A valedictorian speech from the Ranger

Distinguished Guests, Cadres, loved ones and fellow Rangers, good evening. I am RGR J, and on behalf of the SOth Ranger Course would like to share some thoughts on the past GS days. Thank you for taking the time today to commemorate the Ranger Golden Jubilee and to celebrate with us, the graduates of the SOth Ranger Course. 

We would not be here today if not for the unwavering support of our loved ones. As the saying goes, “it is always easier to be the one who leaves”. We have practically disappeared for the past two months save a few precious hours spent at home, gobbling up whatever food we could lay our hands on. On behalf of the course, I extend my deepest apologies for the additional burdens that you have had to carry. Your thoughts, prayers and letters have provided us with immeasurable motivation, to get through everything that stood between us and being reunited with all of you. Please join me in offering a round of applause 1 for all our loved ones present today, and for those who are unable to be with us but have been rooting for us all this while.

No matter who you are or where you are from, Ranger Course is designed to beat you down to your knees. It is a course where all comforts and privileges of rank, age, or unit are stripped away, revealing the most raw version of ourselves. It is a gritty and gutsy marathon that aims to unearth the true character of a soldier through imposing intense physical and mental stressors replicating those of actual combat. Perhaps the best way to illustrate the result of all this is to paint a picture of who a Ranger is and should be. A Ranger and their word is not to be taken lightly, for they are a force to be reckoned with. How a Ranger does something is how they do everything, and they will obsess over the smallest detail to ensure mission success. You do not need to ask a Ranger to do anything, for they are already prepared to do it, you simply command them and they will execute. A Ranger stands ready and volunteers for more than their share of the hardest tasks, delivers them, and then some. It is my distinct and proudest honour to share that such a Ranger is indeed present in this auditorium here tonight. He has been the beating heart and long-suffering soul of the course, who has lent every last decibel of his voice and every waking moment to supporting those on his left and right. Without hesitation, he has been the beast of burden and the spearhead of every team he finds himself in, never questioning and never failing to be the first to work and last to rest. He is a Ranger who has given his all, and one who may squarely claim that he would lay down his life for his friends, a true brother’s keeper. In my humble opinion, he represents the true spirit and does justice to the legacy of who a Ranger has been, is, and shall be, for a long time to come. He is 2 the Ranger among Rangers, the people’s champion, RGR THJ.

If I could, I would share a testimony for every Ranger seated here tonight. I am honoured to accept this award today, but I’d like to believe that I’m accepting it on behalf of all the Rangers of the SOth Ranger Course, for every Ranger has done more than his or her fair share to deserve commendation. I would not be standing here in one piece today without the relentless support of my Ranger buddies, and I will forever be thankful for the brotherhood we have forged together. Personal Takeaways In closing, my personal takeaways from the course may be summarised in 3 points, which is probably 2 more than what Rangers can remember most of the time. 

First, persistence is nothing more than insistence, to believe that little bit more in yourself, to demand one more step and another after that, till the job is done. Give yourself the chance to surprise yourself, for the limits we place on ourselves are but a fraction of our true potential. 

Second, the strongest teams are not decided by the size of their muscles, but by the depth of their patience. Patience, not strength nor aggression, is what allows teams to support each other through the toughest times. Patience creates the half-second pause needed for an argument to become a conversation and for the conversation to spur improvement and for that improvement to lead to success. 

Finally, loud leadership may move a team, but quiet leadership moves hearts. One might imagine an inspirational commander charging ahead on a battlefield towards the enemy, and indeed that is an undeniable moment of leadership. Yet, 99% of our time as Rangers is spent first 3 preparing for battle, getting onto the objective and then getting every last Ranger out. That is when Rangers earn their stripes. That is when the smallest acts of kindness: sharing your last packet of biscuits in spite of your growling stomach or taking over the shift of another sleepy Ranger in spite of your own eyelids closing fast. By simply being there to listen, empathise and help, you are taking away some of their pain, a superpower in and of itself.

I would like to extend my appreciation to CTI, SFLS, the Ranger Cadres, CSS, and all who have supported Ranger Course in one way or another. We will work to repay our debt of gratitude, and pay it forward for future batches of Rangers to come. 

