Brazil’s humiliating defeat saddens Kolkata
11 July 2014 6:22 AM IST
Bengal traditionally has a big support base for Brazil which is evident once again as a pall of gloom descended on the city after the hosts’s landslide 1-7 defeat against Germany in the World Cup semis. While the streets in Kolkata till yesterday sported a riot of Brazilian sacred colours of yellow and green that co-existed with the Argentine blue and white, not a single Brazil flag could be seen on Wednesday.
Among many Brazilians who have made Kolkata their ‘home’ include former Mohun Bagan star forward Jose Barreto, who expressed his angst saying, ‘I’m tired. I’ve got hundreds of calls since morning, please leave me alone.’ Celebrated Indian coach Armando Colaco, who heads East Bengal, said he predicted a Selecao defeat, but nobody predicted it would be so colossal as Germany are favourites to win the glittering trophy. Former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal forward Dipendu Biswas, who was in Brazil during the group stage, summed up the mood saying many in the state were heartbroken. ‘Personally I’m an Argentine fan but I’ve many friends who are diehard Brazil supporters. I received a flood of calls from many of my friends in Kolkata, Asansol, Basirhat they were all crying like anything. There were Brazilian flags all over the city but today one would see none,’ Biswas said adding that Brazilian captain Thiago Silva’s suspension affected more than Neymar.
‘Scolari has already apologised for the huge loss and it’s a team game, everybody has to take the blame but I would say Thiago could have made a difference. His absence really affected the side more than that of Neymar.’
Narendrapur-based Brazilian Edvan Carvalho said it would take some time to recover from the huge defeat. ‘It’s difficult to express in words how much painful the defeat was. I was watching the match with my family and a friend of mine. We could have accepted 0-1 or 0-2 loss but the magnitude of the defeat is unbearable. It will take some time to sink in. Hope such a result never ever happen again,’ an emotional Carvalho said.
Another Brazilian Michael Cardinot, who runs an NGO and lives in the city for eight years, however, put up a brave face. ‘Being a Brazilian, we all are heartbroken but let’s not forget it’s just a game afterall. It can happen to any team.This is football. Agreed, it has never happened before but sport is a great leveller. At this time we must stand by our team, the coach. We must move on and should give Germany the credit. They are a side who are together for three-four years, and we could see how disciplined they’re,’ he said.
Among many Brazilians who have made Kolkata their ‘home’ include former Mohun Bagan star forward Jose Barreto, who expressed his angst saying, ‘I’m tired. I’ve got hundreds of calls since morning, please leave me alone.’ Celebrated Indian coach Armando Colaco, who heads East Bengal, said he predicted a Selecao defeat, but nobody predicted it would be so colossal as Germany are favourites to win the glittering trophy. Former Mohun Bagan and East Bengal forward Dipendu Biswas, who was in Brazil during the group stage, summed up the mood saying many in the state were heartbroken. ‘Personally I’m an Argentine fan but I’ve many friends who are diehard Brazil supporters. I received a flood of calls from many of my friends in Kolkata, Asansol, Basirhat they were all crying like anything. There were Brazilian flags all over the city but today one would see none,’ Biswas said adding that Brazilian captain Thiago Silva’s suspension affected more than Neymar.
‘Scolari has already apologised for the huge loss and it’s a team game, everybody has to take the blame but I would say Thiago could have made a difference. His absence really affected the side more than that of Neymar.’
Narendrapur-based Brazilian Edvan Carvalho said it would take some time to recover from the huge defeat. ‘It’s difficult to express in words how much painful the defeat was. I was watching the match with my family and a friend of mine. We could have accepted 0-1 or 0-2 loss but the magnitude of the defeat is unbearable. It will take some time to sink in. Hope such a result never ever happen again,’ an emotional Carvalho said.
Another Brazilian Michael Cardinot, who runs an NGO and lives in the city for eight years, however, put up a brave face. ‘Being a Brazilian, we all are heartbroken but let’s not forget it’s just a game afterall. It can happen to any team.This is football. Agreed, it has never happened before but sport is a great leveller. At this time we must stand by our team, the coach. We must move on and should give Germany the credit. They are a side who are together for three-four years, and we could see how disciplined they’re,’ he said.
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