Germany vs Sweden Match in numbers

The flags are out, jerseys ready and excitement is at its peak as the world anxiously awaits the FIFA World Cup to kick off in Russia today. It is the tournament where we have the amazing confluence of football's best players coming together in one spot.

Our celebrities, too, are pumped up for the football madness. We caught up with many of them to find out their favourite football memories, and the teams they are supporting or think will win. Predominantly, our stars have their eyes set on two teams:  Brazil and Argentina.

Crowned by fans and critics alike as the “King of Dhaliwood,” Shakib Khan is the model superstar when it comes to the Bangladeshi film industry. Just as he has captured the hearts of millions, there is one football team that has his heart. This year, he hopes that Brazil takes the trophy home. Similarly, star couple Omar Sani and Moushumi are also supporters of Brazil. “I plan to watch the world cup in between shoots with my husband and kids. We want to watch every game – not just the matches of Brazil!” says Moushumi.

Looking back on the days when he used to play football drenched in the rain, actor Mahfuz Ahmed is yet another supporter of Brazil. He says that the world cup season is quite a euphoric time for him. Renowned artistes Afsana Mimi and Shomi Kaiser are also Brazil fans.

On the other hand, Chanchal Chowdhury, who is known among his fans as 'Ayna' or 'Misir Ali' these days, loves Argentina. In his school and college days, Chowdhury often played football. He is excited to bond with his son Shuddho over the world cup this year.

Actor Zahid Hassan has many fond memories of playing football back in his hometown, Sirajganj. He and his wife, renowned model and actor Sadia Islam Mou support Argentina. Likewise, actor Ferdous fell in love with Maradona's style of playing quite early on, and since then, he has been a loyal follower of Argentina.

Popular artistes Monalisa and Zakia Bari Mamo also support Argentina. Mamo, a national award-winning actor, says that she has been a fan of the team since childhood. On the contrary, Shajal says that he will be cheering for Brazil. “I think the Brazilian players are really capable. I trust them fully,” he asserts.

There is another beloved celebrity couple who are on the same side: eminent filmmaker Mustafa Sarwar Farooki and his wife, actor Nusrat Imroz Tisha. Both of them are loyal to Brazil.

Amidst the host of Brazil and Argentina fans, Azizul Hakim has a different viewpoint, as he supports Germany.

Lastly, this world cup seems to be quite disheartening for actor Poppy, as her favourite team, Italy, is not participating. However, she is still really looking forward to the matches. Needless to say, our stars are just as elated as us for the world's most watched sporting event. Let the games begin!

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic stated outright what he felt regarding the controversial penalty call following his side’s 4-2 defeat to France in Sunday’s World Cup final, saying : “You don't give a penalty like that in a World Cup final.”

A debatable penalty awarded with the use of FIFA's new video replay system proved a turning point in the World Cup final on Sunday as debate focused on erronous referee calls.

France and Croatia were level at 1-1 in an evenly contested match when Argentine referee Nestor Pitana was alerted to a possible handball ten minutes from half time and, after checking the off-field screen, he decided Croatia's Ivan Perisic had handled. While there is no doubt that the ball did hit the Croatian’s hand, the focus will remain on whether the handling of the ball was intentional.

Antoine Griezmann converted the penalty and France went on to win 4-2. Even after the use of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, it remained a highly contentious call. Many former players called the awarding of the penalty a dubious decision with former England and Liverpool defender perhaps rightly suggesting that ‘It’s the referee’s mistake, not VAR! VAR is just the replay of an incident.’

The decisions proved to be a turning point in the match as France’s influence grew following their second goal. Dalic said he thought such a decision had no place in a game of such magnitude.

“We played well but the penalty knocked the wind out of us and after that it was very difficult," Dalic said after congratulating France on their victory. "I just want to say one sentence about that penalty: You don't give a penalty like that in a World Cup final.”

The Croatia coach conceded that his team had let in two ‘soft goals’ but lamented the fact that things did not go their way when they were in a good position to fight for the match.

“We wanted to win the World Cup so much, but that's football," he said. "The French did not surprise us; we let in two soft goals coupled with an own goal and a penalty.

“What we had in terms of luck in this tournament, we lacked today. When you concede four goals, you cannot expect to win the game.”

Neverthless, Dalic went on to congratulate France and praised his team’s effort after they gave a vastly talented French side a run for their money.

“I congratulate France on their title. We played well in the first 20 minutes, we controlled the game. Then there was an own goal from a set play. We came back to life, dominated and then the penalty was given,” Dalic said.

“I have to congratulate my players, it was maybe the best game we played in this tournament; we controlled the match but we conceded. Against such a strong side as France you must not make mistakes. We are a bit sad, but we have to be proud as well for what we’ve done.”

Brazil will look to start from where they had left off against Serbia when they take on a feisty Mexico in a World Cup round of 16 fixture at the Samara Arena today.

Fresh from their 2-0 win against Serbia, the five-time champions will also try to avoid being another heavyweight casualty from the biggest stage following the departures of holders Germany and Argentina.

They will be up against a team who were primarily responsible for Germany's exit from the group stages with a stunning 1-0 win. Mexico might have failed to carry on their brilliant start -- they suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat against Sweden in the last group game -- but they have shown the ability to get under the skin of big teams.

