The FIFA and the tournament organizers do not want to damage the lawn of “Maracana” and the national teams practiced at other stadiums.

Before Colombia-Uruguay match, the both national teams practiced at “Sao Januario” which is the home ground of football club “Vasco da Gama”.

The mentioned stadium is not located in the prestigious district of Rio de Janeiro. “Favela” is on the other side of the street. The locals were surprised by seeing the FIFA bus. The armed military policemen were guarding the stadium.

The lawn is really in good condition but it does not meet modern requirements. The individual seats are only on the west tribune. Before “Maracana” was built, the Brazilian national team held home matches at “Sao Januario”. It has a capacity of 25000. This stadium is the third in Rio de Janeiro after “Maracana” and “Botafogo”.

The statue of Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama stands at the entrance of the stadium. “Vasco da Gama” is one of four most popular clubs in Rio de Janeiro with “Flamengo”, “Fluminense” and “Botafogo”. The club has 20 million fans in Brazil.

The club was founded in 1898 by the Portuguese immigrants and its official name is “Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama”. The club has won a right to play at the Rio de Janeiro Championship since 1915. Before that football players of only Portuguese origin were allowed to play in the club.

“Vasco da Gama” won the Brazilian Championship four times (1974, 1989, 1997, 2000), the country’s Cup once (2011), “Copa Libertadores” once (1998) and “Copa Sudamericana” three times (1948, 1998, 2000).

Nowadays, the club does not have the best period because it plays in Brazilian Serie B. Roberto Dinamite is its president. He is all-time top scorer of the club with 702 goals. Romario is in the second place with 324 goals and Ademir – in the third place with 301 goals. Besides them, the following famous football players have played for “Vasco da Gama”: Vava, Bebeto, Dirceu, Dunga, Jardel, Juninho, Pernambucano, Leonidas, Sonny Anderson, Edmundo and others.

“Vasco da Gama” has its own museum which was closed. There is the club shop next to the stadium. The emblem of the club contains “Maltese” cross. The ship of Vasco da Gama had such cross on its sail.

Lasha Tabagari, special correspondent of worldsport.ge from Rio de Janeiro