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India is not known for its love of football. However, in the state of Kerala, this is a real religion. The biggest city, Cochin, loves the World Cup, and especially Messi’s Argentina. Some dream, one day, of football Made in India on the world stage.
From our correspondent in India,
” Go Blues ! » « Griezmann ! », « Mbappe! » Between jerseys albiceleste, French supporters from India trying to make themselves heard in a good mood. It is 6pm this Sunday, December 18th, and crowds have started gathering near the giant screens in the popular Pallarivatom district to watch. final between France and Argentina.
In the reassuring absence of the Indian team, we are rooting for everyone here, but first of all Argentina. ” Here there are Brazilian, Portuguese and especially Messi fans, said Yasir, 30 years old. There are also supporters of the French team, though not the majority. “He himself is part of the Kerala Club of fans of the French team. Officially, the association claims 1,000 members. This is a famous supporter of the French team from India who was seen in Qatar, some of whom thought they were actors.
Yasir was unable to raise enough money for the Lusail stadium. Regardless, he supports the Blues from Cochin. Since this Sunday morning, he had been busy preparing for the big night. We put up a giant screen, sound system and fireworks. Thousands of people will come to watch the final here ! », shouted the Blues fans with a statue of Mbappé in hand. ” I became a fan of the French team because in 1998 my father showed me the final against Brazil. Since then, I’ve been rocking with the Blues, said Yasir. In 2006, I cried over Zidane’s tragic exit. Today, I am a fan of Kylian Mbappé and also of PSG. The French team will win tonight, because they are the strongest in attack! »
Ball Mania
Throughout the competition, Cochin and its three million people vibrate to the rhythm of World Cup wins and losses. All over the street, there are statues of the players and even posters supporting the hapless Brazilian team. A soccer craze that extends to villages in this seaside nation, in the far south of India. Several factors explain Kerala’s love of football: the large Catholic population is more interested in football than cricket; the anti-colonial traditions that drove this rebel nation to reject the national sport of the British colonialists… And this year, a large diaspora is present in the Gulf countries, which helped popularize the Qatar World Cup.
If everyone has their favorite, this competition is especially a great moment of celebration for the residents of Cochin. Kishor James, 45, has set up a mini neighborhood cinema with a video projector. ” Since I opened this place, 200 people come for every game. Everyone is welcome, we even prepared mutton biryani which we will be giving away for free tonight finals ! »
The atmosphere along Marine Drive, downtown, is more bourgeois. An hour before kick-off, the Velocity sports pub, which opened recently as Kerala relaxed its alcohol laws, had filled all its tables. Here again, it was the Argentinian fans who dominated… and came back for the first penalty and then the second goal. Confident of their victory, logically they would have had endless emotional uplift after the French double. Even after two hours of play and 3-2 to Argentina, a very stressed India fan made the prediction: I’m happy, but it’s not the end. It’s a very tough game and France can still win, I’m not sure ! An equalizer would prove him right.
In the end, it’s a liberation for the Indian fans who are playing very fair, thrilled by a match that will thrill them like never before. ” France has won the cup. The god of the world is Messi ! “, ignited the previous fans. ” I’m happy for both teams, who are playing very well “Value the customers who come for the fun of the game.” It was an amazing game, but Argentina deserved their trophy ! »
Investment increased tenfold
At midnight, the crowd quietly returned home. Beyond the results, many are enthusiastic about Kerala’s growing passion for football. ” During previous World Cups, there had been atmosphere, but not that much. More and more people are watching here », describes Naufal, 26, a fan of the Brazilian team. He frequently clashed with his friends in the small improvised quarters of Pallarivatom. ” India has good players and maybe they will manage to rise among the great footballing nations », please Naufal. ” The thing is, there is no ecosystem and the Indian government only supports cricket. In Kerala it’s a bit better that’s why you see so many supporters. »
A dream that could one day come true. The Football Association of India (AIFF) assures that investment in Indian clubs has multiplied tenfold since 2011. Outside of Kerala, West Bengal or the state of Goa are also showing growing interest in football and teams are getting more and more professional. In October, India hosted the FIFA Women’s Under-17 World Cup. A (small) first. See you at the next World Cup to see if the football virus really thrives on the subcontinent.
►Also listen: International Report – India gets into football (Archive from 2014)
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