World Cup 2014: Bad omens and good hope
The game is on. Brazil was gifted with a penalty by a Japanese referee and was able to overcome the opening match jitters, Mexico survived…
Spanish soccer fans watch on a giant display as the Netherlands soccer team wins the World Cup soccer match between Spain and Netherlands, in Madrid, Spain, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
The game is on. Brazil was gifted with a penalty by a Japanese referee and was able to overcome the opening match jitters, Mexico survived missed chances and missed calls from the linesman and Holland took its revenge on Spain for the 2010 final. Van Persie and Robben left Iker and Sergio Ramos rattled with the first big surprise, a 5-1 spanking of the world champions.
It was a complete humiliation, and although Spain lost its opener in 2010 too, this one is different. This may be a Waterloo a moral and sporting defeat difficult to overcome. (Spain has lost the last three times it played in white: in 1994 vs. Italy, vs. Nigeria in 1998, and now v. Holland in 2014.)
SEE ALSO: Despite bad calls, Mexico victorious in World Cup debut
Enough about the dismantling of the champions. We’ll see if they can recover from this and stay in the tournament. If so, they meet Brazil in the second round, and that’s not a good omen. Now, a note about those whose illusion is still intact.
In Rio it seems the Argentineans, Chileans, Americans, Mexicans and Angolans (!!) are the ones in greater numbers. The economic situation in Chile allows them to travel; Angolans combine a surge in the economy, and mix the soccer with the fact they also speak Portuguese and can navigate the country a bit better. (There’s also the cultural legacy of the slaves from Angola imported by the Portuguese. But the Argentines are feeling this could be their tournament to take.
Brazilian airports still hum with last-minute upgrades, and the Itaquerao still had debris two days before the opener.
Colombians hopeful
Colombian soccer fans gather at Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema beach, Brazil, Monday, June 9, 2014. Colombia is slated to play in group C, along with Greece, Ivory Coast and Japan, for the first round of 2014 FIFA World Cup that opens on June 12. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
In Belo Horizonte, it’s the Colombians who are invading. They are also in Rio, and will fill out the map, at times easily confused with the Brazilian colors. Also, there were 15,000 Mexicans in Natal, getting wet in a tropical rainstorm that marked their 1-0 victory over Cameroon.
The Colombians are coming with lower marquee value, but in greater numbers than ever. Afraid of believing like they did in 1994, they are humbly hoping.
SEE ALSO: Google street view shows the full World Cup colors of Brazil
Humberto Duran was on a LAN airlines special flight from Bogota to Sao Paulo, and got a special treat. Fans were given a bag with the official Colombia replica shirt, a Valderrama-inspired wig, and trinkets.
However, During the flight, a stewardess broke the party atmosphere when she tripped and hurt herself. She was taken to the back, and from the galley emerged a long-haired substitute taking her place. The passengers whooped when they realized it was Carlos “Pibe” Valderrama, the Colombian soccer idol and Duran has a story to tell his kids.
Humberto Duran holds a picture of Colombian soccer legend Carlos Valderrama. (Keyvan Antonio Heydari/VOXXI)
Also, Alvaro Fava and John Marroquin flew in from Atlanta, wearing red shirts, to access the juju Colombia had when it tied eventual champs Germany 1-1 in 2010. Same as Alejandro Albarracín, who organized his posse from Bogota. “We’re a lot more humble now than in 94,” said Albarracin.
SEE ALSO: Moments at the 2014 World Cup opening ceremony
Now, on Saturday, Colombia faces Greece in Belo Horizonte. Shakira, please don’t go. In case you had something to do with Spain’s debacle. Your national team cannot handle it.
