A duel between heart and mind

Much has been said about the never-ending conflict between heart and mind. It is true that biologically heart has a completely different purpose, but philosophically they say it has a part in our thought process. Heart is generally considered the emotional and mind, the practical. We make the best of judgment with our mind, isn’t it? One such judgment is in the all-famous ‘love’. In love, there is another categorization – men think through the mind, thus practical, and women think through the heart, and thus emotional. Women folks who are reading might find the last statement absurd and untrue. But I am sure we would all agree that this is the excuse any man would give for the most ridiculous of decisions he makes. The second such judgment is in one’s career where the mind would say, stick on to what ever you are doing even though you know it makes no sense, and when your heart would say, do you want to do. It is very difficult to say what we should listen to. Your heart is right most of the times but mind is seldom wrong.

So if you are all wondering if this is going to be another love saga or if this is about a person who listened to his mind or heart and lost his life, then you are definitely wrong. This is about the 2010 world cup quarter final match between Argentina and Germany. My heart was most certainly with Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. I am sure half the world would have wanted Messi to spin his magic. Every time the ball went to him, we could feel a rush in our adrenaline. But, did we see him on the field. I had to take a peek even in the TV trying to see him, but in vain. Jabulani had to have a fascination for the Germans especially, Bastian Schweinsteiger.

3rd minute of the match, my heart broke when Muller headed a Schweinsteiger free kick into the goal. I felt Maradona gasping. The vuvuzela blasted but this time around it was not for Argentina. Little did I know then that the match was well over with that goal and anything more would only be extra nails into Argentina’s coffin. Then it was like Argentina would score any minute. Not that after the initial setback, Argentineans’ attack was incisive. Not that Tevez had more shots on goal but lady luck didn’t sing. Every time the ‘goal-machine’ Higuain kicked Neuer had to make a ‘tough’ bend forward, to pick up a weak rolling ball. Shots were weak, Argentineans lacked purpose. Their forwards just stood, and stood behind a defender. The German defenders were never the ones to miss the ball, if in case Messi was indeed waiting for them to.

Now, the entire world, including the German fans, must have prayed for Argentina. We wanted to see a match, a fair one at least. Maradona must have given his bit during the half time break. We the Argentineans were walking to the ground, their captain Mascherano wanted a short team huddle. They came together, with more purpose, with insight and a victory in their mind, or rather heart. I was on the edge of my seat, my heart pounding for a reprisal from my favorite team. There entered my heroes in their shining armor and the Excalibur (I know these are allowed only in WWE!! So it was meant to be figurative). They indeed played with a lot of heart, just that Germans played with their mind. Argentina retained maximum possession, the famous tactics of the Germans. It was a wonder watching them play, it was like two world class teams playing. Then there he came – Miroslav Klose. The fluid German forwards proved the difference. No forward stood or lazed around. They kept moving to the gaps the Argentinean defenders gave, to make space and then seep through the defense. Klose struck for the first time in the match, his 100th, at 68’. After 6 minutes, defender Friedrich shoots his first ever World Cup finals goal. These two boulders landed straight on my heart (I know I shouldn’t be selfish, so they landed on our hearts).

The writing was on the wall (or am I mentioning this a little too late?). Argentineans must have already started vacating their hotel rooms. ‘Not yet!’ said the Germans. Fourth goal and enough for the day, Klose added his 2nd for the match to his tally, his 52nd internationally.

My heart could not take the jolts. Losing was one, but the fact that Argentineans just could not find the German net even once, left me deeply hurt. No words can possibly explaining what I was feeling then. Maradona was in tears. Tevez was inconsolable. Messi looked a little composed, at least to the media glare. Higuain must have felt the match should have been on a different day. And the world must have wanted to wake up just to realize it was a nightmare. And my heart felt like a colossal package all sorrow on earth.

I am part of a world cup predictor game in my office. And guess what, I predicted Germany would win. Men are men isn’t it. We always chose mind over heart!!