Julie Ash: Cup fever proves contagious

By JULIE ASH

If you haven't at least caught a glimpse of the World Cup maybe it's time to check you still have a pulse - chances are you might not.

Even for those who are not really fans, it is hard not to get caught up in the hype surrounding the biggest game on the planet.

Even if it is just to watch Rivaldo, Michael Owen, Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham, or see hotshots Argentina, Brazil, Spain or Italy in action.

The event produces champions, reduces grown men to tears and determines winners from losers, but its main drawcard is that it involves the cream of the world's best players.

Now, I admit I am not a big soccer (or should that be football) fan and neither are most of my friends - but if it is sport then generally we will watch it, even though it has taken a few moments for the geographically challenged of us to work out exactly where in the world a few of the participating countries actually are.

Sure, I take note of who is leading in the English premier league and whether the Kingz win or lose, and I did make more of an effort to keep up with the game when I was on holiday in England where Tottenham Hotspur were the flat favourites.

But if push came to shove I would probably struggle to name morethan a dozen players in the World Cup - and that is not because I can't work out how to pronounce their names.

And it is not that soccer is a complicated game, or because it sometimes takes forever to get a goal.

I guess it is just because New Zealand doesn't really feature on the biggest international stage and the dashing young Owen is not a Kiwi.

Yet, as in 1998, I am intrigued by the World Cup and every night I find myself tuning in.

The next day I browse through the results to make sure no upsets have escaped my attention.

And no matter where you turn the World Cup is a talking point, whether it be at work, at home, at the supermarket or on the bus.

One of its biggest appeals is the openness of the competition.

It is not like rugby's World Cup, for example, where you can almost bet your bottom dollar that the winner is going to be either Australia, South Africa or the All Blacks.

Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Spain and Germany (I've ruled out France) are among the fancied teams, but every side in the competition have the ability to cause an upset - as Senegal did to France and the Americans did against Portugal.

And soccer is truly an international game.

Casting an eye over the teams proves the players come from all walks of life - from the glitzy surrounds of English star David Beckham to the ordinary, everyday players from Nigeria.

And how exciting it is when new teams such as China and Senegal enter the frame.

You sit there hoping they'll get at least one into the net or, even better, upset a favourite.

Yes, it would be good if New Zealand had a team there and even better if it was a good one. But no matter, the World Cup is still well worth a look.

nzherald.co.nz/fifaworldcup

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