NEW DELHI, Aug. 29 -- This tectonic switch from my wonted overworked theme of political monsters, dragons and serpents has been inspired by a friend's nostalgic trip down memory lane, which he shared with me as hors d'oeuvre leading up to the Soccer World Cup feast slated for November-December. He forwarded the names of the eleven footballers in the World Soccer Team of the 20th Century selected in 1998 by a panel of 250 international journalists. No football aficionado can cavil at this elite list of football immortals that included Pele, Maradona, Cruyff, Platini, Di Stefano, Beckenbauer, with Lev Yashin as goalkeeper, but I did feel a twinge of grievance at the omission of my hero, Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Viera de Oliveira...