Pray at the stadium

ECUADOR It is usual to see footballers who, before, during and after matches, close themselves in recollection of prayer. But happy news came from Qatar, where Ecuador, the national team that scored the first goal of the world championship, addressed a collective prayer of thanks to heaven. It struck everyone to admire an entire formation, and not just a representative, giving a spiritual meaning to a secular gesture of enthusiasm. DEVOTED

GERMANY Germany started the World Cup badly after kick-off, losing to Japan, and well before it started. The players, in fact, have decided to put a hand over their mouths, on the occasion of the group photo, as a sign of protest against Fifa. The highest body had banned the rainbow band, with the wording "One love", on the arms of the athletes, in a Qatar where these rights are not recognized. SILENT

IRAN Another gesture of protest, on the other hand, was made by the team of a state, against its regime, contemptuous of women's rights in particular. Iran's internationals, in fact, refused to sing the anthem before the match against England. The fans present in the stands displayed banners: "Woman, life, freedom", making their dissent explicit, hand in hand with the silence of the players in the center of the field. BRAVE

FREEMAN The first is a very famous actor, Morgan Freeman, who in the cinema has played the roles of Nelson Mandela, and a president of the United States. The second, less famous, is Ghanim Al-Muftah, a youtuber suffering from a syndrome that prevented the growth of his lower limbs. Their meeting, on the opening stage of the World Cup, constituted the touching expression of inclusiveness: an ideal Earth based on respect and tolerance. EQUALITARIAN

FRANCIS Around 200 footballers, together with family and friends, received the Pope's blessing in the Paul VI Hall, before a match played at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. It was the third Game for Peace, promoted by the Scholas Ocurrentes Foundation, with the motto "We Play For Peace". Francesco grabbed a rag ball, like the one he used to play with as a child in Argentina, a symbol of a shared spirit. PACIFISTS

POZZECCO Unlike football, the national basketball team, led by coach Gianmarco Pozzecco, qualified for the world championships for the second time in a row, something that hadn't happened for 32 years: 1986 and 1990. In the decisive match against Georgia, the Sardinian point guard Spissu (15 points and 8 assists) was the author of 2 incredible triples, and after 2 missed free throws by Pajola, the opponents missed the last point of victory. Chills. DRIVER

MAZZOLA he He turned 80, established a very special relationship with Padre Pio, and will always be remembered for a dualism worthy of Coppi and Bartali. He's talking about Sandro Mazzola, Gianni Rivera's eternal friend-enemy. Valcareggi, a citizen of Italy in Mexico '70, could not decide. Or rather, the whole country could not decide. So, in those World Cups, a "relay" was invented: first half Mazzola, second half Rivera. ETERNAL

Carlo Nesti
NP Gennaio 2023