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By Tony Ajero
Today, the curtain falls on this once-in-four years global fiesta. More than 3.2 billion people (the population that saw the 2014 edition) will follow the France Croatia battle for the best soccer playing nation in the world. Croatia have never won it. France have – once when they hosted it in 1998. And they beat Croatia on the way to that triumph that placed them among only eight nations ever to win this cup.
This game will be won in three key battles: Croatia’s Modric and Frenchman Kante – who will be at his best today in the midfield? Modric, with his first best position in distance covered and recoveries, and third in passes completed in this World Cup seems better placed. Yet, Kante who gives over one hundred percent in work rate cannot be discounted. Mandzukic and Mbappe – who will bring the sublime to play today? The other key position will be in goalkeeping: Subasic and Lloris – who will keep out the goals and pick the ball from the net the least times?
My heart goes to Croatia, if only for variety and hope. The French team will not want to lose another final after the one nil loss to Portugal in UEFA EURO 2016. Nine members of that losing team will file out today. On the bench, Didier Deschamps will be greatly motivated as a win will make him only the third man to win the world cup as player and coach. They must overcome the four million Croatia citizens who will solidly be behind their team. They have played the most minutes in this world cup. They are blessed with great talent. And they have been building since 1998. A measure of their continuity is that Luka Modric was in the 2006 World Cup in Germany.
This match up holds some peculiarities: every twenty years a new nation wins the World Cup; yet no team that beats Nigeria in the run up to the finals has ever won the Cup. The first favours Croatia, the second France. Scant consolation for us – after all the hype, hope and hoopla, we are back home.
Football: Sports, or Money, or Politics…?
Serious nations are already working towards Qatar 2022, but the serious contenders started their Qatar preparations eight years ago. Nigeria is also seriously preparing – for failure. With Pinnick in FIFA, and Giwa in Abuja, the bell tolls for another hammer. And therefrom all sorts of hiccups in participating in qualifiers and competitions. Why all these fights?
Simple answer is Money. Money. Money. $1.5 million is awarded to all 32 teams as participation bonus. Teams who lose at the group stage pocket $8 million each. At the first knockout phase, each home-bound team pockets $12 million. Quarter finalists receive $16 million. The world’s fourth best team gets $22 million, third placed team gets $24 million, losing finalists $28 million and the winners become $38 million richer.
So, NFF got a minimum of $9.5 million this year. Layer atop all these money, marketing rights include the kits, official brand series etc, and we would be in the region of five billion naira. The battle is not about football principles. It is about the money. Yet, we are only scratching the surface. If only we had the right vision to, like the real players, target the big money.