Thank you all, again, for joining us tonight to celebrate the Ranger Jubilee and welcoming new Rangers into the fold. Rangers, it has been an honour to suffer, smile, and fight alongside each and every one of you. I can truly testify how daring initiative, though occasionally risky, was combined with absolutely sheer will to get the job done. With this combination, nothing will ever stand in our way. Rangers can and will complete the mission, when no one else can, on our honour as soldiers and for the glory of our nation. Rangers, wherever it is that you may go, carry with you the indomitable and relentless Ranger spirit, and know that somewhere out there, you have a batch of Rangers who stand ready to fight alongside you whenever called upon. Be bold, be brave, be gallant, and as always, RANGER LEADS THE WAY! (ALL THE WAY)

Letter to a Ranger 2

Writing this on board SQ108. Yet another flight - this time a day trip to KL. I had two meetings to attend there. Then, I had to make it to the airport during the rush hour jam to catch a flight back to Singapore for two board meetings the next day. I went back to KL again on Friday for another meeting and from KL, I flew to Jakarta to connect to Semarang for the ASEAN Economic Minister meeting taking place over the weekend there. The UK Minister for Trade will also be there and wants to meet on Sunday so I will get back home on late on Sunday.

Though I had to take 7 flights in those 5 days, I must say that what I had to go through is nothing compared to what you are doing now. I started my last letter stating that you inspire me and indeed this is one example.

By the time you receive this letter, you would have completed more than 20% of your course. You would know the Pareto Principle. The right 20% can deliver the bulk of the results. No doubt you have already learned much from all that has happened in the past two weeks. I looked up what the Ranger Course entails and saw a handful of videos showing the various exercises you have to do: in the water, on land and in the air. I don’t know exactly when these activities are held but I keep you tangibly with me constantly by wearing your watches on my wrist throughout the days and nights. See the Laco Pilot watch on the way to KL and the Tudor Diver in Semarang.

Indeed, we are all counting the days here, being with you in spirit all the way. Mom prays every day for your safety and well-being. Unlike the watches above, I have no pictures of a moment so you would have to imagine it, Josh, and may that scene be stored in your memory sweetly: on Thursday night, mom and me were sitting in front of the TV and though some program was playing, we were not watching it. Instead we were both thinking about you, silently holding hands together, wishing you well and then we both remarked simultaneously of how grateful we are to have such a wonderful son in you.

Speaking of memories, I recall a moment we had at a father-son dinner when you were about 10 years old. I think you may remember that too. I was travelling a lot (then as I still do) and so to be able to just sit and talk with you over dinner was indeed a really precious moment. And you made it all the more special when you made a comment well beyond your years. You told me that you liked the way I parent. How I think many years ahead, paint a vision of what could be and inspire you to go there. I assure you no 10 year olds can think like my son. And you also know that very few 20-something have gone through as much as you to lay the foundation for a fantastic future.

Between KL and Jakarta, I spent the night in Malacca. Its only for a mere nine hours but again inspired by our father-son moment, I wanted to spend the night with my father and mother. Naturally, you were the main topic of conversation and I showed them the youtube videos of the Ranger Course. They are obviously in awe of what you are doing now. And back in our bedroom in Cheng, there is a sketch of you on the wall. Its off a photo of you playing in the sand on a beach in Sri Lanka. I had asked the artist to title the sketch “SSPP”.

I meant then for the acronym to mean Super Son, Perfect Prince. Coz even then, as an eight year old, you were super and perfect to me. I don’t know why I didn’t get the artist to write the title in full then. Now, I know why: unbeknownst to me, I must have been directed by forces higher to me to label it in shorthand because as it is clear now, you were meant to go on and to do more than just being super and perfect.

In the 18 years since that photo was taken, your life story has you so far growing in Singapore, USA and UK. You are the top Scout, Scholar, Soldier, Soulmate to your Partner, Parents, Platoon and Planet.