Brazil coach Tite said that they would start with the same side that won against Serbia. If that is the case then the return of leftback Marcelo to the starting lineup would be delayed. Marcelo, who suffered a back spasm against Costa Rica and was withdrawn in the tenth minute, however, trained with team at the match venue yesterday. A fifteen-minute window was open for journalists to watch the training session, where Tite was seen enjoying target practice -- he was kicking a ball in an attempt to hit another stationary one.

But emerging at the pre-match briefing he said that he was against starting with Marcelo in the stilling heat, where his side might have to play for 120 minutes. The mercury hit 34 degree celsius in Samara and it might soar to 36 on the match day, which will be really demanding for the players. Yesterday was probably the hottest day that we have come across in Russia. And the imposing iron structure gave the impression that a giant crab was moving through the desert in search of the precious drop of water to avoid cram from dehydration.

Tite, however, said that it was about time to step up against a team who have done exceedingly well against Brazil in the recent past. Although Brazil have never lost a World Cup game against Mexico, their last one was a disappointing goalless draw on home soil four years ago.

The Brazil coach also warned that records would not help his side if they could not show a more improved performance at a stage where they could ill-afford any mistake. The Selecao will once again look to Philippe Coutinho to dictate the midfield, Neymar to complete the recovery cycle and the defence manned by Thiago Silva, who attended the briefing too, to stay solid with Miranda against the sharp Mexican attack.

Mexico, who have already earned the nickname of giant-slayers, can enjoy another big sporting moment in their history if they can win.

The biggest change for Brazil at this World Cup is not on the field, or on the training ground, or even in the dressing-room. It's on the team sheet.

For the first time since 1974 Brazil have arrived at a World Cup without a player better known by his nickname than his given name.

Brazilian players usually go by one name but while they might all sound exotic to foreign ears, there is a big difference between those who use their given names and those better known by their nicknames.

This year there are no little coins (Tostao in Portuguese), no superheroes (Hulk), and none of the seven dwarves (Dunga, or Dopey).

In their place are Fred, Douglas and Marcelo, names that would not be out of place in a London accountant's office.

The slow death of the Brazilian nickname is a consequence of football becoming more corporate and less irreverent, said Marvio dos Anjos, sports editor at Rio de Janeiro newspaper O Globo.

From an early age, players now aim to become brands and that is harder if you are named after a body part, such as Bigode (Moustache); a nationality, such as Alemao (German, because he was blonde and blue-eyed); or a colour, like Branco (White, because he was the only white player in a team of Afro-Brazilians).

"Agents and the directors of football clubs have stopped players from using nicknames," Dos Anjos said.

"If your name is Hulk then you will be painted green and made to look like your name. It is a way to neutralise any irony or folklore and make them seem more serious."

Had seriousness been a factor in years gone by the story of Brazilian football would be very different.

Instead of Pele, a nonsensical name he picked up as a child, the record books would be filled with the legend of Edson Arantes do Nascimento.

Garrincha, who was named after one of the birds he so loved, would be known as Manuel dos Santos, a name as common in Brazil as John Smith is in England.

And rather than chant the name of Zico, one of their most illustrious successors, fans would sing the praises of Arthur Antunes Coimbra.

Brazilian supporters might not care what their players are called if they win the World Cup for the sixth time and many foreign ears will not even notice the change.

But the standardisation of monikers has drained some colour from the most vivid of all footballing nations, according to Dos Anjos.

"You start to see that they are taking some of the fun out the game,” he said.

It has been like rainbow after rain in Moscow for the last couple of days as fans from across the world have thronged the Russian capital and other cities in their thousands ahead of the World Cup, which kicks off at the Luzhniki Stadium today.

The iconic Bolshio Theatre square, Karl Marx square and the opposite end of Red Square in the city centre are the popular destinations for the travelling fans, who are painted in different colours on the streets of Moscow, turning it into a truly global centre of sporting festivity.

Argentina fans, draped in their famous white and sky-blue shirt, appeared at the Bolshoi square with a banner of their superstar Leonel Messi. The five fans from the city of Salta were singing a song and looked very confident about winning the title in Russia.

Not far away from them, four Brazilian fans, attired in yellow, were enjoying their time with a young Russian playing a guitar to a samba tune. The Brazilians showed six fingers while uttering hexa, which means they were confident that the Selecao would win the World Cup for a record sixth time. They were, however, reluctant to talk about the disappointment from four years ago and when asked if they had watched that fateful 7-1 defeat against Germany, they said in unison: “No, can't remember anything about that game”. 

Mexican's are famous for sombreros. But a young group of five preferred to carry Mexican wrestling mask. When asked which team they would follow after the probable early departureof their team, one of them protested vehemently: “We will win the World Cup in Russia. We love [Coach Hector] Hereera.”

As one crosses the road and walks past the Karl Marx square, he will be attracted by the electrifying presence of three young Egyptian fans, draped in their red and white flag and the image of Mohammad Salah in their T-shirt. They were singing a song, which in a nutshell, means 'Mo Salah is the Pharaoh of Egypt'. There were two Moroccan fans in the mix and they warned that their country would spring a surprise in Russia.

A French couple, wearing dresses matching their national flag, felt that the present team blended youth and experience well and have the ability to win the World Cup. Fans of Peru appeared more imposing in the mixed zone until the Iranians outnumbered them. The army of green and white paraded in a way as if they had won the World Cup. They were so big in size that they partially blocked the main road. The atmosphere was vibrant and consuming. It was really a sight to behold. Football is not only a beautiful game but also the most entertaining one, on the field and off it.