Football Fever

Effect of football match last night between Portugal and Spain

The FIFA World Cup in Russia is just two days under way and already football mania has hit feverish pitch. With die-hard football fans like Siba Prasad Maitra, Bijoy Gupta (a champion mid-fielder back in time) and the Boses in our midst, it was only natural that attendance for the exercises would take a severe beating. After all, you don’t expect people glued to their TV sets till 2:00 a.m. to show up in the morning, fresh as daisy.
Today, we were just four for the best part. Gupta had sounded us in advance that he would take a break in view of the fixture between former world champions Portugal and Spain last night. As a hardcore football follower he had predicted it would be a cliffhanger, not to be missed. ‘No matter what anybody might say, my reading is that it will not be a one-sided match,’ he declared.
How true he was. The match, which ended in a 3 - 3 draw, produced an electrifying, nail biting clash between two evenly-matched giants – Spain playing on the strength of supreme ball control and team work and Portugal relying on the genius of ace striker Cristiano Ronaldo (who scored his 51st hat-trick).
‘It is called haddahaddi ladai,’ Maitra observed midway through the match in his WhatsApp group at 00.05 hrs. Excerpts from the conversation that followed:
‘Yes, both teams are equally good,’ Bhaswati Bose responded.
At 00.15 hrs Dilip Babani got into the group: ‘GOAL! 2 goals Ronaldo.’
Maitra 00.16 hrs – Though Spain attacks are more, but Ronaldo, the great player, is utilizing each opportunity.
Dilip 00.17 hrs – Wah, kya match hai!
Maitra 00.18 hrs – Now going to sleep.’
Bhaswati 00.18 hrs – DON’T. Don’t go to sleep.

Discussions over last night's match over hot-hot tea

How can u sleep when Ronaldo is playing? Fireworks r yet to start.’
Dilip 00.19 hrs – I will see full match. Saturday–Sunday holiday.
Bhaswati 0020 hrs – Spain has tasted blood. Woh nahin chhorenge!’
Maitra 00.21 hrs – You are right. All are awake. Chalo dekhte hain. Spain will not leave easily.
Bhaswati 00.22 hrs – Husband is pouring extra drink in your name.
Maitra 00.23 hrs – Cheers!
Maitra 00.42 hrs – 2 - 2
Maitra 00.45 hrs – 3 – 2
Bhaswati 00.46 hrs – Yeh kya hua?
Maitra 00.46 hrs – Spain will win.
Dilip 00.46 hrs – Tension. Beer mat piyo.
Bhaswati 00.47 hrs – Wait… Portugal abhi nahi haar manega.
Maitra 00.48 hrs – Number of total attacks is much more from Spain so far.
Bhaswati 00.48 hrs – True, ball is mostly in Portugal half.
Dilip 00.49 hrs – Portugal strong team nahin hai kya?
Bhaswati 00.49 hrs – Now take whiskey on the rocks.
Dilip 00.50 hrs – Shandy piyo. Saath mein kaju pista aur potato wafer. Humne toh Lucky chicken biryani khaya.
Maitra 00.52 hrs – Good. I have taken pure veggie and no drink tonight.
Bhaswati 00.55 hrs – Not required actually. Match mein hi nasha hai.
Bhaswati 01.17 hrs – What a goal by Ronaldo! MAGIC!
Dilip 01.27 hrs (obviously waking up from sleep) – Wah Ronaldo!
Maitra too had fallen asleep. Today, at 11.01 hrs, he confirmed: ‘I was in front of the TV which was on but my eyes were closed. Couldn’t see the last goal.’

Bihari Milwani:
If this is the excitement on a Portugal vs Spain match, I can’t imagine what will happen if BIG LAAF were to play Rest of Andheri.

Siba Prasad Maitra:
Blog Monster, you are great. You have reproduced the group's entire conversation of that night and next day morning from WhatsApp. Now I will have to be careful in making any comment in the group. But it's true, excitement over the match was really high. Further, I would like to convey EID MUBARAK to all our members and their families.