It is not a game full of passion and emotion. A game where everything can change in 30 seconds. A game called ‘FOOTBALL’. I can proudly say that it is fashionable in the world of sports. The popularity of football is increasing at a very fast rate in India. A country that is completely immersed in cricket has finally started to lean towards football. Here, football can be considered a breath of fresh air. Different soccer academies are trying to further increase the craze by having competitions and training programs for children.

Many professional players have also visited India in recent years, bringing a wealth of knowledge to all who are interested in the game.

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

People of all ages are interested in the game, including girls. This is a sport you can talk about with your girlfriend. Many different soccer leagues in the world also have women’s soccer teams, which is generating more interest from girls. The girls also keep track of football matches through the use of the Internet. All kinds of information is available on the net related to any form of football.

Even the movie industry is doing its part in creating the football craze. Movies like Bend It Like Beckham, in which a woman aspires to be a footballer 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 (India Version) which also showed how Indians living in England love to play football etc. This is not all, even Bollywood actors like John Abraham, who has a large female following, have been supporting football on TV. He was also present at the announcement of the European Championship that is currently being broadcast. All this shows that football fever is going to affect not only India but globally.

The craze is so much that you can notice a significant increase in club jerseys in India. On the streets, one in 5 people will be wearing a soccer jersey. This sudden increase only supports the fact that football is in fashion. The Euro Championships have taken football fashion to the next level. Wherever you go you can see billboards of football players or teams on the walls or in shopping malls etc. Overall, the tournament has given people a boost to football and after the tournament is over, the football season will start with leagues like Premier League, La Liga, Seria A, etc. All of this keeps fans wanting more.

Also, mobile phone 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 from experts, etc. on the progress. The Internet has also played a pivotal role in creating the football craze. Many informative sites like goal.com provide viewers with all the information they need to know about football, keeping us updated with current transfer news happening around the world, what’s happening in the FIFA community, etc. You can even check how your team is doing while checking your email, as many sites sent you the latest news when it happens. Many sites also have a competition section where you can test your soccer knowledge. TV shows also help bring football closer to viewers in different countries, especially since nokia is crazy about football.

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

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