A triumph for football and Russia

Is the football World Cup all about winning the big prize? This may be the case for a few but for the majority of nations it is more about being a part of it. Mexico's coach Juan Carlos Osorio is a Colombian and he knows just how painful and devastating a defeat can be. After his side lost 2-0 against Brazil in the round of 16 on July 2, he made a very interesting observation.

According to him, the primary ambition of all footballing nations is simply to be part of the biggest show on earth, which comes around once every four years.

To qualify for the finals is a dream come true for some and the objective of all nations, be it Brazil, Germany, England, Argentina, France or Italy.

Osorio said that the defeat against Brazil did not end the dream but only fuelled Mexico's drive to dream higher and that 'it will start from today [July 2]'. The World Cup has proven time and again to be the biggest theatre of dreams for players, fans and host nation alike.

When Panama qualified for this edition of the World Cup it was a dream come true for them. While parading proudly at the iconic Red Square in Moscow, a Panama fan draped in the country's national flag said that it was the happiest moment of his life and that he was least concerned about how well the team fared in the competition.

Although Japan is a regular visitor of the tournament from Asia, their supporters consider the 3-2 defeat against Belgium in the round of 16 as one of the finest moments in the nation's sporting history. South Korea knocked out holders Germany from the group stage with a magnificent 2-0 win but failed to cross the first-round barrier. However, the radiant smiles on the faces of the team and their supporters can only tell the story of a dream fulfilled. Belgium may have finished third after beating England 2-0 on Saturday but according to the team, their 2-1 win against Brazil in a quarterfinal encounter was a dream-come-true moment.

This World Cup can best be described as a break from tradition for results on the field but off it, it remains a triumph for a great game, which has an influence so powerful that it can bring a global audience together. Different nations are tirelessly working to unite people of different races and cultures but those are academic in nature.

In football, there is no designated session or place to express your identity, culture or history as you have the freedom to go out and enjoy yourself on the ground, street or even in a pub if you wish amongst fellow fans of the sport.

Football is the greatest endorsement for different countries to bond, you simply cannot feel left out of the mix.

Russia is the largest country in on Earth, spanning over 17 million square kilometres. Still, it was not big enough to paint a football canvas so versatile and overpowering, as evident during the month-long FIFA World Cup.

Russian may have a rich history but it still needed the power of football to share its grandeur with the world. Although many might have travelled to the land of Vladimir Lenin with a sense of caution, I am sure that the worldwide audience will leave the month-long jamboree with a collection of good memories contrary to the western propaganda blitz.

The World Cup has also provided Russia with a platform to showcase their culture and way of life, which is forward thinking. On Saturday, a Russian lady wanted to take a picture with us. She was taking as many pictures with travelling fans as possible and when asked why, she answered: “It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for us to have so many people from so many countries visit. I don't want to miss this chance because I don't know if we will get another opportunity to host the World Cup again.”