Football is arguably the most popular and thrilling sport, and the final of its biggest event, the World Cup, is just hours away. Defending champions Argentina face Spain, back in a final after 16 years. Bangladesh has millions of football fans, and a large share of the audience will back the sky-blue-and-whites in the final. The World Cup fever has also spread through the country’s cricket world, with stars watching the final between their own matches and BCB directors backing their favourites.
Bangladesh Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto is a big Argentina fan. Having got all his group-stage predictions right before the tournament, Shanto has become something of a successful “astrologer.” But he is reluctant to give a prediction for the final. On Argentina’s hard-fought knockout wins, Shanto said: “The first half especially, I was in the ICU, waiting to see whether the magic would happen. Alhamdulillah, it did. Watching the game brings so much tension, and I don’t want them to give me that tension in the final too.”
On the final result, a cautious Shanto said: “We’ve been playing almost every match past 70 minutes! So it’s better I give a slightly defensive answer.” Still, he hopes Argentina will win. “I won’t predict the final. Both are very good teams. As an Argentina fan, I’ll put Argentina ahead. Don’t make me predict! Personally, I feel Argentina will win.” On his group-stage predictions matching the scores exactly, Shanto said: “I said it casually, I didn’t think it through that way. But given the kind of team Argentina were and who they were playing, they should have won. It was based on that hunch, not on serious calculation.” On Argentina superstar Messi, Shanto said: “For as long as I’ve watched him play, I’ve always enjoyed it. It would be even better if he wins the cup. I don’t know if he’ll play on. But I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching him. He has achieved enough.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report