Curaco island in Carribeans is in the news; and it is not for the wron0g reasons. The world is related Curaco’s fairy tale entry into football World Cup.
Three quarters the size of Mumbai where about 1,50,000l. prople live, Curaco was ranked 150th in the world a decade ago. It is now 82nd.
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It was undefeated in the qualifying rounds. It secured it’s spot with s goalless draw in Jamaica.
It seems to be the penchant of football World Cup of pushing small nations into global spotlight. In the 1990s, it was Cameroon and Costs Rica followed by Slovenia, Angola and Togo in the 2000s.
The tradition is being carried forward. It is the turn of Curaco, Cape Verde and Haiti, all of which reaffirm that football remains truly a global sport.
Curaco is an island which is s speck ont the map. But it is football which helped it outshine nations with vast sports budgets and larger populations.
It was only on 2010 that Curaco became a FIFA member. Yet the 48 team World Cup in North America has given it a rate chance.
The expanded tournament set to be held in US next year was initially dismissed as an excess. That fear longers.
Yet the qualifying round has already produced a surge of Cinderalla stoties. It would not arguably not been allowed in the 32-team era.
The number will rise by the time the tiurnsment kicks off in March next year. Curaco has fine itself proud.
It can aim high now. Its actions speak for themselves
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After all, no one recruits a pedigreed coach like Dick Advocaat unless ambitions run deep. Way back in 1994, he led the Netherlands to the World Cup quarter finals.
Advocaat in now 78. He happens to be the tournament’s oldest coach.
Curaco climb up the ladder to reach the tournament , the ultimate one in the game of football can be ascribed to attracting players with Curacan family roots. These players play professional football elsewhere.
The current squad features only one player born in the Carribean island.Butbtge other members of the team share a sense of identity and belonging with him.
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It proved sufficient to carry them across the wualifying line. This is an expanded tournament which detractors argue dilutes quality and competition that marks out European championships.
But the widespread representation of the championship is not to d overlooked. Several traditionally strong teams are struggling.
Some are failing to qualify. Italy may miss a third consecutive tournament.
Therein lies the enduring romance of football World Cup. It provides an opportunity to even the smallest nation to enjoy its moment in the sun.
