Glory, nationhood, patriotism , destiny and sorrow will play out today as Argentina take on the marauding Germans in the final of the World Cup at the Maracana in Brazil's capital Rio de Jaeniro.
Throughout the world, the passion for the game will cross the petty boundaries of countries and continents as people back one nation against the other. There is no other time when one man called Messi, another called Mueller, or Klose, or Di Maria is appropriated by millions as if these guys and their game was all that mattered.
As if only a curving kick that even mocks at the laws of aerodynamics to lodge itself in the corner of the net, as a Messi free kick did in the dying minutes of their game against Nigeria... , was all that nationhood is about. But nationhood does things to people. In the name of our country we maim, we kill, we destroy: After his brutal tackle which left Neymar almost paralysed, Colombia's Zuniga said: "I was not thinking of hurting him. I was defending my country's colours."
Soccer at this level is played in the twilight zone of science and art, where primal notions are engaged and subverted, where body works beyond itself. That is why Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal captain, said: "I would like to be 110 per cent fit but I am 100 per cent fit and that should be enough to help the national team."
Actually as we all know it is war. A World Cup is not a ball-hitting conference, nor a running race of some humanoids. It is skill that makes an air filled spheroid stick to your legs as you run and dodge and go crazy. Within that one act of holding or dispossessing a player of the ball is woven stories of legends, of heroes who stay with us and get embellished with myth over the years. Why and how Colombia's Andre Escobar was shot dead 12 days after he scored a self goal is the 1994 world Cup is still talked about.
So Argentina will take on Germany in the final tonight. There is no reason for an Indian panwallah or a Liberian mask-seller to be interested. But he is. When Messi scores we all merge with the joy that all Argentinians will have. When Klose puts Mueller through, our hearts are in our mouths. We become one with Germany. Then we talk about it as if we have witnessed the second coming. If Messi and company loses we can console them saying: "Don't cry Argentina."
Every four years the World becomes one. Today is one such day.
Go Messi, Go Klose. Make our day. Write our history.
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