The FIFA World Cup 2010 needs no explanation to be volatile because I am in the land where the people speak the language of football. Football is a religion, a global entertainer, a festival and a versatile human manifestation of joy, passion, faith and unity. This is one amazing event which tries to nail down the racial discrimination and spread the message of humanity. This is my first time that I am part of a country when that country goes on to play. Evidently I don’t need to explain how much the people are fantasized by this global gathering.
In my city (E.S Pinhal) the streets was filled with variety of flamboyant placards, banners and flyers indicating support to the Brazilian football team. Not surprisingly everything freezes including banks, government offices, shops, educational institutions and supermarkets on the day when Brazil goes on to the field. Apparently the street goes completely empty (numb) like the war hit streets of Iraq. The crowd crouches in front of the big screens set on the parks, squares, pubs or attractive locations.
Brazil has won 5 world cup titles and has already targeted for the championship this year, repeating the histories of the past (1994, 2002…etc). Brazil has gifted many football legends like Pele, Socrates, Romario, Bebeto, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho…etc. The current favourites are Kaka, Robinho, Fabiano, Daniel Alves, Julio Caesar….Etc who are under the stringent mentoring of Dunga, the former Brazilian international and the Captain of the 1994 World cup title. Brazil was raging a gruesome battle in the group including Portugal, Ivory Coast and North Korea.
Brazil had a snail like start in the opening game against North Korea, who defended Brazilian strikers from netting the Jambolini inside their goal post. After many desperate attempts Maicon gave the breakthrough for the Brazilians in the second half, a strike which left the North Korean goal keeper helpless. Few minutes later Evano converted the mesmerizing pass from Robinho by a delicate touch which pierced the Korean goal post again. Voila, the crowd erupted again with whistling, howling and some sounds which I cannot define or express. Even though Brazil had a narrow victory, the Brazilians are never hesitant to celebrate this moment with absolute thump up.
After the Brazil games, irrespective of age, gender, a volcanic parade of devotees engulfs the street making howls, honks and drum beats. The blasphemous crowd are wearing blue, green, yellow coloured costumes and controls the street, another depiction of carnival festival. The ceremony includes performances by local bands and continues until midnight. It is an amazing event to be watched with naked eyes and leaves the guards/police helpless. I went to the square to watch this ceremony in real and left me completely lobotomized and smash buckled. I realized and recognized why this game has found a place in the hearts of each Brazilians. Football integrates people and in this gathering you meet old and new friends, relatives, ex’s (boyfriends, girlfriends..etc) and other fellow religious followers of the football. I was held in the traffic for a long while and the cars kept honking, while people slowly crossing the road like a snail, the police kept the arms crossed and gave a mystifying smile.
Even though Brazil had a consecutive success and has helplessly defeated their opponents, they had to end their campaign by an awful defeat against the European favourites, Netherlands. The fall of the giants was a catastrophe, a state of deep moaning and an ocean of tears. But before the wounds goes into oblivion Brazilians has already started promoting and commercialising the 2014 world cup. The 2014 WC will be a massive communion of ardent followers of football from all the continents.
The 2010 world cup has left me unforgettable experience and enlightening spirits of this beautiful game. Brazil and football is a mysterious chemistry, a cryptic equation, mutual coexisting bond which cannot be separated, it is part of life, part of the body. It is not just a game or entertainment; it is equilibrium of mind and body. Let’s cross our fingers and anxiously wait for the 2014 WC to arrive.
