Football fever peaks in Kerala ahead of Argentina-Spain World Cup final

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 19 (PTI) Football fever has reached a crescendo in Kerala ahead of the FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, with public screenings, cultural programmes and fan events being organised across the state. While Argentina enjoys a massive fan following in Kerala, Spain, too, has a sizeable base of supporters eagerly awaiting the title clash. In Kozhikode, Argentina fans unfurled a nearly 100-metre-long Argentine flag on the beach as part of the celebrations. In Kannur, two private bus operators—one supporting Argentina and the other Spain—announced that they would offer free rides to students on July 21 if their respective teams lifted the trophy. Open-air screenings of the final have been arranged by various organisations in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and several other places. Hotels and restaurants have also announced live screenings, while football-themed cultural and sporting events are being organised across the state. In Kayamkulam, the Kerala Excise Department, in association with Proud Kayamkulam, has organised a public screening of the final at Elmex Ground as part of its anti-drug campaign, 'Mayangilla Kerala'. The event will feature a penalty shootout competition and a musical concert by Alappuzha Blue Diamonds before the match. Amid the celebrations, Kerala Police issued a strict advisory against reckless celebrations and traffic violations. The police warned against dangerous practices such as riding without helmets, driving without licences, drunken driving, overspeeding, reckless driving, overloading vehicles and creating excessive noise through prolonged honking. The police said violators would face strict legal action, with offending vehicles liable to be impounded and produced before a court. The football frenzy has also gripped Kerala's political leaders and film personalities, many of whom have publicly declared their support for their favourite teams. Actor Asif Ali said he was backing Argentina and hoped Lionel Messi would lift the World Cup once again. "It is said that this will be Messi's last World Cup match. We are excited about it," he told reporters. He said the excitement surrounding the final was visible wherever he travelled. "I could watch almost all of Argentina's matches. I expect Messi to score," he said. Sports Minister O J Janeesh also backed Argentina. "We hope Argentina will lift the trophy. We are also excited about the match," he said. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said he had traditionally been a Brazil supporter but would be cheering for Argentina in the final. He shared a video featuring the Argentina team and Messi on his Facebook page. Forest Minister Shibu Baby John shared an edited image of himself, dressed in traditional Kerala attire, dribbling past Lionel Messi and Spanish midfielder Rodri on his Facebook page. He captioned the post: "We had resisted this for a long time... But then, we finally gave in! Anyway, Messi has made it to Kerala." Excise Minister M Liju invited football fans to attend the public screening in Kayamkulam through a Facebook post, describing football as the "real high" in line with the Excise Department's anti-drug campaign. CPI(M) leader P Rajeev said he had been an Argentina fan since the days of Diego Maradona. "My wish is that Argentina win the World Cup. But Spain is a strong team. They have conceded only one goal in the tournament and play possession football. Argentina's ability to come back from the verge of defeat has been its biggest strength in this tournament," he said. Rajeev said he would definitely watch the final. PTI TBA SSK