sami Khedira.

Also another point is that most of the players from the mentioned countries have played in the best leagues across the world and have adopted the best practices in their national team. Africa is full fo examples of stars who have done well in the leagues of England, Spain and Italy going on to play a major role for their nation is the World Cup. England and Italy have however relied on Home Grown domestic players completely unaware of what is going on in major leagues elsewhere. If we tune back our memories to Euro 04 we would find that the best player for England in that tournament was Owen Hargreaves raised in the leagues of Germany and later shifted to Man Utd. Success may have more to do with embracing innovation and applying skills and organizational principles learned in the global soccer "economy" -- the success of Uruguay and Mexico, even Ghana, can be partly attributed to the large number of their players now based at European clubs.

Daddy Dunga !!!!

I have never liked Brasil as a footballing nation, much goes into it due to they beating teams which I did choose to follow or support. The first world cup that I could seriously follow was USA 94 and I had placed by bets on Netherlands and Italy. While all of my family (predominantly Brasil supporter's) rooted for Romario, Bebeto and Dunga I was rooting for Rijkaard, Bergkamp, Baggio and Donadoni. Big match players hailing from big clubs around Europe for me it was Orange or Azzuri. Sadly both of them got beat to Brasil Quarter's and Finals respectively and my hatred for Brasil took a new leaf. Zidane ensured some solace for me in the upcoming world cups out playing them twice in 98 and 2006. Both times however more than Zidane's masterclass the Joca Bonito boys were flattened by a dour French defense who were eager to get physical and stop the “R's” playing their brand of football. With Thuram, Desailly, Makalele and Didier Deschamps the Les Bleus had their defense beginning at the mid field as they completely broke down the sweet rhythm Brasil is known for. Brasil blessed with startling strikers and mesmerizing mid fielders however could not do much when the French counter attacked. Flair had lead to defensive gaps which Dunga alone could not fill and Carlos was time and again caught out of position and struggled to get back. Similar scene's were repeated in 2006 as Brasil again with a plethora of stars failed to move beyond their old nemesis. Ronaldinho, Robinho, Kaka, Adriano and Ronaldo all together managed only a single shot on goal as Zidane managed to find Henry's feet to send Brasil packing.

Defending has never been a feature in Brasil's game plan, stylistic individuality and a fundamental commitment to excellence and passion has always been the hallmark of Brazilian football. When all doors seemed locked Brasil manages to unlock in in the most sublime of ways. In a game where physicality has taken over and sheer skill only matters a few feet away from the goal line, no amount of such glottalization has had any effect in the way Brasil plays. They were not afraid to concede goals provided they scored more which they did thanks to the talent they always carried around. But guess the lessons learn t from 2006 has had it effect as Dunga was brought in to tighten up the way Brasil operated. Much of the credit for Brasil wining the 94 World Cup should go to Dunga as even without the regular plethora of stars he managed to make optimum use of his unimaginative midfield. Chances were few but both Bebeto and Romario made full use when one came by. Dunga has fallen back on his own trusted way of football since taking over charge. The so called star studded midfield has been shunned for a rather effective one with Kaka at the center of it and Gilberto Silva playing a more defensive role much like Makalele did for France. Robinho and Fabiano would try and make most use of the chances created by Kaka and captain Lucio along with Maicon would look to have a watertight defense. The current formation might look ineffective but then Dunga has chosen his game plan well.

He is primarily using five players in his offensive formation: Kaka, Fabiano, Robinho. Plus the two full-backs Maicon and Michel Bastos. The other players primarily have a holding job though captain Lucio and Elano often get into attacking positions.The back four of Brasil currently are the best in the world. Maicon has been a proven player with Inter Milan this season who can run down the flanks often functioning as on alternative winger. The left flank too manned by Bastos is possibly in the best shape ever as in his current form he even out performs Carlos. The best part of the two (Maicon and Bastos) is that they seldom get caught off position and have bundles of energy. This fact was very well shown in the match against Korea where their relentless running caused quite some confusion amongst the Korean ranks. Even against a physical Ivory Coast both of them performed exceedingly well. Kaka wasn't quite his usual self against the Koreans but his assist to Elano who scored the third goal showed he was back to his best. Elano too has become an essential part in the midfield happy to fall back and assist Kaka who generally does the more penetrating job. Robinho too has had a decent start to this world cup minus the riff raff and needless stopovers, his pass to Elano for Brasil's second goal was superb. Maicon's goal, scored off a near-zero angle, was as much a triumph of ambition as of imagination: ambition because from that narrow angle, even the best would settle for a good cross, imagination because the Brazilian right full-back foresaw the possibility of that shot.

