WORLD CUP 2010: Brazil fans celebrate teams win in Rio de Janeiro
Despite conceding a goal at the far end of their opening world cup match against minnows North Korea, Brazilian fans enjoyed their team’s win in the group G encounter that set the ball rolling for a possible sixth world title for the South Americans.
Dozens of soccer fans gathered in Chapeu Mangueira – a Rio de Jeneiro slum - flocking around TV screens cheering every move made by their countrymen as they outplayed the spirited Koreans.
The venue for the screening of the match was community's football court which was turned into a theatre of sorts beaming LIVE pictures from South Africa - the venue of the 19th football world cup.
However, it was a tough ride for the South Americans and the fans bit away their nails in tension, especially after a goal-less first half against North Korea.
By half time, the lowest ranked team in the competition looked more than capable of repeating the heroics of the 1966 team that recorded a famous win over European superpower Italy.
This year marks their first appearance in a world cup since the 1966 tournament, and their performance certainly caused jitters in the Brazilian ranks, and one fan Jose Gomes criticized Brazil's performance.
"The team has to attack more; they have to at least try to kick the ball to the goal. They aren't shooting, they aren't doing anything, they're just fooling around and this won't bring results," he said.
Another fan felt that his team’s escape was only due to a splendid show by striker Robinho, as he looked like the only one keyed up for the job.
"Only Robinho is playing, only Robinho is turning up in the game, the rest has disappeared," he said, after watching the first half.
Yet most of the fans in the football mad nation seemed happy with the result and the feeling was that the opening match in a major competition is never easy, and the South Americans did well to go through unscathed.
The Brazilian fans that had packed in the slum dwelling in Rio to see the match, roared in delight when full-back Maicon managed to blast his shot into the net from an extremely difficult angle to score the goal of the tournament thus far. The Brazilians sealed their win when 17 minutes later Elano netted a volley.
But the celebrations stopped for a few minutes when against the run of play, North Koreas' Ji Yun-nam went past two players scoring a brilliant goal in the 89th minute.
Once the game was over, fans celebrated in true Brazilian fashion, yet some of them felt their team could have won more convincingly
"It was very good, but they could have scored two more (goals). Four to one would have been very good," said one fan, while another one added “Brazil played very well, but it has to play much better to win the championship, otherwise it will be difficult”.
Another group of Selecao fans thought that their team became a little complacent at the end of the encounter and hence conceded a goal. They felt that the team needs to be careful about their defence.
"Brazil a little slow and let the Koreans into the match but in the end we won and that is football," declared a fan amongst the group, his comments were echoed by another fan.
"It could be better but we won. The match could've been better,” The five-time world champions' meet African dark horses Ivory Coast who held the 2006 semi-finalists Portugal to a goalless draw a few days back.
Brazil top Group G after the draw between Portugal and Ivory Coast.
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