World Cup loses charm after shock Brazil exit

KOLKATA: The ghosts of Kazan returned on Friday night to claim its third major victim with Brazil crashing out of the World Cup. Ironically, Kolkata’s two other favourites — Argentina and Germany — were knocked out from the same stadium, robbing almost the entire city the chance of watching their favourite teams in action in the business leg of the World Cup.
Streets of football-crazy Kolkata wore a despondent look on Saturday afternoon.Much like the end of Durga Puja, the buzz in tea stalls, local clubs and fastfood joints went missing. The few flags of Brazil and Argentina that adored the streets looked pale in the downpour. “You can say the World Cup is over for Bengalis,” summed up Pritam Kotal, Indian full-back.
“Our festival is over. For two years, I have woken up at 5am, watched my team play 18 qualifiers, watched them getting ready in the friendlies and yet again we slipped when it mattered the most. The cricket World Cup is next year and England is posing achallenge for us. An English team in cricket is more watchable than the English soccer team,” said Satradu Chattetjee from the Brazil Fan Club in Kolkata. Several like him vowed not to watch another match, preferring to catch up cricket after a “long break”.
But there were some who disagreed. “It is a chance that comes every four years. I believe England under Harry Kane and even Croatia stand a chance to lift the Cup. I wish to see some exciting European football now that all the Latin American challenge is over,” said Tanmoy Sinha, a banker from Behala.
And then there are the diehard Brazil and Argentina fans. “We lost to Belgium but I am certain France will beat them as they have conceded lesser goals and looks organized at the back. I, along with several of my Brazilian friends, will back France now,” said Tathagata Mukherjee, an IT consultant and diehard Brazil fan. “I know for sure that many in the Argentina camp are rooting for Belgium,” he added after a pause. It was France that had knocked out Argentina in the round of 16.
Meanwhile, jersey sellers at the Maidan market have started counting their losses. “Like other years, we had ordered Brazil and Argentina jerseys the most. Yes, there was demand for Portugal as well with Ronaldo jerseys being sold a lot. Brazil shirts were in huge demand after their win over Mexico (in the pre-quarters). With Brazil gone, we are staring at a loss,” a shopkeeper said.