I love football. I watch the World Cup, European championships and also some important league matches. In this World Cup, I had placed my bets on the English team. I think Beckham is a style icon, a great player and a team man. He was the real motivator for the team.

I was unlucky to miss the Ghana-Czechoslovakia match which provided the biggest upset in this World Cup. I was also impressed with the way Japan [Images] played.

Italy [Images] did not begin the World Cup playing to its full potential. But in a competitive sport like football and in a prestigious tournament like the World Cup, it is important to peak at the right moment. What is the use of playing the best in the beginning and tiring out in vital matches in important stages of the championship?

I think the Italians have peaked at the right time. The team is in spectacular form now. No team has a player like Alessandro Del Piero now. I think France [Images] too has been a little lucky to make it to the finals.

I represented the Karnataka state A team in cricket and had such great players like Anil Kumble [Images] and Sujith Somasundar for company. I also play badminton and squash regularly. I have not played football seriously, but watching football is my passion and I make sure to watch the recorded matches whenever I find time.

The World Cup is happening at a time when I am extremely busy finishing my film Aishwarya [Images], which features Upendra and Deepika Padukone [Images] in the lead. I am also busy with my editorial work. So, I am glad most of the matches are in the late evening.

Kannada filmmaker and journalist Indrajith Lankesh spoke to R G Vijayasarathy