Tharoor Discusses Kerala's Passion for Football and Aspirations for Indian Players

Tharoor on Kerala's Football Fandom and Hopes for India

Shashi Tharoor, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, expressed his enthusiasm regarding the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, emphasizing Kerala's strong allegiance to La Albiceleste. He noted that the high-caliber match between these two football powerhouses could inspire young athletes in India to aim higher and pursue opportunities on the international stage. The final is set to take place at the New York New Jersey Stadium this Sunday (local time).

"I’m not a football expert... What I do know is that there are more fans of Argentina in Kerala than of Spain. So, it’s clear where Kerala's loyalties lie. I will be heading to Parliament in Delhi and will try to steer clear of the excitement here when the results are announced. However, it promises to be an extraordinary match featuring two highly successful teams. One unfortunate aspect for our football enthusiasts is the absence of a national team to rally behind at this level. I sincerely hope that witnessing this elite football will motivate more young Indians to aspire to become world-class players themselves," Tharoor shared with reporters.

Road to the Final

Spain, the current European champions, are on a quest for their first FIFA World Cup title since 2010, while Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, aims to secure consecutive championships.

Argentina, the defending champions, achieved a dramatic 2-1 victory over England in the semifinals, coming back from a first-half deficit with Enzo Fernandez equalizing and Lautaro Martinez scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time to advance to the final against Spain.

Meanwhile, Spain reached the FIFA World Cup final for the first time since their 2010 victory by defeating France 2-0 in a composed semifinal performance.