Maybe when you can connect again with your devices, you can now update your social media accounts to read “SSPP”. We all know that social media can be a soul sucking void of meaningless affirmation especially when the envy becomes the primary perspective with which one views the messages there. But used right it can also be a channel to let our loved ones know what are the moments worth capturing and retained in the account for posterity and for all to see. In your case, there is so much more superlatives and perfection to come and the challenges you go through now will only make those times all the sweeter.

At the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting, there was much talk about how we are the few remaining growth hot spot in the world. With a population of over 600 million people across 10 countries, we are larger than Europe and our economy may soon be larger than the EU’s. ASEAN could be the 4^th largest economy in the world, after China, US and India by the middle of the 21^st century. Little wonder then that the citizens of this region are also amongst the most optimistic in the world. They all can see a better future ahead. Singapore is going to be in the middle of all these development, not just geographically but also economically. The country and the region will need its men and women to seize the moment. Maybe some of the future S’s and P’s that you will go on to experience will be to help lead the way just as our past leaders did when winning our independence and growing the nation for its new citizens.

We can only imagine the future end-state but the path is not visible. We only know it will not be linear but through twists and turns, it will lead to the destination. The Ranger Course, in my mind, is a microcosm of that. You know what the activities are. You know when the end date is. You cannot however fathom exactly how you and your mates will do on each program. One thing is clear though, that if you hold on together, you will make it to the end. Beyond the badge, the knowledge that you have been on this journey is enough to assure your future self that you have it in you to take on bigger challenges, whether at the Social or Societal stage, whether in the Private or Public sector.

Right now, the challenge is to be a Ranger. I am here rooting for you all the way!

Letter to a Ranger 1

More than half the year has passed and this is my first post on this blog for the year and what a meaningful way to get going. It's a letter to my son, who has just started the challenging Ranger Course

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I have been writing to you (and you to me) for two decades now. Over the years, the exchanges have become more infrequent as we both got busier. So, the opportunity to share deeper thoughts – those that are more considered rather than hurried spontaneous exchanges over meal times – are rarer now. Funnily enough, it’s with my younger colleagues (some of whom are your age) that I share my thoughts about life with.

At this juncture, in the midst of your Ranger Course, I wanted to pen some words so that you will be able to read what I really think of you and all the love and unceasing support I have for you.

Before I start, I want to state upfront that you have inspired me. In fact, some of the advice that I dispense to my team are directly motivated from observing how you lead your life. That is also why I wanted you to appear in my corporate video. In a way, the messages below are a co-mingling of our thoughts and deed, which I have summarized coherently into a high five of life!

So, here goes…

1                    Adversity maketh the man

Life is full of ups and downs. It’s inevitable. I had mine relatively early: after a spectacular first 17 years (troop leader, top student, ASEAN scholar), I fell. As you know, I didn’t ace my A-levels, didn’t get into the course nor university of my dreams (which you instead have fulfilled for me, thank you!). I did find the love of my life though in NUS (now, that is a real high!). After I had graduated (by the skin of my teeth) and started working and earning money, there were more hardships to follow – office politics, naïve upward management, unexciting station postings, bad investments and even outright carelessness with money. However, these hardships shaped me. “Adversity maketh the man”, as the saying goes. In my case, these trails are necessary to make me stronger for I might have remained naïve, playful and irresponsible.

You know my life story. In the case of your grandparents and helper, they all faced up to our disadvantages in their lives and used it as a foundation to shape their futures. As you know, they were either too poor, too uneducated, too small or simply just born in the wrong place. In my case, when I hit rock bottom, I realise that there is in fact more solid a foundation to bounce up from. You too have been tested these past few years and I am proud to see you moving on. Tough times don’t last, but tough people do. Bad times will pass and if one has not given up, you’ll have something that will serve you well your entire life: not just crossing the finish line but the ability to overcome hardship. And by the time you read this letter, you are well into the Ranger course and the high of the finishing line is getting ever closer. In fact, it’s the lows sometimes that really make the highs all the sweeter.

2                    Don’t settle for a life less than the one you are capable of

There is poster of Nelson Mandela’s sayings on your bedroom wall. The first line reads, “There is no passion to be found playing small; in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living”. He might as well had been describing you, Josh, because that is indeed how you have led your life.

