2 Sep 2004(Thu)

I was standing in the queue for Media tickets for the Olympic Games closing ceremony on Sunday afternoon, behind two Indian reporters.

We began chatting.

About the Olympics?

No way!

It was far more important than that. It was about the World Cup.

More to the point, about Japan's match against India in Calcutta on September 8.

"Are Japan bringing all their stars?" I was asked.

"No idea," I replied.

"I haven't seen the squad. But it's the World Cup, so I expect Zico will want his best players."

According to the two Indian reporters, it didn't matter which players Zico brought with him, as Japan would win anyway.

"If India lose 2-0 or 3-0, this will be a good result for them," said one of the reporters. "It was 7-0 in Japan, right?"

"No chance of an upset?" I asked.

"No," came the reply. "It will be an upset if Japan don't win by five goals."

But won't a big, hostile home crowd make a difference?

"It's not a cricket match," said the other Indian reporter.

"There'll be 5,000 people there, maybe 10,000. They know India cannot win, so why should they go and see their team humiliated?"

I presume the match will be played at the Salt Lake Stadium. I went there, maybe 10 years ago, to watch an Asian Club Championship match between East Bengal and South China. I was working in Hong Kong at the time, and reporting on Hong Kong's leading club.

It is a vast, bare, concrete stadium, something like you come across in China.

There were only a few thousand people for that game, which South China won 1-0, and my main memory is fearing for my own safety.

Not from Indian hooligans, but from normal Indian people throwing firecrackers from the top deck of the stand.

They were exploding everywhere, and it was not a pleasant environment in which to watch a football match.

You never knew if a firecracker was going to go off right in front of your face.

So Japanese fans who travel to Calcutta, beware. The Indians won't whistle when the Kimigayo plays before the kick-off, but they might throw a firecracker in your general direction.

It's all very funny, of course, until someone is burned or blinded.

According to the Indian press, the pitch has been closed for two months to repair the damage from music concerts and other events.

"If the pitch had been in bad condition, and there was a rainstorm, and the Japanese players could not run or pass the ball...then maybe India could win," said one of them, laughing.

To those Japanese fans making the trek to Calcutta, keep your head down when the firecrackers start going off.

And put your money on a Japan victory. About 4-0 looks a good bet.

ends