Brasil seems to have a system going for them and in the middle players do fit in perfectly, otherwise who would think of leaving out Ronaldinho.

No Joca Bonito for Brasils Dirty Harry. For hims its Guts and Glory.

Goddess of GRUNGE things

The media have always been a sucker for exotic,weird and outrageous stuff and have known to profoundly support any who wishes to write in similar lines. Arundhati Roy chooses to be the so called “Elite” few who would go as far as coining terms such as “Gandhians with Guns” so as to try and grab at the fat funds handed out by the big media houses in exchange for a few pages “Exotic” stuff. People like Roy herself have founded their own sweet and groovy spot by turning out articles bad mouthing the government, supporting internal terrorism, justifying terror attacks and harping against capitalism and the so called “Greedy Corporate”. Over the years her harps against capitalism and corporates have died down once she realized the only way to fund her indulgences into getting in the heartland and start on a “Bad Mouthing” cum “Demonizing” campaign needed money and most of it came funded from companies whome she had labeled “Greedy Corporates”.

Her writing style has evolved since the days she made quite some fortunes (half a million pounds as advance) narrating a story of 2 twins who were to be united years later. She realized and quite well that allowing her pen to write on anything in this world that is wretched, feudal, bad would be awaiting to be published by hordes of publishing companies who would give her “Acidic” reviews great space and publicity. Her recent arguments with regards to the Mumbai Attacks in 2008 and the recent disgraceful term of terming Maoists as “Gandhi with Guns” gives proof of the same. Voicing her opinions on the terror attacks in Mumbai she tried relating it to the sub continents history, society and wide spread poverty and even putting part blame on the partition of India. She has openly supported the claims for the separation of Kashmir from India and even gone ahead and tried to stay the court proceedings of Mohamed Afzal the key figure in the Indian Parliament terrorist attack in 2001. For long we have tried tolerating her hysterical allegations against India and anything Indian but patience right now is wearing fast.

She claims that she went, lived and even walked with her “Comrades” and claimed “it’s an army that is more Gandhian than any Gandhian, that leaves a lighter footprint than any climate change evangelist. You know, and as I said, even their sabotage techniques are Gandhian. You know, they waste nothing. They live on nothing.” Maybe she should consult the poor CRPF forces who were blown to smithereens by the “Humble and Gandhian” sabotaging tech niches of her “Comrades” before claiming such stuff. But then the poor sods who did die were “Crownies” of the evil state and it was good they got blown away. So while the jawan lies in midst of a jungle crying his guts out getting pumped by bullets from the “Brave Warriors” fighting against the state Mrs Roy would still claim the methods to be “Gandhian”. Even when the Maoists attack on a private bus killing about 50 people just to show who really is in power she gets really busy trying hard to find any lapse in the role of the state so that she could arrive as a “Messiah” to the innocent, armed poor trying hard to save their land from the greedy corporate by killing “Innocent Civilians”. Painting a much “Romanticized and Gruesome” picture of Maoist terror and state “Helplessness” seems to be her only fascination as she clearly does not want to endeavor into deeper waters. One would wonder as why did she opted out to become the negotiator between the Maoist and the Government. Sporting lame excuses as there were better people to do it and that she is too impatient and a maverick she stepped away. But seriously why would she want this to end as for her the fun has just begun. The state is tottering against the backlashes of the Maoists, Delhi too doesn't seem to keen on the “Final Solution” the field is virtually set for her to indulge in her favorite pastime, arising hysterical allegations via “Exotic” articles. She surely does not want this to end.

