Two years ago I gained experience at European Championship and I know what it means to watch the match of the host team in fan zone. So, I did not lose my chance to watch the opening match of the 2014 World Cup in “FIFA Fan Fest”. Moreover, a huge screen was installed on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean, on “Copacabana” beach. Also, there was a stage with singers and dancers performing.
In the morning Rio showed the readiness for World Cup. People displayed flags of Brazil on the balconies. Almost everybody, men and women, was wearing T-shirts of Brazil. People were waving the flags from the cars.
I arrived at “Copacabana” 2 hours before the start of the match. A lot of people had already gathered to watch the match. Some were topless, some with swimsuits. They came with families, little children and friends. Not only Brazilians, but Germans, Argentines, Colombians, Mexicans, Americans, Chileans and I, the only Georgian. It is a great honor to represent your country at such great event.
When I arrived at the destination, one of the local singers was entertaining people. I do not know what his name was. Then, he was replaced by Naldo Benny who was wearing No.10 T-shirt. Naldo Benny and his colleague had a great energy, like other Brazilians. They spent so much energy in dancing and singing.
The singers prepared people (who were drinking local beer “Brahma”) in “FIFA Fan Fest” for the match and the Brazilian national team showed up. Most of all, the fans applauded Neymar who is the main hope of “Selecao” and the first match proved that it is not ungrounded. During the anthem the fans were singing together on the Sao Paulo tribunes and in “FIFA Fan Fest”. The fans started whistling when the Brazilian and FIFA presidents were shown on the screen.
The match started. Some fans sat in the sand to watch the match and some were standing. People behind them threw plastic bottles on them. It caused a little disagreement but when the Brazilians were scored goal everybody stood up on their feet and continued supporting this way.
When Neymar scored goal and equalized the score, the shouts of the fans deafened “Copacabana”. However, penalty in the net of the Croats caused a smile on the faces of the Brazilians. I liked their objectivity because everybody around me mentioned that Fred fell down on his own. Besides that, the brace of Neymar did not lack ovation. By the way, after the match the penalty was discussed on the Brazilian TV channels and everybody agreed that referee made a mistake.
Oscar scored the third goal. Besides two goals of Neymar, perhaps, Oscar was the best in the host team. After the first goal Oscar kept the ball and assisted Neymar.
It was the first match and of course, it is not easy to estimate real strength of the Brazilians. It is fact that the team has a problem of central forward. It is tough to rely on Fred. Neither Hulk held brilliant match. Everybody understands the situation of Marcelo who scored an own goal. There is a great pressure on “Selecao” because the locals demand the championship trophy. The Croats has a chance to qualify if they continue playing this way. After the match the Brazilians left “FIFA Fan Fest” with happy faces and most of them went to the bars on “Copacabana”.
LashaTabagari, specially for worldsport.ge from Rio de Janeiro
Photos by the author
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