In the desert of hope

When Gianni Infantino became the head of the world football association FIFA, he instantly adapted to the customs of Zurichberg. He immediately orders fitness equipment for CHF 8,832. In addition, flowers for 860 francs. And a new mattress for a healthy and deep daytime sleep. For 11,440 francs.

Now Infantino sleeps mostly in the Arab world. Probably on a camel-hair mattress with gold decorations. A bad conscience can also be a soft pillow. You just have to be soft enough.

Infantino seeks proximity to sheikhs and seething sources of oil and money. He flees from criticizing and nagging Europeans and takes his life to Qatar. And he will, after an agreement with the golden donkey, indulge in a peaceful sleep of the unsuspecting on his camel wool mattress. Close your eyes and go.

Of course, it was not Infantino’s crazy idea to award the World Cup to Qatar. Others brought him this soup. The only annoying thing is how he likes to spoon it out.

But here it comes, this unloved Winter World Cup. And with it, great sporting expectations. Even in our part of the world, they are beginning to dream of a big upheaval. As an everywhere. And again the Swiss motto: if not now, then when?

This should be the culmination of a full generation. Tournament without borders. With a core of players who have experienced what it means to become world champions 13 years ago. At the U17 World Championship in Nigeria.

The catch: there is hope everywhere in the world. Even if it has not yet been empirically collected: in the case of group rival Brazil, 100 percent of people assume that Selecao will survive the group stage. In Brazil, 99 percent are sure that their team will at least reach the final. 98 percent are convinced that winning the title is more or less a formality.

In Cameroon it is probably 95 per cent that they will make it through the group stage and at least reach the quarter-finals. Similar expectations in Serbia (attention, secret favorite!). And in all other groups as well.

Probably 28 out of 32 participants dream of the quarterfinals. If you use existing potential. But there are only eight seats. One counts.

Therefore: football is also an excellent platform for the principle of hope. Like a stock exchange, like a casino, like a registry office. And football, like any other happy business, is characterized by broken dreams.

Many fools graze in the meadow of hope. This joke has been reformulated. Now it says: Many fools graze in the wilderness of hope. Even if there is no grass growing there.

Only in Italy and Austria is the real winter. A personal survey showed that no one is waiting for the quarter-final qualification.