What Mandela didn’t say, though, that the big life is not usually immediately visible or available. Some people think they know what they want to do in life, while others are still searching. Some think they have made the right choices but then find out it’s not their preferred cup of tea. The way ahead if not being afraid to keep trying things until you find something that really gels with you. Again, like my first tip, you already live this principle. You are already thinking ahead, while fulfilling your current obligations.

It took me three jobs and I was well into my thirties before I found one that suited me. You might have to try a few jobs you don’t like and it might be hard for a while, but never settle.

And it is not just jobs; this also applies to our social network. Contrary to what many think, career success isn’t just about qualifications and skills. Your ability to build quality relationships - talking to and caring for people - is far more important. You have already shown you know that by organising the barbecue for your mates before the course started. And I see how they are all there for you and for one another. The brotherhood I saw at the morning sending you off really touched me. I have not ever been in a company (in all my 33 years of working) of colleagues that will wake up at 4am on a Sunday to wish me well on a Sunday morning. Don’t settle for working with those who will betray you. We only get one life, don’t spend it doing something you don’t like.

There is one exception to this rule: and that’s with your life partner. Once you find the right soul-mate: someone you can share your hopes and fears with, who understands you and will support you (and also not afraid to disagree with you to get her points across), then really settle down and work on making the relationship. You are so blessed to have found her and we love her very much too. The both of you have such a beautiful journey ahead too. We will all make sure of that.

3                    Your attitude is the winning trait

Speaking of not settling, I know quite a few people that was unsure about their purpose in life. Some of them didn’t even get to university and many went from job to job. Despite this, they ended up extremely successful. The common factor was a great attitude and work ethic.

I am sure you have come across people who are always bitching about how they aren’t getting anywhere or that no one listens to them. When he was imprisoned for 27 years, Mandela could have given in to all sorts of demons but he didn’t because “resentment is like drinking poison and hoping it will kill your enemies”. Quite an apt phrase considering you are now training to outwit and outlast the enemies.

On the other hand, I am sure you know people who seem to be so purposefully driven – not just for material success, but also to work for societal well-being or even to bring about planetary impact. It’s clear where each group will end up. And that’s what you are doing right now in Ranger Course: to show up and do the best you can every day. It’s not important that you are the best. No one is the best at everything. What’s important is that you do your best. That attitude will surely advance you even if you go on to other vocations because someone like you will pick up valuable experience and insight along the way whereas others merely pick up a paycheck and more cynicism, never becoming more valuable in the process.

4                    Acquire experiences and learn from them

Experiences are what make life worth living, not material things! I know it may sound ironic coming from me, but I mean it sincerely. At the end of the day, one defines oneself more meaningfully based on experiences rather than possessions. So, if you have things you want to do or try, get out and do them! If you want to be in the Ranger Course, go and do it! Wait, you already are 😊! Don’t let other people tell you it’s unreasonable. The fact that you are now in the course already sets your soldiering experience apart from others. You are already in the elite forces and now you will be the toughest amongst the elites. Well before you are 30, you have been all over the world, stayed in a Japanese household, attended a global imagination festival, got a scuba diving licence, led a scout troop with distinction, earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree, served in the military, and so much more that I cannot remember off the top of my head. This is way more than what I had accomplished by the time I was 30.

In fact, I celebrate the fact that you do make it a point to go chase experiences and have scaled mountains in four corners of Earth. I have said on many occasions that you have already topped your old dad and I would only urge you to keep going. Life experiences are the world’s best teachers.

You might recall the personal statements for college admission you wrote seven years ago now and in one of them you talked about how you had tried to bend nature to your will and learned that it is better to understand what and how mother earth provides and learn to fit into her ecosystem. There is so much wisdom in that young person that wrote that essay. And you have accumulated more since. I should add that while it is wise to learn from experience, it is wiser still to learn from experiences of others, because you multiply your points of learning. No expensive item is worth anything close to those experiences. These are the real treasures.

