Rio de Janeiro was preparing for the second match of the Brazilian national team since morning. Fans gathered in “FIFA Fan Fest” several hours before the start of the match. DJ “Zabuba” and singers were entertaining them.
Local singers are performing live on the stage in the fan zone. The Brazilians have a great talent of singing and dancing. And, actually, they are never tired. Local fans were more than the Mexicans but they did not feel oppressed.
It was time to start the match and the Brazilian anthem was performed in traditional manner. Indeed, it is great to watch when music stops in the middle of the anthem and football players and fans sing all together.
Brazil-Mexico controversy never lacked intrigue and neither this case was an exception. The hosts who only want to win gold medals did not show the championship game. They had more goal moments than the opponent but it is not what everybody expects from “Pentacampeoes”. It is the merit of goalkeeper Ochoa that the Mexicans earned a point but overall, the team showed good football. It is not easy to make dangerous offence on Brazil. Ochoa parried “dead” ball after the headshot of Neymar.
Before the start of World Cup Pele predicted, that Brazil would have problems in offence and it turned out to be true. Neymar tried his best but only his effort was not enough. Fred was very sluggish again. The previous day the Brazilian TV channels broadcast Fred would not play against Mexico. He has leg muscle injury. Neither Jo is a great star. The current offence of the Brazilian team is probably one of the weakest in its history. If Brazil does not improve playing, it must stop thinking about gold medals.
Mexico has a great chance to go through the next round. The team is playing good football.
If the teams played draw, in supporting the Mexican fans were better than the hosts. What I have seen the Brazilians support like Georgians. They are making noise only when their team is attacking. The Mexicans were more active and called the opponent players “puto” which did not cause any excess. All fans are waving hands together and in the end they are shouting: “puto”.
The Mexicans were very pleased with the result. However, neither Brazilians were worried. Music played and they started dancing all together. Nobody remembered the previous match. It is worth mentioning that in Brazil nobody is punished harshly for smoking marijuana. Some people are smoking marijuana while watching the match in “FIFA Fan Fest”.


Lasha Tabagari, specially for worlsport.ge from Rio de Janeiro
Photos by the author