One of India’s finest shot-stoppers, Goa’s lanky and agile Brahmanand Sankhwalkar looks forward to World cup 2018 Russia with eagerness as every football aficionado would.
“In 1970, we brothers, pushed our family car from the garage to an open space to hear the commentary of the Italy versus Brazil game which the latter won 4-1. What a thrill it was, an early morning game,” reminisces the ace former custodian on his earliest World Cup viewing memory. Adding further, he stated he watched the match again a few days hence at the Nacional Theatre, Panaji. Singling out a favourite game from World Cup memory, he states it to be the won which helped Italy win the 1982 edition under the captaincy of goal-keeper, Dino Zoff.
Cut to the forthcoming edition scheduled to take place from June 14-July 15, Sankhwalkar opined that hosts Russia always played under pressure outside its borders. And now that the World Cup is being held in its country, the pressure would be more. On the top contenders vying for the coveted Trophy this year, Sankhwalkar put his money
on Germany.
“I feel Germany is too good, but I also think Brazil may rise again from the 7-1 massacre against Germany four years ago. Then there is Argentina with Messi in its ranks who is keen to hold aloft the Cup as his last opportunity to do so,” said the stalwart on his title favourites.
On the matches to keep an eye on, he picks out Belgium v England, Portugal v Spain and Germany v Sweden as having makings of pot-boilers. Gabriel Jesus, Paul Pogba, Robert Lewandowski, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and the great comeback man, Neymar, are players he thinks will set the stadiums alight with their footie magic.
(As told to Basil Sylvester Pinto)
