* As football’s biggest stage comes alive with England set to meet Ghana in second group match this evening from 22h00
* While also backing Africa’s representatives to write new chapters of their own with focus on Morocco having reached the Qatar 2022 semi-finals
Maravi Express
Former Bulgaria international, Dimitar Berbatov, who is part of SuperSport’s star-studded FIFA World Cup™ analysis team, indicates that he is “a bit biased because of [his] journey and career in England when he was asked which nation he believes could finally lift the trophy.
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The former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur striker is helping guide viewers through every twist and turn of football’s greatest tournament as Africa’s biggest sports broadcaster delivers all 104 FIFA World Cup matches live.
England are set to meet Ghana in second group match this evening from 22h00 and The Three Lions “deserve it because they have reached two finals in recent years [and] they also have a great history and have won the World Cup before”.
“In a way, it feels like it could be their time, if that sounds right. At least that’s how I see it. That’s why I support them and why I’m rooting for them.”
It is a prediction built as much on emotion as football logic. England’s near misses have become one of modern football’s defining narratives, but Berbatov believes Thomas Tuchel has inherited a squad capable of finally taking the last step.
That does not mean the road will be straightforward: “Of course, I am aware that France, Spain, Argentina with Messi, Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo, the Netherlands, and perhaps a few surprise nations will also be there.
“Everyone will be trying to take the World Cup away from Argentina,” while indicating that his loyalties, however, are split between the country that shaped much of his career and the region that shaped his life.
“As for the Balkan nations, I support Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina because we are like brothers. But England is my footballing crush — I support them and I root for them.”
While England may have captured his imagination, Berbatov is equally eager to see Africa continue its remarkable rise on the global stage as the continent is at this World Cup carrying greater expectation than ever before following Morocco’s historic run to the semi-finals four years ago.
Berbatov believes that achievement has changed perceptions: “Morocco is obviously a team that has done very well, particularly at the last World Cup where they reached the semi-finals,” he says.
“The game I watched against Brazil convinced me that they are trying to build on that success because they played with so much confidence and belief. They wanted to show Brazil that they were not intimidated and were ready to test themselves against one of the biggest teams in the world.
That’s what you want to see on the pitch,” he said and his message to Africa’s 10 representatives is simple: “I wish them luck.”
South Africa’s opening results may not have gone according to plan, but Berbatov believes tournaments are rarely won or lost in a single match: “Obviously, South Africa did not start in the best possible way, but it’s not the end of the world because there are still more games to play.
”Pick yourselves up, stay together as a team and as a family. The nation must do the same. Don’t point fingers or place blame; that’s the easiest thing to do. Instead, stay united and learn from your mistakes.”
For Berbatov, belief remains football’s greatest currency: “At the same time, I wish all of the African teams good luck. It won’t be easy, but sometimes things that seem difficult are not as difficult as they appear. You just need to try.”
Away from the cameras, Berbatov has once again found himself embraced by South African football supporters, something he says never goes unnoticed: “Well, I cannot complain. Everybody has been so welcoming and is always trying to make sure that everything is good for me and for my colleagues who are commentating as well.
“It is always good to come back to places where I have been before, or even to visit new places. It is rewarding because it means I must have done something right in my career.
“People remember that, people appreciate it, and I entertained them on the pitch. Now, in a way, they are paying me back by showing me hospitality and making sure that I am well looked after.”
Tamsanqa Teyise with a tackle on Dimitar Berbatov during the MTN Football Invitational match between Amazulu and Manchester United from Moses Mabhida Stadium on July 18, 2012 in Durban, South Africa. (Picture credit: Gallo Images)
Few players remain as synonymous with effortless football as Berbatov, but even now the conversation inevitably returns to Old Trafford. Although he proudly speaks of every club that shaped his career, Manchester United remains the place where everything came together.
“I respect and love all my former teams, if I am being honest, because each of them gave me something in football. But, of course, my greatest success and personal achievement was at Manchester United.”
His journey from Bulgaria to one of the biggest clubs in world football remains a source of immense pride: “Coming from a small country like Bulgaria and making my way to Old Trafford was a journey that required discipline.
“Obviously, I had talent, but it also took consistency and the ability not to give up in difficult situations. I enjoyed every moment of it, even the difficult ones.”
Like millions around the world, he still watches every United result with equal measures of hope and frustration: “Manchester United is the team that most people associate me with. I still follow them closely.
“I still get angry when they do not do well, and I am happy when they do well. I also cannot wait for the new season, when we will once again be back in the Champions League.”
If there is one image that continues to define Berbatov’s career, it is his first touch. Even now, at 45, it remains something he refuses to neglect: “Well, look, I’m getting old,” he laughs. “But I still train my first touch because if a young player challenges me back home, I still need to hold my ground.”
What appeared effortless on television was, in reality, built through relentless repetition: “It’s not easy because the body is different from it was before. However, I was known for my first touch, and I worked on it constantly, every day. Sometimes it was very boring, but it paid off in the end.
“A good first touch is one of the best weapons a footballer can have. If you know how to control the ball properly, it speeds up your decision-making because you’re confident in your connection with the ball. That allows you to start thinking immediately about your next option.”
It is the same philosophy he believes applies to every aspiring footballer. “Sometimes you need to work smart, not just hard. Other times you need to work hard and remain consistent with your strengths. Continue improving those strengths, but don’t forget about your weaknesses either.”
“If you do that, hopefully you’ll be ready when the moment arrives, and you’ll be able to shine.”—Reporting by SuperSport; editing by Maravi Express
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