There is a game full of passion and excitement. A game where anything can change in 30 seconds. A game called ‘FOOTBALL’. I can proudly say that it is the ‘in’ thing in the sporting world. The popularity of football is increasing at a very fast rate in India. A country which is fully engulfed in cricket has started to finally bend towards football. Here, football can be considered as breath of fresh air. Different football academies are trying to increase the craze further by having competitions and coaching programs for the children.

Many professional players have also visited India in the last few years giving a wealth of knowledge to everyone interested in the game.

One would also remember that recently Germany’s most decorated club Bayern Munich came to India to play against East Bengal in a friendly. The match was witnessed by a full crowd. All these activities are only going to increase the fan base of football in India.

People of all age groups are interested in the game including the girls. This is one sport you can talk about with your girlfriend. Many different football leagues in the world also have women’s football team which is further creating interest in girls. Girls are also keeping track of football matches through the usage of internet. All sort of information is available on the net relating to any form of football.

Even the film industry is doing its part in creating soccer mania. Films like bend it like Beckham, in which a woman aspires to be a footballer just like David Beckham has created a stir among women about football, or Goal (international version) showed a man willing to do anything to play football, or Goal (Indian Version) which also showed how Indians living in England love to play football etc. This is not all, even the actors in bollywood like John Abraham, who has a large female following has be supporting football on television. He was also present in the commercial for euro championships which are currently going on. All this shows that football fever is going to affect not only in India but globally.

The craze is so much that you can notice a significant increase in clubs jerseys in India. On the streets, one of every 5 person will have a football jersey on. This sudden surge only supports the fact that football is the ‘in’ thing. The euro championships have taken the craze of football to the next level. Everywhere you go you can see hoardings of football players or teams on the walls or the malls etc. All in all the tournament has given a boost of football to the people and after the tournament is over, there would be the start of the football season with the leagues like Premier League, La Liga, Seria A etc will get started. All this keeps the fans craving for more.

Also the mobile companies have come up with schemes that help you keep track of your favorite team wherever you go. You can check live scores, match updates, live commentary, in-depth analysis by the pundits etc on the go. The internet has also played a pivotal role in creating football mania. Many informative sites like goal.com gives the viewers all the information needed in knowing about football, keeps us up to date with current transfer news occurring around the world, what all is happening in FIFA community etc. You can even check how your team is doing while checking your e-mail as many sites sent you latest news as when it happens. Many sites also have competitions section where you can test your knowledge about football. TV shows also help bring football to the viewers from different countries, most notably being nokia football crazy.

All in all I would like to say that the FIFA mania will never end and you should also be part of it if you don’t want be a social outcast. I would like to finish off with a quote that’s says enough about the passion of football.

«Some people think that football is a matter of life and death, I am disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you my friend, it is much more that that.»

Camisetas Deportivo Alaves Un jugador muere por un golpe en un partido de fútbol. EFE. Javier Tebas acompaña la cena de Nochebuena de Cruz Blanca Huesca.