The World Cup

For those arduously following the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the final two teams play for football's most coveted trophy. The Netherlands face Spain in the finals, after they dispatched their respective opponents in spectacular fashion. I'm certain there will be a lot of football fans staying up late Sunday, just to watch the final game. Bars will again be full of foreigners watching the game on large screen TVs. In fact, you can tell their nationalities, or the team they're cheering for by the sudden shrieks and sickening groans when a goal is scored. Yes, even in basketball-crazy Philippines, there is room for football mania, particularly during the World Cup.

The World Cup is held every four years, just like the Olympics, and is just as prestigious, owing to the fact that almost 90 percent of the world's countries love football. Even the United States, where football is actually a game played by carrying the ball, has succumbed to football, or soccer as they want to call it. Which brings me to the question - why can't we excel in football, where height is not a factor? I've seen Asian countries like South Korea and Japan compete against European and South American powerhouses like Germany and Brazil!

I understand the country's love for basketball. One only has to look at the intense, often times fanatical following of the college tournaments such as the UAAP and the NCAA, along with the pro league PBA. But time and time again have we had dismal performances in international competitions, simply because we do not have tall players. This is not to say our players are not good. They are simply not tall enough. And basketball is a tall man's game, as simple as that. Football, on the other hand, does not require human trees to play, perhaps with the exception of the goalie. What is needed is stamina and speed, coupled with good ball handling and passing skills. The Koreans and the Japanese have shown it can be done.

Perhaps we should take another look at football, and develop world class players able to compete with the best in the world. The government should support in the development of a national team. Basketball will always be the country's sport, no matter what international commentators say. But there really is no reason not to excel in football. Who knows, perhaps someday we will see Filipino players belly-flopping on the grass, after scoring the winning goal in a World Cup finals! We can do it!