Levelling the playing field
What (not) to expect from the 2018 Russia World Cup
The FM did some (crystal) ball-gazing about the Fifa World Cup. Here’s what we hope won’t be in the starting line-up
Even football addicts may feel oddly unenthused at the prospect of the Fifa World Cup, which runs from this week, June 14, to July 15. Fans look forward to scintillating, fair football in a carnival atmosphere, but the game has increasingly become tainted by riches and polluted by politics, and Russia 2018 seems doomed to disappoint. The FM compiled a list of the 11 things we hope won’t blight this year’s celebration of the Beautiful Game.
Putin’s preening Opening ceremonies bore real fans. The high-gloss sentimentality, token pop music and faux cultural snapshots gnaw annoyingly and drag on achingly before the opening-match kickoff. This year it’s Vladimir Putin’s to milk, and it will probably be the most self-aggrandising, politicised start to a sporting tournament since the 1992 Moscow Olympics. Rigged matches A horrible vision involves the toxic mix of political interference and doping, and results in a mediocre Russian team rising to implausible heights. Enter Russia’s de...
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