Euro 2012 : Spain vs Italy

Since Thursday Night after the match I was thinking of writing this one but somehow I have managed it only today late afternoon.

Its a great feeling to see Italy in the finals of Euro 2012 against their Group Toppers Spain. Two nations battered by financial crisis is waiting to gain some glory amidst such adversities. Tomorrow the world will see yet another Spanish "tic-i-tac-a" vs Italian "catanichio". However, it will only be fair to say  the latter have shown enough of the former's skill (specially against Germany) along with their traditional skills. On the eve of the match I cannot pray/hope to say "may the better team wins" and as an Italian-Catanichio supporter I wish Italy lifts the trophy (even if Spain wins hearts).

The hype about "dream football" (I don't understand what this is) displayed by Spain & Barcelona started when Spain won Euro 2008 and on their way they got the better of Italy in the quarters via tie-breakers (perhaps the only match where Spain failed to score in open play). Since then perhaps Spain has scored in all matches played in final (i.e. final tournament).

Italy have a lot at stake. Since 1968 they have not won Euro, won the World Cup in 1982 & 2006, slipped in the finals of 1994 World Cup & Euro 2000. Their rivals have one more Euro to show (1964 & 2008) but when it comes to the world stage they trail by 1: 4. So, they will be geared up to push the numbers in their favour. Of late the Spanish football (La Liga) with the like of Messi, Christiano Ronaldo, Xavi, Iniesta have gained much popularity compared to the the Italian League  (Serie A). The age old veteran defence of AC Milan have failed to stand against the Barcelonian youth. In the last season only in 4 meetings Barcelona have won twice & drawn twice (one away one home). So, some pride is at stake for Italy. The good thing about Italy  is the defence is from the ever so strong "Old Lady of Turin (Juventus)" and they have the "magic man" in the form of Andreas Pirlo.

If Euro 2012 has seen some magic revival it has been Pirlo. In 2006 Pirlo & Gattuso were the key to Italian midfield with Pirlo providing all the creativity. Since that he has been off both at club & national level. His form revived after his move to Juventus last season and he has so far raised the bar at the top level. His free-kick goal against Croatia has been this Euro's by far the best.

Spain had a tough semi-final against Portugal. They were stressed to the brink. It often happens that the team who have been stressed to limits before the finals they get used to pressure and this helps them in the big occasion.

Italy had a much easier match against one of the tournament favourites Germany. So, they need to be additionally cautious. Some are saying Italy's semi-final victory is Euro's greatest mishap. I don't understand their logic but if that is so then yet another mishap is waiting to happen on Sunday night!

While Spain will be defending their title and completing their hat-trick of championships Italy will be defending their pride and I believe as the Azzuris are always the better defending side they have a different edge. Looking back to the group encounter and Euro 2008 quarter seems there could have been no better final.

Note : Picture Courtesy Google

Circles & Zeros

Last Night I was watching "Agora", a film based on rise of Christianity or Jew-Christian clash during the Roman Egyptian day. The central character of the film is "Hypatia" (played by Rachel Weisz), Philosopher & and Mathematician, based in Alexandria. Throughout the film Hypatia is trying to find the truth regarding earth's orbit and motion amidst the political and social adversities. Hypatia was in search of the shape which exactly defines earth's path. 

Picture Courtesy : https://www.pexels.com

A strange thought came to my mind - it is about circles. A circle has neither beginning nor an end. You can start anywhere and tracing the geometry one will end at the same place. Lot of things crossed my mind or still crossing while I am writing - none of them have distinct relations, equations or any physical significance - they are just discrete thoughts. But it just happened that it crossed my mind and somewhere a pattern seems to be there. The great solar system is circular/elliptical or such similar pattern. Everyone is moving in some definite shape around someone else in addition to a revolution around oneself. So, in a way everything in the universe is in some sort of circular motion. And when one motion matches the other something happens-we have a solar eclipse or a lunar eclipse, full moon, new moon, etc. and we may call that timing. There is definitely something, some greater urge which is in its will or intent trying to keep things in definite shape and size, fighting against the odds to succeed in the objective.

Looking into our life, society, day to day dealings, in some way or the other we are in search of that definite shape. The different religions or philosophies have spoken of life or life cycle. We start from some point which is beyond our control (i.e. we don't know when and where we are getting fitted into the circle) and end at a point we cannot predict. The Hindu philosophy speaks of 4 stages of human life; quite similar to the 4 quadrants of a circle or the 24-hour clock time system (where we can make 4 quadrants). Aim of all is to reach the starting point. In a race the athlete in most cases has to end up from where the race began to complete. Our life runs in a circle. Looking at micro-levels right from going to school to making a family and then again to stabilizing the family, everywhere we are moving in circles perhaps without realizing this. A person at work tries to complete his circle of home-office-home day in day out. At office the same person works round the year to get his year end benefits, rewards, incentive. On achieving the same he completes his target/circle and again starts with new aspirations for the new year. Shall we say we are working for fulfillment of circle or a zero? We hate "ZERO", then how can we be working for a zero. We hate zero in a report card (read mark sheet), we hate zero in our performance ratings but we love zeroes in the salary cheques and to increase the number of zeroes in the bank account we try to motivate to make a never ending loop or a circle or a zero. Some say in our quest for zeroes we end up with lots of zeroes but become a zero.

Set theory and Venn Diagram is another example of our fondness of circles. Why did not someone think of squares to form the Venn Diagrams and their intersections? The concept of intersection of 2 sets basically points out to the area of common interests and conflicts (like the eclipses) while the concept of union of 2 sets symbolizes the fact of a greater accomplishment through the coming of 2 different identities (like the beginning of life). Mathematicians/Scientists have tried over the years to explain the laws of nature in different ways. Probability has tried to explain the chance factor of life. The motions of solar bodies, their mutual positions have been explained by Gravitational Forces. The thing which is perhaps not been analyzed is this interesting pattern of circle completions.

A common belief exists that somehow satisfying the circle is the motto of life i.e. if you can complete the circle from start to end (if necessary forcefully) by recreating and completing your social duties. The fact is that if we were able to understand this unique circle we would not have tried to complete it; it’s a definite natural process, forcing the issues make things harder.

The earth moves round the sun in an elliptical orbit, sometimes moving close sometimes far but never merges with the Sun, as then it will be all over for us - will that be the completion of some other circle unknown to us - only time will tell. Time moves forward in the form of a circle (the year phenomenon) while revolving around itself (the day phenomenon). What can be the radius of the Time Circle - perhaps beyond our wildest imaginations? Talking of earth's motion round the sun - does it mean that in search of the Ultimate Truth we might meet our end as the Earth will if it meets the Sun. As the mother planet is okay revolving about the Sun, rather than merging, does this signify that we will be fine in our limitations/failures and shall falter trying to push hard for something (may be the Truth itself), the same as what happened to Hypatia. So, I end up from where I began no solutions, no conclusions only doubts and assumptions. Time up!!!