The Hindu : New Delhi News : Capturing magical moments of a spectacular game

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 27, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Capturing magical moments of a spectacular game

Lakshmi B. Ghosh

Six-part TV series on football will provide an insight into the history of the sport

MORE THAN A GAME: Discovery Channel celebrates the World Cup.

NEW DELHI: This coming June, the world will discover new heroes, a nation will find a new reason to celebrate, and dreams will come packed in a century-old game that will have millions waiting to say that magical four letter world --- Goal.

The World Cup is not just another tournament. And football is clearly not just another game. And so when the focus shifts to Germany this June and the world decides to talk only in terms of the off-sides of life or the unjust penalty, you will know football fever is on.

But till the agonising four-year wait is put to an end and the world begins to sing for its favourite heroes, it is perhaps time to know a little more about the game that rules the globe. And promising to do just that is Discovery Channel.

In a six-part series premiering soon, the channel will go beyond the goalpost and the scoreboards to reveal how the game has impacted countries, their economies and the people.

Aptly titled "More than a game", the series will feature six countries that have ruled the game over the years -- Brazil, Germany, France, England, Argentina and Italy. From following the emergence of international football's greatest teams to chronicling the story of stars who shaped the destiny of their countries, the programme will look at how the World Cup has evolved over the years.

Made in collaboration with Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the show will feature exclusive footage from FIFA's archive and recollections of some of the game's best-known names such as Zidane, Platini, Zoff and Beckham among others.

Right from glorious goals that made history to the extent to which fans can go, many unseen footage from matches dating back to 40 years will be screened as part of the series.

To be shown every Friday beginning April 28 at 9 p.m., Brazil will be the focus of the first episode. The series will then move on to Argentina, England, Germany, Italy and France.

Speaking at a press conference held to announce the show, the Brazilian Ambassador to India, Jose Vicente Pimentel, noted that football has become the symbol of Brazilian identity over the years.

"Our first World Cup victory transformed the way we looked at ourselves. It improved our self-esteem. Today football is more than a game. It is an industry that provides jobs and gives poor children the hope of being the next Pele," said Mr. Pimentel. An attempt at capturing the magical moments of the spectacular game and providing an insight into its history, this is clearly one programme you would not want to miss. At least not if you want to know all about the big game before the world tunes into Germany come June.

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