Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The emotions that ebbed and flowed through the crowd of several thousand rowdy Brazil fans, who braved the 3.30am kick-off to watch the game in downtown Rio, were a good yardstick of households across the country.
When Michael Owen scored, the air filled with insults against Owen's mother and the Brazilian coach "Big Phil" – all hurled at the giant screen a few blocks from Rio's Maracana stadium.
"What a calamitous mistake by the Brazilian defence," screamed the commentator after the obligatory 10-second shout of "goal!" Then he asked: "Lucio! why weren't you marking more closely?"
The crowd became silent and sullen, nervous that Brazil might be returning to the string of humiliating defeats suffered before the World Cup.
So when Rivaldo hit the ball into the back of the England net to equalise in the final minute of the first half, the street erupted into a screaming mass of yellow and green flags, fireworks and dancing fans. The party continued – albeit nervously – even when Ronaldinho was sent off. By the time the final whistle blew, the beer and the rum were flowing freely – Brazilian football pride had been restored.
"People in India they believe in Buddha. In Brazil, they believe in football. That is our God," shouted Guido Mello. He went on to say he was surprised how well Brazil had done in the World Cup, given their performance in the qualifying matches. National pride hid unfathomed depths last year when Brazil lost to Honduras in the Copa America.
"The team played much better than in the past," he said. "We have always had great individual players but before we had no team."
Now everyone expects the Brazilian team to bring the World Cup home for a fifth time. The match against England was billed by commentators as the crucial hurdle for Brazil to win the trophy. "Now Brazil can only be beaten by Brazil," said the sports writer Cassiano Gobbet. "There is no other team better than them. Unfortunately, I have seen that happen too often."
Indeed, if Brazil is now knocked out, there will be no heroes' homecoming even though they did beat England. Brazilians regard themselves as the football's only superpower and anything less than World Cup victory will be judged by most as total failure.
Defeat against France four years ago led to unprecedented soul-searching to discover what was wrong with Brazilian football. It sparked corruption investigations in both houses of Congress, which uncovered evidence of tax evasion by Brazilian clubs, kickbacks from transfers of players to Europe and even money-laundering. Several prominent names in Brazilian football are facing criminal investigation.
Most bets are now on a Brazil-Germany final. The defeat of the United States in the other quarter-final gave fans another reason for celebration.
"I don't trust in the football of the United States at all," said Wanderley Martianos, one of the fans in downtown Rio. "They have the money to contract the best players and coaches. But football is not in the blood of the people. They don't deserve to win."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments