Published: 01:11 AM, 17 July 2018
A Confluence of Global Leaders, Players and Spectators
World Cup Football Final 2018 russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA President Gianni Infantino taking a look at the FIFA trophy which has been this time won by France. The final match of the World Cup Football 2018 was held in Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, the capital of Russian Federation on 15 July. Russia hosted this World Cup in a highly impressive way. World Cup football is considered the greatest show on earth. It is the most popular sports event in the whole world.
A great number of spectators from Croatia and France and some more countries crowded the galleries of Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow to watch the most exciting match of the tournament.
The final match of World Cup football throughout history has been able to grab people's attention. In the present world of satellite channels, online connectivity and worldwide social networks, the biggest football festival was watched by all people with breathtaking suspense.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressing exhilarant joy as France wins the World Cup title.
Since Croatia and France played in the final match, most of the viewers in the galleries were from these two countries. There were spectators from some other countries too. A lot of Russian football lovers were also seen in the stadium to see the performance of the two toughest teams vying with each other to lift the trophy.
Croatia played very well in all the matches and reached the final with flying colors. However, France won the World Cup 2018 title beating Croatia by 4-2 goals in a highly entertaining match. Besides the competitive match between these two countries, another dimension made the World Cup final this time much more interesting.
French President Emmanuel Macron presenting FIFA Young Player Award to French striker Kylian Mbappe.
That is the presence of Presidents of both France and Croatia through the final match including the closing ceremony. French President Emmanuel Macron and Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic saw the whole match from the special gallery in the stadium while the television cameras spotlighted on them a number of times.The presence of the heads of states of both these nations obviously uplifted the spirit of the players and viewers.
Gianni Infantino, President of Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) was present during the final match too.
Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic looks joyous as her team scores against France.
He was seen speaking to Emmanuel Macron and Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic while the match was going on. When the final whistle of the match blew confirming the victory of France, the country's President expressed his joy in an enthusiastic style. July is a deeply significant month for the French people.
The French Revolution, the most vital upheaval in the history of France took place on 14 July 1789 while France clinched the World Cup football trophy on 15 July 2018. It is indeed a phenomenal milepost for the French citizens which is why Emmanuel Macron, the French President was found so much excited as his team won.
Emmanuel Macron and Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic share feelings after the final match.
On the other hand, Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, the Croatian President was at the hub of attention from millions of people during the entire World Cup 2018.
Her appearance in the gallery during the matches of Croatia increased the joy of Croatian players and her motivation to her country's football team has been widely applauded by everyone on social networks, online news portals and on television channels.
Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic and Emmanuel Macron congratulated one another after the final match. They shook hands and hugged. Photos showing the Presidents of these two countries embracing and greeting each other have meanwhile gone viral on facebook and throughout internet.
Croatian President Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic affectionately speaking to the Croatian captain Luka Modric.
Both Presidents felicitated their players too. While the French team lifted the trophy in the closing ceremony, it was a time of unfathomable pleasure and pride for Emmanuel Macron. FIFA President Giovanni Infantino and Russian President Vladimir Putin also gave warm compliments to Emmanuel Macron on the victory of France for the second time in World Cup football.
It was very admirable to see that the Croatian President cordially and affectionately congratulated the Croatian footballers for taking the team to the World Cup final by defeating formidable contestants. She would be certainly happier if Croatia won the final match but her glamorous, smiling face despite Croatia's defeat in the final match has touched everyone's heart.
Leaders from the whole world have extended compliments to Emmanuel Macron and Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic for the achievements of their football squads. Global stakeholders have profoundly appreciated Russian President Vladimir Putin too for the arrangements of all these matches of this World Cup so smoothly.
World Cup football has always been an incomparable source of recreation for billions of people from all corners of the globe. As World Cup 2018 came to an end on 15 July, we will have to wait for another four years till the World Cup 2022 kicks off in Qatar.
World Cup football is no longer only a sports contest. It is not just a competition between footballers. It has become a unique place where celebrated world leaders converge on one platform.
Thus the arena of global politics got wider through World Cup 2018 and merged with the general football lovers from different countries. It's an evidence of the fact that football can reach beyond the lines of the soccer field to become a part of geopolitics too in an amicable way. This is the universal appeal of football.
Ananda Rahman is a sports columnist for The Asian Age.
