Congratulations France

After a month of heightened tensions, eager waits and nail-biting moments, the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia is over. With a final between the favourites France and the underdogs Croatia, football fans could not have asked for a more entertaining World Cup. As we all know by now, the cup has gone to France and the final scores stood at 4–2. Croatia, a small nation punched above their weights, but the young French team won the day. But, for sure, both teams have won the hearts of the spectators.

It would be no great exaggeration to say that the great spectacle of the World Cup 2018 brought the world together in a way that few things can. Sure there were instances which should have been avoided, but overall the atmosphere was one of fair play and contest. Crowd favourites got knocked out and teams such as Russia, Uruguay and Croatia showed that it's the performance of the day that counts. Most of all this was an example of how the world can forget its differences and indulge in healthy competition.

Both the finalists deserve immense acclaim—France with its level-headed play from such a young team and Croatia for their rightly deserved rise to being a finalist. It is worth noting that for us Bangladeshis, only one thing could make the joys that the World Cup brings every four years much sweeter—seeing our own team compete. Croatia should serve as an example, that if prioritised and promoted, a team, however small, can rise to international glory.

Congratulations to France as we look forward to similarly exciting performances from both the finalists in the upcoming years. The four year wait for Qatar 2020 will be a tough one for football fans all over the world.