5                    The courage to go on a hero’s journey (for we are with you)

This last high five tip is particularly modelled from observing you, my son, grow up into a hero  rather than from my own life experience. I say this with real pride in my heart. It is why you are in the book about notable scout citizens. Its why your name graces the wall of fame in RI.

There will be times, however, when you question if you had taken too big of a leap. You had on the handle of your Instagram account a phrase about courage. In turn, I am reminded of the words of the priest last Sunday when talking about Peter’s faith in stepping onto the stormy water. Peter, already the recognized leader amongst the disciples, and always the most daring among them, showed himself ready to risk drowning in order to prove his trust and confidence in Christ. While he trusted in Christ, all went well, but when his faith weakened he would have been lost were it not for the outstretched helping hand of his master. “Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the faith that something else is more important".

So, every time you play big, every step into the formidable unknown, you do so because you know you are aiming for something heroic that is more important than the fears and pains of today. I trust that you will also know deep in your heart that the fear is also mitigated by the fact that you have faith that you can make it. The faith comes from your natural abilities and careful training and from the support and love of all your family nd also the grace of God. We may not have walked in your shoes exactly but you know that we will do all we can to catch your fall or get you new shoes metaphorically speaking should you ever need them. You are on a hero’s journey and we are all so very proud of you.

I conclude this letter with a thought and a picture taken I found in my archive. As I said, even as a young boy you had all these attributes:

·         the leader with the fortitude to overcome adversities,

·         the desire to go for something better,

·         the attitude to do one’s best even if you cannot be the best,

·         the learner gathering life experiences and

·         ultimately, the courage to go on a hero’s journey .

I am merely an observer here and am repeating what I see: a man who is making his own special mark in the world, with dignity, courage and confidence.

Take care, my hero son and all the best for the next phases of the course.

I love you dearly, Dad

A night of high drama

Throughout the tournament, I watch the games alone, sometimes from the bed in my hotel where the TV plays on even after I have fallen asleep (not surprising esp for the 3am matches).

There is one match though that the entire family was watching: J right next to me in the den, M with her I-House friends in NY and D in the kitchen (only listening to the cheers). D has the kindest disposition and can't bear to see Argentina and particularly the little man, Lionel Messi lose and after seeing Di Maria and him combine for the first two goals in the first half hour of the match, she couldn't bear the suspense of watching another hour of the match.As is often with her pronouncements, D was right. What a drama of a match it was. 

Consider this scribe from New York Time's Rory Smith as the teams went in for their half time break:

Even Argentina could not have imagined that the first half of the World Cup final would go quite that well.

Argentina has a 2-0 lead and appears on the cusp of its first World Cup championship in more than a generation after a first half that ticked pretty much every box.

Lionel Messi scored the opening goal, after Ángel Di María won what was admittedly an extremely soft penalty, and then set in motion another — a flowing attack finished by Di María that will go down as a bona fide classic World Cup goal.

Argentina has kept Kylian Mbappé not just quiet but essentially silent. It has forced Didier Deschamps, the French coach, into a double substitution before halftime, which can be simultaneously regarded as bold, decisive action, a commendable decision that he had got his setup for the game wrong, and a form of blind panic.

France carries enough of a threat, though, for Argentina to be at least a little wary of what happens from here on. It has just 45 minutes to hold on to win the World Cup for a third time, to give Messi the crowning glory of his career. But those 45 minutes are likely to feature wave after wave of French attacks, led by some of the most devastating players on the planet.

The second half started like the first. Argentina pressing and the game was played mostly in France's half. The Argentinian players, to the man, played with 100% commitment. Fighting for every ball, covering every yard... even every inch. So, D's premonitions were perhaps misplaced, until the last 10% of regulation time where France (Mbappe, in particular) scored twice to take the game into extra time. 

As always, D is right and her not quite watching from the sidelines was indeed good for her kind heart. In extra time, Argentina pressed again and was again rewarded with a Lionel Messi goal. And as is scripted by an oscar-winning screenwriter, in the last 10% of extra time (last three minutes to be precise), Mbappe scored again to take the game into penalties.

