Biju took off at the sound of the whistle. He raced ahead. In his head were a hundred things. If he wins, this would be his second gold. His House, Orange, will get some bonus points. But what bothered him most was another race scheduled half an hour later. The 800 metres one. Sudhir was competing in that one. And he was sure to win that contest. With that, the best athlete prize would be his. To prevent that, Biju would have to win this race and another one, probably the 200 metres.
As it happened, Biju won the 100 metres race but not the 200 metres. He lost the prize he wanted dearly to Sudhir. Even today, his heart skips a beat when he thinks about the race he lost, the prize he lost.
I am sure Michel Platini too feels the same. The French midfielder led his team to a European Cup win. But could never lay his hands on the World Cup. Twice he came close to realising his dreams. In 1982, his team fell to Germany in the semifinals, one in which the German goalkeeper Schumacher punched Battiston and got away with it. The French must still be ruing their chance. Having led 3-1, they squandered the lead and later lost in the shootout. The French team was the most popular one at the World Cup. And probably the most classy.
Four years later, the French campaign was again led by Platini. They even beat Brazil, which had Socrates and Zico, in the quarterfinals in a shootout. But again they lost to Germany in the semifinal, 0-2. How much we would have liked to see a Brazil-France or a Brazil-Argentina or an Argentina-France final. But that was not to be. Platini probably has himself to blame. The master looked lazy in the '86 World Cup. He went through the motions, but his heart was not there.
Twelve years later, another French team, led by Didier Deschamps and the lot, did what the team of '86 couldn't. Zidane did what Platini couldn't. The playmaker, who rarely scored, hit not one but two goals in the World Cup final. Platini, the midfielder with golden boots who failed at the big stage, was there to see the moment of glory.
Today, Zidane has pushed Platini to the background. And it hurts, I am sure. It hurts when media calls Zidane, who scored just 28 goals in 101 matches, one the greatest footballers ever. Compare this with Platini's 41 in 72 matches.
Upset by the media's encomiums for Zidane, Platini blurted out, "What Zidane can do with a football, Maradona could do with an orange." He said it out of jealousy, say sports writers. Probably so. Because Zidane is not as bad as it sounds. He may not have scored many goals, but the ones he scored came on the big stage. And his wizardry with the ball is mesmerizing, as are his ball control and precise passes.
But if Platini wants to be remembered as France's best, who can blame him?
Even Pele got ruffled when Maradona was voted the world's best footballer ever in an online FIFA poll.
"Socrates, Rivelino, Romario, Tostao. I think that if Maradona wants to speak with Pele, he has to speak to them first," said the hurt Brazilian great.
And Maradona retorted, "They are judging me for the 12 years I played in Europe, something Pele did not do. Let's be serious: don't compare me with him any more."
Pele and Maradona don't see eye to eye now. Nor do Platini and Zidane.
Ask me who is greater? Platini or Zidane? And I will say Zidane. Because what Platini promised, Zidane delivered. Don't they say, 'the winner takes it all'. first published:June 06, 2006, 18:28 ISTlast updated:June 06, 2006, 18:28 IST
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Get, set, go.
Biju took off at the sound of the whistle. He raced ahead. In his head were a hundred things. If he wins, this would be his second gold. His House, Orange, will get some bonus points. But what bothered him most was another race scheduled half an hour later. The 800 metres one. Sudhir was competing in that one. And he was sure to win that contest. With that, the best athlete prize would be his. To prevent that, Biju would have to win this race and another one, probably the 200 metres.
As it happened, Biju won the 100 metres race but not the 200 metres. He lost the prize he wanted dearly to Sudhir. Even today, his heart skips a beat when he thinks about the race he lost, the prize he lost.
I am sure Michel Platini too feels the same. The French midfielder led his team to a European Cup win. But could never lay his hands on the World Cup. Twice he came close to realising his dreams. In 1982, his team fell to Germany in the semifinals, one in which the German goalkeeper Schumacher punched Battiston and got away with it. The French must still be ruing their chance. Having led 3-1, they squandered the lead and later lost in the shootout. The French team was the most popular one at the World Cup. And probably the most classy.
Four years later, the French campaign was again led by Platini. They even beat Brazil, which had Socrates and Zico, in the quarterfinals in a shootout. But again they lost to Germany in the semifinal, 0-2. How much we would have liked to see a Brazil-France or a Brazil-Argentina or an Argentina-France final. But that was not to be. Platini probably has himself to blame. The master looked lazy in the '86 World Cup. He went through the motions, but his heart was not there.
Twelve years later, another French team, led by Didier Deschamps and the lot, did what the team of '86 couldn't. Zidane did what Platini couldn't. The playmaker, who rarely scored, hit not one but two goals in the World Cup final. Platini, the midfielder with golden boots who failed at the big stage, was there to see the moment of glory.
Today, Zidane has pushed Platini to the background. And it hurts, I am sure. It hurts when media calls Zidane, who scored just 28 goals in 101 matches, one the greatest footballers ever. Compare this with Platini's 41 in 72 matches.
Upset by the media's encomiums for Zidane, Platini blurted out, "What Zidane can do with a football, Maradona could do with an orange." He said it out of jealousy, say sports writers. Probably so. Because Zidane is not as bad as it sounds. He may not have scored many goals, but the ones he scored came on the big stage. And his wizardry with the ball is mesmerizing, as are his ball control and precise passes.
But if Platini wants to be remembered as France's best, who can blame him?
Even Pele got ruffled when Maradona was voted the world's best footballer ever in an online FIFA poll.
"Socrates, Rivelino, Romario, Tostao. I think that if Maradona wants to speak with Pele, he has to speak to them first," said the hurt Brazilian great.
And Maradona retorted, "They are judging me for the 12 years I played in Europe, something Pele did not do. Let's be serious: don't compare me with him any more."
Pele and Maradona don't see eye to eye now. Nor do Platini and Zidane.
Ask me who is greater? Platini or Zidane? And I will say Zidane. Because what Platini promised, Zidane delivered. Don't they say, 'the winner takes it all'.
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