Brazil - Football - what else?

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Our flight to Brazil arrived around midnight and this time we were met with no problem by our Guide Gus who took us to the Hotel Augustus via an ATM. We slept.

On Sunday we went to the Maracana Stadium to watch Flamengo play Goias in their penultimate match of the seaseon. Currently in fifth place Flamengo really needed to win in order to improve their chances of qualifying for the Copa Libertadores de América. We arrived two hours before kick off to a stadium empty apart from a few hundred fans how had arrived early to watch an under 20s final that was being played. Men in blue T-shirts picked there way over inbetween rows and over seats ´pss pss pss..... Agua, cola, cerveza´. The beer was all 0% alcohol. They carrierd their wears in boxes packed with polystyrene and ice if their goods were cold or not in the case of the dodgy looking hot dogs. There were also caps, bandanas, replica shirts and flags to be bought but no programs. People trickled in over the two hours until by kick off the stadium was around half full with thirty thousand ..ish noisey, bouncy singing fans. No one appeared to be there to support Goias which is probably not that surprising as they would gain or lose nothing but kudos from the result of the game.

Huge flags were waved in every section of the crowd. People bounced up and down as they sang and clapped making for a excelent atmosphere with none of the dead chicked or urine throwing that had been promissed in the Lonley planet guide to Brazil.

With in the first ten munites Flamengo´s number 18 Obina headed them in front. Flamengo dominated the rest of the first half with good football. The crowd cheared everytime a player juggled, flicked or showed a fancy skill. Juan added a second goal midway through the half and Obina added a third a little later. At three nil up with ten minutes of the half remaining the Flamengo crowd were in good spirits singing the lyrically dense chant of ´Flamengo, Flamengo´. Then late on Goias were awarded a penalty which they scored. Flamengo rallied but failed to convert their chances then just before the end of the half Goias scored again. The crowd were less than pleased the wind taken from their joyus sails.

As the second half kicked off the sun dropped below the roof that was shading me from it and I began to fry. The football was again passionate and very entertaining. Goias equalised about fifteen minutes into the half. The rest of the game was very exciting with Flamengo throwing everything forward including their keeper, Bruno in an attempt to win the game. Goias had a few good chances on the counter attack. There was high drama in the last minute of injury time when the keeper Bruno flicked on from the corner and Obina leaped up and scissor kicked a volley against the post. The game ended three all. Flamengo can still qualify for the Copa Libertadores de América if results go their way this coming saturday but the fans left dissapointed as their destiny is not in their own hands. I had a great day enjoying a match with plenty of drama and goals. Flamengo are now my team in Brazil.

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Comments

[Ian Kenworthy]

"In Manchester you are either Blue or Red... there's no two ways about it." Andy Gray
Apologies for not 'commenting' for a while, but I've been down in the smoke on a course. I know you've just left there to go round the world, but what a great place to visit. Went to see the Capa (war photographer) exhibition at the Barbican, saw loads of films and a trip to the Potrait gallery, all of which were fantastic. I can't recommend 'Waltz with Bashir' highly enough. It's the best thing I've seen in a while. Life in the Galapagos sounded idyllic, it's the part of your trip so far that I'm most jealous of. Living on a boat really appeals to me especially if if you don't have to clean up after yourself. Although Karen and my attempt at scuba diving was farcical so I'm not sure I'd be able to appreciate the marine life as much as you clearly did. I'm afraid I enjoyed your Santiago taxi debacle story, largely because it wasn't me. I was imagining myself in the airport, in the dog house, because the one thing I was supposed to do was organise a taxi, and I couldn't even get that right. I can't believe you complained to the hotel abut the taxi not turning up and ended up paying for it. That said I'd probably have done the same if confronted. I'd never have complained in the first place though. I'm guessing the flamengo game was a culture shock from the flamboyant and cultured football you're used to at Kiddie. I'm intrigued to know how they would throw piss. The whole process would be fraught with danger. You'd have to either piss into a bottle and throw it, tricky for a bloke bearing in mind we struggle to hit the bowl, and surely impossible for a women, or piss into a glass and throw it which would surely result in covering yourself and neighbours in it. By the way we lost the derby and you've got Coventry away in the third round of the FA cup. I've has a quick look at the photos, but there are none of you and Lou, there must be some of you looking worse for wear by this stage. K xxx

[Tamsin]

Obrigado!
Brill blogs Dyl - 'tis great to hear all your news + be able to imagine where you are (not quite so bothered personally with the football commentary). I read Layla the Paddington Bear stories whilst you were in Peru so she could get an idea of where you were! Also thrilled to know I win the spelling test competition as well as the race to the top of Macchu Picchu Love + hugs to you both Tamsin xxx