Maybe it’s because I am English, maybe it’s because I am a Forest fan but I always find myself drawn to the underdogs in the World Cup, and this year will be no different.
I honestly think some of the best World Cup stories come from the no-marks who go on to succeed against all odds. There is almost always a fairytale story somewhere in the World Cup.
This weird desire for some country I might never even visit let alone have any particular affinity for other than in this month long period of time gives the World Cup a new guise for me. I think in part created from me being an impressionable 9 year old during World Cup 1990. I remember telling my friends I thought Cameroon would at least draw with the World Champions Argentina. Never mind getting to the Quarter Finals where a slight confused part of me kind of wanted the Indomitable Lions lead by Roger Milla of corner circle hip wiggling fame, to actually put us out.
1994 passed me by. A lot of games being on too late for me to watch though I do remember being woken up about the Dutch impending doom against, and my memory might be wrong, Saudi Arabia? Even so, I did enjoy the dour Bulgarians putting out the Germans
1998 was the first World Cup I made a solemn promise to watch all the games, I missed a boring 0-0 involving Paraguay and someone else because of I had an exam that day. This was the year I had bought a Nigeria shirt, I liked the shirt and they had a good growing reputation after the 1996 Atlanta Olympics win. They put in a good account of themselves, again reaching the knock out stages.
2002. The best year of the under dog. Senegal and their defeat of France. South Korea and the somewhat suspect run to the semi finals. And the fact pre tournament I was talking (although somewhat drunkenly) to a Turkish guy in one of the kebab houses of the student ghetto of Liverpool where I lived at the time that I thought Turkey might do well. I also said Ronaldo would be top goal scorer. I wish I were a betting man at that time.
2006 to me wasn’t a great underdog year. Yeah the Germans had no expectations and did well, but none of them set the world alight really to me. I cheered for the Australians because I have spent a lot of time there. Apart from that no-one took my fancy
This year and the ultimate underdog for me. North Korea. Partly out of fear that if they fail badly at the World Cup that they might well all get assassinated by Kim Jong-Il in a purge of failed footballers. The fact there is doubt it being broadcast there unless they win, coupled with nobody knowing anything about them, and attracts me to their cause. Long gone are the days where the sticker albums were filled with vague comments about players knew nobody knew much about, the globalisation of the game has changed that, but for the North Koreans. I also will have a vague soft spot for the Aussies again and maybe New Zealand.
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