I'll let Rory Smith recount the night for us all. 

LUSAIL, Qatar — Lionel Messi had to wait, and wait, and wait. He had to wait until he was reaching the sunset of his glittering, glorious career. He had to wait until he had already tasted the sting of defeat in a World Cup final. He had to wait even after he seemed to have inspired Argentina’s soccer team to beat France in this year’s final on Sunday, first in regulation time, then again in extra time.

He had to wait until after he scored two goals — but Kylian Mbappé of France, his heir apparent on the world stage, had gotten three, becoming the first man to score a hat trick in a World Cup final in more than half a century. Regulation time ended 2-2; extra time ended, 3-3; and then there were penalties, which Argentina won, 4-2, the last twist in the most extraordinary final in this tournament’s long history.

Only then did Messi’s wait, his agony, come to an end. Only then could he finally claim the one prize that had eluded him, the one honor he craved above all others, the one achievement that could further cement his status as the greatest player to have played the game: delivering a World Cup championship to Argentina, its third overall but first since 1986.

A wild, raw energy had swirled around Argentina throughout this tournament. It coursed through the streets of Doha, packed with tens of thousands of Argentine fans for the last month. It washed down from the stands during each of the country’s seven games here, a pulsating, urgent electricity.

The players detected it, too, their euphoria after every victory just a little more intense, just a little more desperate, the pressure of not only ending Argentina’s 36-year wait for a third World Cup but ensuring Messi’s career apotheosis driving them on and perhaps weighing them down in equal measure. The 35-year-old Messi had said this would be his last World Cup, his last chance to experience a joy that he and many of the fans had not felt in their lifetimes.

Everything Argentina did in Qatar was to an extreme. Its loss to Saudi Arabia plunged the team into despair. Each of its subsequent victories unleashed a fervent, unrestrained exhilaration.

Sunday night had teased deliverance. With only a little more than 10 minutes to play, Argentina stood on the cusp. Coach Lionel Scaloni’s team had shouldered the weight of history, the weight of expectation, admirably lightly.

Argentina had not so much as quieted Mbappé as silenced him. It had gone ahead, 1-0, in the 23rd minute, when Ángel Di María was fouled and Messi put in the penalty kick. Argentina flexed its muscle in the 36th minute with one of the most sumptuous goals the World Cup final has seen, a flowing move orchestrated by Alexis Mac Allister and finished by Di María but hinging on a pass that was a moment of characteristic Messi alchemy, a silken touch that turned the most base material into something golden.

For all that time, the 2-0 lead looked like smooth sailing; Argentina should have known it would not work like that. In the space of two minutes late in the second half, France wiped out Argentina’s advantage, all of its painstaking work crumbling in the blink of an eye: another penalty, this one converted by Mbappé in the 80th minute, followed almost immediately by a fierce volley, again by Mbappé.

Argentina’s players slumped, the breath drawn out of their lungs. They had been so close. In an instant it was 2-2; they were as far as ever.

France smelled blood; Argentina could do nothing but hang on for extra time. Messi roused himself again, driving the ball home in the 108th minute after goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made a save on Lautaro Martínez.

Once more, Messi was swamped by delirious teammates. Once more, he stood in front of Argentina’s fans, pumping his arms, an idol and his worshipers. And once more, Mbappé would not be denied, would not accept a cameo role in someone else’s story. His shot struck the outstretched arm of Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel. Mbappé drilled home the penalty. The game would go the distance, to the sweet cruelty of penalties.

There, for once, it would not be Messi — or Mbappé — who delivered the decisive blow. They both scored. But no matter how teams try to manipulate the order, to direct destiny, penalty shootouts are, invariably, a place for unlikely heroes and unfortunate villains. Kingsley Coman and Aurélien Tchouaméni missed for France, leaving Montiel, an unheralded right back, standing with his country, and Messi’s legacy, on his shoulders.

The noise that Argentina’s fans emitted when the ball struck the net seemed to pierce the sky. Messi’s wait, at last, was over.