Democracy according to her is the biggest scams of all where votes are bought and voters become consumers. Like it or not Mrs Roy democracy is the reason you can write demeaning stuff about the state, flaunt it and still get away. I bet she would not try even writing half the stuff she does in a Communist or a Military Junta ruled state. Locked up in a dark cell with stale bread to eat and rats for company would be her state if she was ever so foolish. It would make one sound pretty dumb if he or she was to say the government was not to blame for the backlashes occurring. It is needless to say that the state and its various arms and faculties have contributed to or ignored the buildup of problems to current pathetic stage. But to openly support the cause of the Maoists saying they are doing this for solving the problems of the poor and the oppressed is nothing but bourgeois crap. In most countries such massacre of security forces would be met with brutal force the state showing great patience has not yet looked for such a “Final Solution”. But then most of us are mere individuals and blood does tend to boil when security men and civilians are butchered and instead of condemning such atrocities a certain section of the society like Roy herself goes about applauding the fact.

Why the world needs Superman

Everyone needs a hero to look up to, at least we humans definatly do. Real or Mythical our hero's help us in the guide to the development of our morals. Some look up to Doctors, some to Firemen others to those who strive to protect out borders. Call it a childhood obsession but my hero was always Superman and it still continues to be. The world today could well do with someone like him, not because he could solve all the problems it faces but more because he would be the best example of what we could become if we endeavor to solve them ourselves. But then he would only help not because someone told or asked him to do so but more so because he wanted to do so.

According to Jor-El, Superman's father we humans could be great people and even wished to be so, the only hindrance to it was that we lacked any kind of light to show us the way.

But then why does the world need Superman ? There are no super villains we need to be saved from. We dont have a Lex Luthor or a Doomsday planning to take over the world. But then we truly need Superman as beyond all the superpowers and fantasy themes he posses , he teaches us that even when all hope seems to be lost there is always a small bit of faith that is left in all of us. All we need to do is search within. We as a race have always needed hero's no matter if we live in Bangalore or Baltimore. We need hero's to show us how to rise up against the darkest parts of our own nature, we need them to make us believe that no matter what the odds there is still hope. We need them to show us right from wrong, keep us noble. It doesn't matter who your heroes are, exactly. What matters is that you have them. What matters is that you remember them. And what matters above all is that they inspire you to be more than you thought you could be. If you can get that far, you can change the world. See? The world really does need Superman.

“More than a man of steel, Superman is a bastion of honesty, honor and courage. We may not have super strength. We may not be able fly without the aid of machines, see things hundreds of miles away, or hear what’s going on in Egypt, America and Brazil at the same time. But there are things each of us can do to make this world a better place to live. Superman has taught us that.

In a world saturated with negativity and violence, Superman’s idealism is needed now, more than ever. A fictional character like Superman may not be a savior, but he is certainly an inspiration. More than just a comic book character he has become a symbol of honesty, integrity and strength - qualities anyone would want to mimic.

The Joy Called SACHIN

Outside grounds, people wait until he goes in before paying to enter. They seem to want a wicket to fall even though it is their own side that will suffer. We sink into despair if he fails and a maddening surge of patriotism frenzy breaks out when he does succeed. He is virtually GOD to most who follow the game and a single ray of hope to the expectations of a billion people. For over 20 years now and since the time he was 16 this is how Sachin Tendulkar knows cricket.

Its a treat to the eye to see how the great man scores his runs waiting for the delivery like a boxer ready to deliver the KO punch. He moves quickly into position flashing his bat to guide the ball where he wills. Its a rare combination of textbook classicism and raw aggression. He always seems to have the measure of every ball as he smacks it cleanly through the panicking fielders. His statistics are too numerous to show his greatness but a few words from the bowlers who stare him down 22 yards shall put all doubts to rest. In many ways he is like Maradona, at 5 feet 4 the stature is the same but what he shares with the Argentinian star is something called “Peripheral Awareness”. Its awareness of a man who even without looking already has a map of the field logged in his brain. Even before the ball leaves the bowlers hand he knows whether to go front or back while lesser men still decide, and once the blade meets the ball right underneath his chin the result is another helpless gasp from the bowler and leather hunt for the poor fielders. The opposition cant help but praise as he exists in a place where only a few can.

