COMMUNITY
Cristiano Ronaldo, Portuguese forward for Real Madrid and Portugal national team
Joachim Löw, current head coach of the Germany national team
So now attention turns to Moscow and the recently re-elected president there. Will Russia be able to hold a global event with anywhere near the success of the recent Winter Olympics we have seen here? Moreover, what will be the underlying message and theme that people take away from the competition when it closes on the 16th of June? Some have even questioned the validity of whether it should even be held in the first place following the deaths of Russians abroad. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson – himself admittedly no stranger to questionable comments in the diplomatic world – went as far as to agree with comparisons made to the upcoming event with Hitler and the hosting of the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Johnson has urged English fans, often notorious on the continent for the unruly behavior, to stay away. The English national football team, however, have qualified in some style under the new young manager Gareth Southgate. And so, having finally got some of the politics out of the way, attention can be turned to the actual sport itself. The last World Cup held in Brazil 2014 was won by a swashbuckling German
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team managed by perennial nose-picker and undergarment scratcher Joachim Löw. The tournament itself was made famous by the Germans running riot over the hosts Brazil in the semi-final, destroying them 7-1 and leaving most inside the Estádio Mineirão Stadium in tears. Löw will lead the German team again in Russia looking to emulate Italy and Brazil in successfully defending the trophy. They should qualify from their group but to do so they will have to finish above Mexico, Sweden and South Korea. The South Koreans will remember the Germans from the semi-final here in 2002 when, one step
away from reaching the final in their home country, their dream was finally vanquished by a late Michael Ballack strike. South Korea should consider qualification from the group a success. A lot of their hopes will be pinned on the energy and guile of Tottenham forward Son Heung-min. He has scored 20 goals in his 62 international appearances so far and his domestic form will give the Red Devils great encouragement. Iberian rivals Spain and Portugal will face each other in Group B alongside Morocco and Iran. Portuguese legend Cristiano Ronaldo will no doubt be looking to add to his list of nigh-on
So now attention turns to Moscow and the recently re-elected president there. Will Russia be able to hold a global event with anywhere near the success of the recent Winter Olympics we have seen here?