In the moments after he had arrived at what he has always seen as both his destiny and his duty, though, Messi seemed improbably, blissfully calm. As his teammates ran to one another, to the massed bank of Argentina’s fans behind the goal in which the final, crucial blow had been delivered, most of them could bear it no longer.

For most, all of that hope, all of that belief, all of that fear broke at once. Di María’s face was stained with tears, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. Messi, on the other hand, simply smiled, a brow briefly furrowing in a manner familiar to any harried parent as he tried to work out how his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, might bring their three children onto the field.

It was only when he embraced his mother a few minutes later that he could maintain his composure no longer, when he finally allowed his joy, his relief, to sweep him away. Messi might have learned long ago that it would not be easy to emulate Diego Maradona, to turn Argentina into a world champion; he could not, surely, have imagined it would be quite this hard.

Now it was done. He congratulated his teammates. He joined them, arms slung over their shoulders, as they danced and bounced with their fans. He found his family, clasped them tight.

And then he was summoned to the stage that had been erected in the middle of the field. FIFA likes to draw these things out; before the World Cup trophy is presented, it must run through the young player of the tournament, the top goalkeeper, the leading scorer, the best player. That final prize went, of course, to Messi. This World Cup was about him. It has always been about him.

He collected his best-player statue from Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president; shook hands with the assembled dignitaries; and walked off down the podium. The trophy he cared about was sitting there, golden and gleaming, in his sight.

There were a few minutes, yet, before he would have a medal placed around his neck, a ceremonial bisht draped over his shoulders, and the chance to hoist the trophy into the air. It was an hour or so before he would be carried around the field on his teammates’ shoulders, a vast crowd of staff members and partners and children in their wake, a homage to Maradona’s celebrations in 1986, the last time Argentina was champion of the world.

He still had all of that to come. He would have his moment, soon enough. But now he stopped next to the trophy. He looked at it. And then he leaned down, ever so slightly, caressed its smooth dome, and kissed it, once, twice. Messi had waited long enough. He did not want to wait any longer.

Rory Smith is The Times’s chief soccer correspondent, based in Britain. He covers all aspects of European soccer and has reported from three World Cups, the Olympics, and numerous European tournaments.

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Messi vs Mbappe, and more

The quarter-finals saw two teams who didn't give up, didn't show fear, didn't panic go all the way to the semis. Croatia and Morocco bested former world and European champions like Brazil, Spain and Portugal along the way. 

In a way, the inclusive sub-plot that ran through the world cup with giant upsets created by the likes of Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Korea in the group stages continued. 

Hard work however takes a toll on the bodies. By the time these team reached the semis, the players have played 6 matches, some for 120 minutes with penalty shootout to boot. 

There is only a finite capacity in the muscles and even the great Luka Modric or Saiss petered out in the semis. Saiss literally had to be replaced early in the match against France and Modric a pale shadow of the playmaker he was in the earlier 5 matches.

Then there is always a tinge of controversy... well, it is the world cup after all. An early penalty awarded to Argentina didn't seem deserved. Morocco also seem to have been denied not one but perhaps two penalties in their game against France. 

It's never easy officiating these matches where some players can run as fast as Olympic athletes and the ball can travel upwards of a 100kmh. 

But what that meant is we have two of the finest players in the world today in opposing teams in the final. One plating in perhaps his second last world cup tournament and the other only in his second. There are teammates in the same Clun (Paris St Germain, where the older striker is mentoring the junior). PSG is now owned by the Qataris, a purchase that happened shortly after Michel Platini cast France FA'S vote in favour of Qatar hosting this world cup. Intriguing indeed, one that only FIFA can script. 

There is of course that juicy Netflix documentary, FIFA uncovered, aired just before the tournament. I watched that with an open mind but came away feeling that the filmaker is as guilty of bigotry (against the instititional capabilities of Africa and the middle east as much as FIFA is guilty of corruption. Plus, the poor economic business case aside, the impact it will have on Qatari society will be largely a positive one. So much for the human rights defenders who cannot even keep their own country safe.

But sticking to football. 

