So I'm down in Brazil again but this time it's different - it's the World Cup. It's as if it has been Christmas day, every day. It's by far the best sporting tournament I've ever seen, studied and luckily been able to watch in person. Watching the Brazilians uncoil around this event and unleash their emotional tsumani on the world has been fascinating. Politics and sport are wed at the hip in Brazil with such a huge population which such stark disparities in the quality of life in society. I have been a little surprised by the amount of people that openly wanted Brazil to lose at the group stages from the tournament of in some shape or form receive a humiliation, which we now know they have with the unforgettable 7 -1 trawling by the imperious Germans.
As Camila's brother Fausto put it " PT or "Partido dos Trabalhadores" and Dilam [their president] are corrupt and not good for this country. They promise change but where is it. It is much better we get himiliated and people wake up and start to protest. We need change." It a strong conviction that most Brazilians support in the middle class, it's how this uprising or change in attitude happens, and when which is the question. Most people are behind the Cup now but in two months time when the next vote for the presidency of the country starts the majority of people are saying they'll voice their opinion in the ballot box to reject corruption and try start the change the country so badly needs.
As an outsider I enjoy talking about the country's situation, debating how it can change and comparing it to Ireland, Europe and other places I've been. It's like in Ireland talking about the weather or house prices, it's a national passion over here. People are curious about how it is like in other countries and what can be done here to improve things. And while there has been plenty of such discussions on this trip already, this time it's all about the football and what a tournament it has been so far.
Here is how Camila and i have decided to play it:
As Camila's brother Fausto put it " PT or "Partido dos Trabalhadores" and Dilam [their president] are corrupt and not good for this country. They promise change but where is it. It is much better we get himiliated and people wake up and start to protest. We need change." It a strong conviction that most Brazilians support in the middle class, it's how this uprising or change in attitude happens, and when which is the question. Most people are behind the Cup now but in two months time when the next vote for the presidency of the country starts the majority of people are saying they'll voice their opinion in the ballot box to reject corruption and try start the change the country so badly needs.
As an outsider I enjoy talking about the country's situation, debating how it can change and comparing it to Ireland, Europe and other places I've been. It's like in Ireland talking about the weather or house prices, it's a national passion over here. People are curious about how it is like in other countries and what can be done here to improve things. And while there has been plenty of such discussions on this trip already, this time it's all about the football and what a tournament it has been so far.
- 4 days in Brazil, taking in the amazing Brazil v Chile shootout with her family and friends. I'll never forget the penalty shoot out against Chile, everyone was emotionally destroyed after it
- 7 days in Salvador where we were lucky enough to take in live the USA v Belgium whopper of a game which saw one of the best, if not the best, defensive performances I have ever witnesses by a team in the World Cup. We also got to take in 3 games in the impressive FIFA fan fest events area near the famous Salvador lighthouse in the Barra area of the city. Most of these occasions where then followed by some caipirinhas and food in the crazy Rua Vermeholan area (think of a small Temple Bar, with loads of "gringos")
- Next 4 days in Sao Paulo again, this time we took in the two semi finals. We watched Brazil getting hammered in Fausto's house and decides to keep away from the FIFA fun fest which is a good bit outside of Sao Paulo and also Rua Madelana, the main vocal point for fans, as reports where coming in that you could barely walk there it was so full. Im sure like the rest of you, you were shocked with the result. No one saw it coming. What an occasion. A massive lesson for Brazil and from a football point of view in my opinion a clear changing of the guard, with Germany now becoming the new super power in football
- I'm now in Rio for the 3rd place play off and final. The big one. We've been really enjoying the FIFA fan fest, this one in Rio is on Copacobana so we're going to go for that.
More to come, time to go over to teamtalk.com to get ready for the build up to the games.