I personally liked the Sachin back in the 1996's and 98's, pulling McGrath for a six, hitting Warne out of the ground, destroying Henry Olonga. Captain ship put a unwanted burden on him which hampered his batting and then in 2001 it was found bowling a negative line hampers the great man which was cruelly put to use by England and Australia. A few failures and may claimed it was “ENDDULKAR” for the great man but then suddenly out came the paddle sweep and the slash over slip shots. Sachin was back. He wasnt as ruthless as he used to be but nevertheless batted with the same tenacity and aggression. He plays more freely now thanks to a loosening burden of expectations due to the increasing number match winners in the team. The 200 was a testimony to the fact how well he understood the game. He cut pulled drove his way to 150 and as he neared the landmark choose more to hit the ball into the gaps and run. The already hapless fielders had given up way back even to try and effect a run out.

But how in hell does this man do it? How, after all these years, does he not only maintain the phenomenally high standard he set at the start, but constantly raise the bar even further? And how in hell does he convey the impression that his enjoyment has only increased with time? He himself perhaps is the motivator as he battles not against the opposition but against himself. He is his own bar and strives to overcome himself.

In a country where cricket is a religion Sachin serves to be be its baptism, for us ordinary humans, it is enough to say that we were privileged to have lived in the same era as this awesome batsman.

Wish i never grew UP

We recently had a group of freshers join office, ice breaking session yesterday they claimed they enjoyed the work. Overjoyed my group head flashed is teeth around for the entire day enough to give Deepika Padukone a run for starring in a Colgate ad. ENJOY WORK, poor sods dont even know what work is, seriously how can going to office 6 days a week be fun ? How can working 12 hours a day straight, every day, 7 days a week in a row month after month be FUN ?? How does one enjoy being exhausted both mentally and physically, too tired to carry on with the social niceties and then being labeled as a social recluse ? How does is feel realizing that you would be on call for every holiday and weekends for the coming year.

As a kid we were often blackmailed by the family elders, “Abhi Padh lo bete, agee jaa ke zindagi aish hai” (Do study now as once you grow enjoy all you want). Good I didn't pay any heed to that. Yeah I have grown up and life right now is planning for my future or planning for my future investments neither of which is fun. And to top I need do all of this sitting in a 3 X 3 feet cubicle and making MOOLAH is the biggest necessity of all !!! Spare me the irony is any of this even supposed to be fun ?

Fun was playing cricket in the by lanes, football in a slush pit, enjoyment was sitting on the wall with friends sucking on to orange candies in summer, that was FUN. As we moved to college it was bunking class to catch the latest movie at 10 in the morning so that we got the tickets at half the rates. Fun was deciding on where to eat lunch and end up having puffs and coke at the nearest bakery. We ran out of places to eat and drink but never tired of hanging out. Fun was the days spent is hostels and dorms, TV was a luxury we ourselves were the entertainment we had. Planning meant trying to save every scrap of the meager pocket money so as to buy the dream camera. Investment meant finding the proper girl and holding on to her so dearly that it would put shareholders of Reliance to shame.

I don't need to save money to buy the latest Digital SLR Camera, I can buy it directly off the shelf as my salary permits me to do so. But I rarely have to time to shoot and all I do with the camera is clean it and put it back in the cupboard. I remember the day my dad used to deposit my pocket money in my bank account, 2000 it used to be and I used to save enough to ensure I could twice a month blow some cash eating or drinking. I earn more than 20 times of what my dad used to send but the happiness of the MOOLAH coming in is not as that when my dad used to send it. I can afford to eat and drink at a restaurant every day but suddenly the appetite for it has gone. I traveled general class as a boy / student on overcrowded trains, I move around in flights these days but the days for vacation reduce every year. Back then my wardrobe was 2 pair of jeans and a couple of shirts, branded shirts and pleated pants fill it up now but how would I love to go back to those days in jeans. Bunking aint possible, you cant fall sick, watching a movie means late at night and going into deep sleep only to be awaken when its over.

I wonder why the hell did we ever grow up, but then we were never BORN FREE and thus cant expect ourselves to be LIVING FREE for as the moment we were born we were hurtled into a rat race and I at least have a long way to go before I finish it.

Calcutta !!!!

Being in Calcutta is like watching a mid twentieth century love story, everything is excruciatingly SLOW. Traffic inches along, people plod sweat pouring out of their pores, the heat sags the city. Everyone over here waits as if its a written rule, any questions asked the answer is “eikhaney to erokom-i hoy", (This is how it goes on around here). Its a city of closed desolate factories not empty mind you as the cadres with red flags dotted the perimeter giving a demonstration of the so called strong trade unionism and the “Leftist” ideas which have strangled the city into despondency and stagnation. My beloved city is getting decayed but then great cities decay and are reborn again, unfortunately Calcutta wont, it wont because of the perspective of the people who live in the city. For a city / civilization to grow and evolve it must change. Talk about change in Calcutta , its like a dirty word. For them “Old is Gold”, change certainly is not welcome here. And then there is the typical bengali “Sab Janta” attitude (I know it all) coupled with a sheer disdain for anyone who talks sense that brings the cities fortunes down to levels of Ashish Nehra's batting average.

I left Calcutta some 8 years back just when the air around was optimistic about some change. I left nevertheless but in a turn around none ever expected the city seemed to have gotten rid of the attitude that strangled it for decades. The Grand Old man of Stagnation “Jyoti Basu” finally stepped away and Buddhadeb his replacement was supposed to be a trans formative figure. The slammed doors were reopened again and with IT majors, heavy industries and other projects lined up to open offices and factories it seemed Calcutta was turning over a new leaf.

“We feel it in our fingers, We feel it in our toes.

Change is all around us

And the feeling grows”

And that was all we got a feeling that change might happen. A few years later the government shot itself in the foot. Mamata who was subdued and almost forgotten for a few years arose from the ashes while burying all chances of TATA opening up a factory and with it went all hopes of Calcutta ever becoming a manufacturing hub. But then it not Mamata's fault completely, what did we do to claim a share of the riches of investment when the doors were opened in 1991.We shunned it !!!! So while the state coffers went empty our streets became the hub of business, Hawkers I mean. Footpaths were as if meant for them to run business as they took them over forcing people to plod on the roads, we did so too as “eikhaney to erokom-i hoy". And then once the arteries became too clogged for tolerance they were tried to evicted only to be rescued by the perennial “Didi” of all Mamata herself. Votebanks restored she put her eyes on the naxal situation thus gathering support by letting out false sympathy. And while she chugged away with the Railways the WB “Goborment” lies almost brain dead and dis functional. How “Brain Dead” they really are was put to show a few weeks back when 30 or so were cooked inside a burning building while the fire brigade ran around trying to hunt for pneumatic ladders, once they did arrive no one knew to operate it and the belly pouting firemen watched as people having more faith on miracles tried jumping from the 20^th floor rather wait for the firemen to reach them.

The state was slow to come to terms with the market driven regime that dismantled the so called command driven economy the left used to rule the state , but ask them and they claim “Change is all around”. Well yes if we look at the basement car parks of the sky gazing apartments built all around no longer has the slow moving huge Ambassadors but shiny American, Korean and Japanese models. “Adda” has been shunned as people spend more time in fancy restaurants, lounge bars with ethnic themes, and coy night clubs which have sprouted all around the city. The eternal “Shonar Chele” has shaken up inhibitions and traditions but willing to work at nights, the family get together now takes place at the nearby country club where the 150 kilo odd “Boudi's” barely manging to squeeze herself in the latest designer jeans tries sampling wine, “Aare eta to grape juice ei” (its grape juice after all). All for a “Resurgent Bengal”, and what if industrialists dont come in with the money we have SRK pouring in the MOOLAH, all we need to do is shout “Korbo, Lorbo, Jeetbo Re”.

But then is this the change we are really looking for, if yes then the renaissance for change in Calcutta was started with small change. The city needs to adjust to the global market while the Left themselves have to remove the old industrial map and dismantle its kind of protectionist economy.