To me, it surpasses even the Olympics. The world's most
popular sport, from the of Brazil to Hackney Marshes in England to the renowned Ajax
Amsterdam youth academy in the Netherlands - Association Football, without doubt, is the
world game.
Once every four years, the greatest footballing nations
gather in a celebration of the world game - the World Cup, perhaps the most coveted trophy
in all sport. It can unite warring nations, mend rifts and cause players to perfom
unbelievable acts of sporting skill - Diego Maradona's second goal against England in
Mexico 1986 for example.
This year, on the 10th of June, the Brazilians, four-time
winners, kick of the Coupe de Monde in Saint Denis, France, as the 1998 World Cup
commences. 32 nations battling it out for the Jules Rimet trophy. EA Sports, bigwigs they
are (though they produce fine games), have snapped up the license to produce the World Cup
game.
And here it is. World Cup 98. Boasting improved graphics,
improved AI, accurate (well, almost) stats of all players and the option of playing
classic games from the past (like Brazil - Italy 1970), this is one game die hard soccer
fans will not want to miss (even if domestic leagues are excluded).
