Messi National Front Party and the Gathering Clouds of Populist Nationalism Around the World Express | Moscow — Now Seem Naïve
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THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2018 19 OFF SIDE Argentina can win The Planet’s greatest traveling festival is almost here. And it’s about a lot more than what happens on the pitch World Cup: Messi National Front party and the gathering clouds of populist nationalism around the world Express | Moscow — now seem naïve. And Russia, of course, is unconcerned with ionel Messi declared Ar- maintaining any progressive gentina are good enough facade. So it’s appropriate that MUSA OKWONGA Lto win the World Cup as But the the tournament’s first game Messi fever broke out in Mos- important thing — between Russia and Saudi cow ahead of Saturday’s game is that we are Arabia — features two coun- against Iceland. here in this World tries whose abuse of the human “Our challenge is to be cham- Cup and that we ere we are again on the rights of its own citizens is par- pions,” said the Barcelona su- Heve of the planet’s great- ticularly egregious. perstar. “We know it won’t be give everything to est traveling festival: Yes, it’s But it’s not all about the dark easy but I’m certain that Ar- achieve as much almost time for the World Cup. sides. The 1978 World Cup gentina has a squad capable of as we can This event — every four years, World Cup in Argentina was played out being a champion in Russia. If LIONEL MESSI 32 teams, one champion — is against the backdrop of severe the players all believe the same about so much more than what like Iceland and Panama — are repression by the ruling gov- then we can be contenders.” happens on the grass among happy just to have made the ernment and it was still a great Fans wearing Lionel Messi to beat us. “We have experi - 22 men. It’s about politics, eco- lineup. As ever, those who failed tournament. That’s because masks and waving Barcelona enced World Cups before and nomics, social issues. It’s about to qualify will have their noses the World Cup is a seductive flags cheered the 30-year-old’s we know that every rival will race and class and history. It’s pressed enviously against the affair. It’s fun. And once the every touch and surrounded come out to try and beat us and about corruption and nation- fence. music starts, many of the rev- him for autographs in Bron - play the game as if it is a final. alism, fear and joy. It’s about There may be no more fit - elers will become oblivious to nitsy, south-east of the Russian That always makes it more everything. And I’ll be explor- ting host, given the state of the the screams coming from adja- capital. The striker almost sin- Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi complicated. But we are used ing all of this in Offsides, this world today, than Russia. Every cent fields. (This year’s official gle-handedly rescued his coun- to it. “It will be important to twice-weekly newsletter that country that hosts this tourna- song is, appropriately, a dance- try’s qualifying campaign to en- Saturday’s crucial Group D start strongly. Iceland did well will run for the duration of the ment does so in order to boast, floor filler by Nicky Jam, a Lati- sure they made it to Russia. fixture. And Lionel Messi is in their last tournament so the tournament. to make a statement about its no American reggaeton star, Argentina looked unlikely to adamant the squad is strong first match will not be com - Why am I writing this? Well, place on the world stage. In with backing from Era Istrefi, qualify for a 13th consecutive enough to be one of the favour- fortable. But these are the ones my attachment to this game 2010, South Africa hosted in a Kosovar pop diva, and Will World Cup finals, after Messi ites, with stars such as Sergio to win if you don’t want the has long been personal — my part to show that an African Smith.) initially announced his interna- Aguero, Gonzalo Higuain, Nico- next matches to be even more grandfather Julio Peter Abe country, despite doubts and ste- This tournament, as ever, will tional retirement in 2016. las Otamendi, Paulo Dybala, complicated.” “Croatia is a good coached the Ugandan nation- reotypes, could superbly stage hold up a mirror to us viewers. I Without him the team took Javier Mascherano and Angel team with players in the big Eu- al side for several years — and a global showpiece. Brazil did hope that, even as we enjoy the just seven points from the first Di Maria among their ranks. ropean leagues and that makes professional. I’ve written two it in 2014, against the backdrop play before us, we don’t look eight games and looked in dan- “It’s true that the qualifying them dangerous,” said Messi. books about football (and yes, of egregious corruption and away from those ordinary cit- ger of collapse. phase was complicated for us “We don’t know so much in this newsletter we will be soaring inequality, to project izens working for social pro- But when the prodigal son because we took too long to do about Nigeria but the African calling the game by its proper the sense its own competence gress, often within earshot of returned they won 21 points it,” he said. teams are normally compact, name). And as a social com- and prowess. every stadium. from the next 10 matches, with “But the important thing is tough and strong. So it will be mentator, poet and activist, I When France won the World Offsides will wrap up after Messi scoring a hat-trick in the that we are here in this World no walkover.” am equally interested in what is Cup in 1998, claiming the tro- the World Cup ends, but read- final game against Ecuador to Cup and that we give everything Having already retired once happening beyond the field. As phy on home soil with a team ers will continue to receive seal their place in Russia. to achieve as much as we can. from international football, this newsletter’s name suggests whose heroes hailed from di- compelling commentary from No wonder he was mobbed “If Argentina goes out there Messi knows this could be — playing on one of the game’s verse backgrounds, its victory The New York Times Opinion as Jorge Sampaoli’s squad went and plays as we know we can his final opportunity to win a most contested rules — we’re was viewed as a decisive tri- section. Until then, enjoy this through their paces ahead of then it will be very difficult World Cup. going to be looking at every is- umph for inclusivity and racial journey with me. The first game sue during the 2018 World Cup. harmony. A few years earlier, is on June 14. I can’t wait. While some countries, like Francis Fukuyama had hailed (Musa Okwonga is a poet and Germany, France, Brazil and Western liberal democracy as writer based in Berlin. He is the Spain, may hope or expect to the “the end of history.” Both author of two books on foot- be the stars of the show, others visions — given the growing ball, “A Cultured Left Foot” and Spain sacks coach Julen — see, for example, first-timers support for France’s far-right “Will You Manage?”) AFP | Krasnodar, Russia pain dramatically sacked coach Julen Lopetegui N America to host 2026 WC Syesterday and appointed federation sporting director AFP | Moscow, Russia Fernando Hierro -- just two while Morocco polled 65 in the Delegates had been faced days before the team’s opening he United States, Mexico ballot at a FIFA Congress held in with a clear choice -- the joint game at the World Cup. Julen Lopetegui Fernando Hierro Tand Canada won the right Moscow on the eve of the 2018 North American bid boasts In a surprise announcement to host the 2026 World Cup World Cup. modern, established stadiums on Tuesday, Real Madrid ap- after easily beating Morocco in Football’s showpiece event and well-developed transport pointed Lopetegui as Zinedi- federation and among Span- Spain’s World Cup base, Span- a vote by FIFA member nations will return to the North Amer- links underpinned by Mexi- ne Zidane’s successor to take ish fans at the timing of the ish football federation (RFEF) on Wednesday. ican continent for the first time can football fervour. Morocco over after the tournament in announcement. At a severely chief Luis Rubiales expressed The North American bid since 1994 when the United playing on the north African Russia, sparking outrage at the delayed press conference at dismay at the timing of events. received 134 of the 203 votes, States hosted the tournament. nation’s proximity to Europe..