So, here we are, 10 hours before the final game of this world cup. It will be another 4 years before another champion is crowned. Tonight, we will know if Messi can finally match Maradona in carrying his team to a world cup winners podium or is it the more universally balanced French team with a lightning fast Mbappe as the tip of the spear that will emerge victorious for the second consecutive tournament. 

Meanwhile, for the neutral spectator, this promises to be a good game at so many levels. North vs South. Mentee vs mentor. And not to mention, another entertaining match in this awesome world cup tournament.

Rivalries

As I got older, I am finding that I have less passion in which sports team wins or loses. I watched the games for the athletic skills of the players (which I don't and at this age will never possess). I also watch for the human drama. Whether its a selfish Max Verstappen who wouldn't yield a spot to team mate Sergio Perez who has helped him all season or a never give up Lee Chong Wei especially against Lin Dan.

In the case of this World Cup, I had wanted the highest drama: to see the two South American giants battle it out in the semifinal, or even better to see the two finest players in this generation, Ronaldo and Messi, play against each other in the final. Alas, by 1am today, neither of these were possible.

Brazil had lost out on penalties to Croatia and Ronaldo's Portugal lost to Morocco. While the chance of  seeing CR7 against his GOAT rival was not to be, I actually am happy to have a team represent a country, a continent and a culture in the semi-finals. These tournaments have mostly been played either on European or South American soil, and in nearly all cases, a country from the continent would win. Could Morocco having beaten their European neighbours just north of them across the Mediterranean Sea keep on conquering and beat France next and play in the final? They would be the first "outsider" team to do so.

At the turn of the millenium, the first World Cup finals outside Europe and South America was hosted in Asia, specifically Japan and Korea. The Korean team made us Asians proud by making it all the way to the semifinals. South Africa hosted the tournament in 2010 and now Qatar became the first Arab host nation. And an Arab country is in the semi-finals too. So no Argentina vs Brazil, no CR7 vs LM10. 

There was one match up that did happen: England vs France. Expectedly the quality of football is not as high and Mbappe was kept quiet most of the match. But the drama was intense throughout. 3 goals. Unpunished fouls (which unjustly even resulted in France scoring their first). And a missed penalty by their captain and most prolific scorer, Harry Kane (tied with Wayne Rooney).

This tournament has given spectators plenty of drama and let's hope the last 4 matches of this 40-match tournament will give us more

the samba is gone

There are, in general, two types of trilogies:

1. the Star Wars one which begins with A New Hope, then Empire Strikes Back and we conclude happily with the Return of the Jedi.

2. or the Godfather one which chronicles the rise of a reluctant new leader (vanquishing his enemies), then his consolidation of ever greater power (even if it meant killing his own) and finally after a lifetime of sin, even "just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in again" and he had to pay the ultimate price.

A high note, followed by a low one, then a crescendo of happiness. Or a high, higher and then a sad even tragic low end. 

And so it is with the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

Part 1: The group stage could well be a story of a hopeful more equal world. What with Asian and African teams besting the world champions from Europe and South America. 

However, part 2 of the tournament with the round of 16, the saying "form is temporary, but class is permanent", some of the old empire order seem to have been restored. All the stronger teams (on paper) won, even if some matches went all the way to the Russian roulette of a penalty shootout. 

So, what is part three - the quarter finals - which pits the top 8 best teams in the world against each other, like? On paper, any team can now win. Well, the first two quarterfinals were Europe vs South America. 

And like in the movies, both matches last night had the same plot. South Americans played better. They scored first. Their talismanic best player made their goals. The European opponents however were fitter and fought till the end and had equalised in the last minute to take the game to penalties. Thereafter it is no more about skill but nerves and some luck.

Croatia and Argentina prevailed. 

There is another definition of class, though. Not just about the footballing prowess but about how one behaves in victory as well as in failure. Consider the Japan team who beat both Germany and Spain and then lost in a shootout to Croatia (who went on to beat Brazil). 

And then consider the captain of Croatia, the ever classy Luka Modric, consoling Brazil players after the match.

And then consider the Argentina team who taunted a defeated Netherlands team who just lost the shootout.

And as we march onto the 4, 2 and eventually one winning team, I hope that not just form but also class wins.