Well.. Got to wait for another 4 years to catch the fever again. I cant help but to wonder. Where will be in the next world cup??
Labels: Brazil, Days of My Life, World Cup 2006
The Final Match
Date : Sunday, July 09, 2006
Time : 6:55 PM
Time : 6:55 PM
France plays Italy for the World Cup Final today. Billions are watching around the globe. The final goes to Italy who won the game in penalties. The second overtime included a bizarre headbutt attack by France star Zidane that had him sent out of the game. It was a vicious headbutt and a very silly move considering what was at stake. It was Zidane's final game and the final World Cup Game. I cant imagine what did Materazzi said to bring it on.
Well.. Got to wait for another 4 years to catch the fever again. I cant help but to wonder. Where will be in the next world cup??
Well.. Got to wait for another 4 years to catch the fever again. I cant help but to wonder. Where will be in the next world cup??
Brasil Lose. =(
Date : Saturday, July 01, 2006
Time : 7:54 PM
Time : 7:54 PM
It only happens once every four years, but when the World Cup comes around the exciting mix of sport and nationalism draws the world together like no other tournament can. And, in a football-maniac-country like Brasil, neighbourhoods shutdown with crowds of revelers waving their flags and taunting their opponents. So if you can't beat them, join them.
What better places to watch World Cup action than at the street near our apartment, surrounded by soccer-crazed fans, with a beer in hand. It would be a mortal sin if I didn't do at least one real-life football street-watching. Hence, since Pauline was not ard, Jimmy and I decided to catch the big game between Brasil and France outdoor.
As we passed by all the hair salons and supply stores on my way to the street, the shops were closed a
nd I saw men and women gathered around television sets much in the way I suppose the people were when we first put a man on the moon. That was so sweet, to see all the full grown acting like kids obsessed with cartoons.
The street was so crowded, there was a tentage with a big projector placed in the middle of the street, accompanied by Brazilian party music. People were dancing, chatting, drinking and eating. Wat a party!
Jimmy and I tried to get a best spot to enjoy our game. However, it seems quite impossible to catch a glimpse of the match with so many Brazilian hunks in front of us.
I spotted a road-sign post with square base and guessed wat, I had been maintaining this same post throughout the game! A guy passed by and requested if he could take a pix of me, hah.. I think the brasilian must hv thot I had gone mad.
The game started with slow pace, no goal conceded in the first half, the crowd seems less excited and some began to worry. 0-0 at the half of a France-Brazil match? Not in anyone's predictions. The chances were there, the finishes not quite. Jimmy and I ran quickly back to our apartment to relief ourselves after two can of Itaipava.
Second half began. Two young brasilian approached us and e
xpressed their disappointment in Brazil's performance. They bot us more beers and we start talking and commenting the game in two different languages.
Time passed, a disappointing show by Brasil, still not rising to the occasion. France on the other hand is more crafty and hard working and.. GOOOOOOAL!!!A cross into the box from the far wing rite to Henry's boot from Zidane for a slam against the net! 1-0 France!
The game continues, the crowd were as panic as the Brazilian team, however none of the substitution of players (which happened many time) nor the last-min strike-back helps. The Brazilians were playing frustrates, getting carded and booes and sensing loss.... It's the end of the world as the crowd knew it, and I din feel fine as this will marked the end of my time-off from work after Brazil was kicked out.
BEEE!!!! The game ended officially. Brazil's star-studded team is leaving Germany without the trophy many assumed it would take home.
I watched the crowds shedding tears, hugging each other, shaking their heads in grief AND some immediately went back to party when the party-music was played before calling it quit. The World Cup has ended with a bitter taste for Brazilians but life still has to go on.
To tell the truth, I was never so involved and committed to a World Cup like this before. I was so glued to the event that most of my friends in Singapore were constantly asking me about everything. My World Cup experience was enhanced in many ways.
I remember the few games that we watched in Jimmy's apartment. Usually when Brazilian scored their goal, although the streets outside were empty, through the open window we could hear loud cheers and shouts of excitement coming from the open windows of other homes and buildings. The guys in the apartment above us would start stomping their feet with joy and perhaps jumping up and down, cheering loudly. The uproar was contagious; it was so endearing to see how excited a whole street (and in that sense a whole nation) could get over one simple goal. Now towards the closing moments of the World Cup and the official end of Brasil attempt to be the 6th World Champion, I already feel nostalgic of these times, this fever and this madness that took over the world. I must wait another 4 years to have more heart attacks. I know that the next coach will endure heavy criticism and constant watch from the Brazilian, and the players will have to prove themselves more than ever. For the Brazilian fans the fall was too hard. Not only because of high expectations but for the lack of dedication of the players who din seem to understand what does that canary shirt means to their country.
What better places to watch World Cup action than at the street near our apartment, surrounded by soccer-crazed fans, with a beer in hand. It would be a mortal sin if I didn't do at least one real-life football street-watching. Hence, since Pauline was not ard, Jimmy and I decided to catch the big game between Brasil and France outdoor.
As we passed by all the hair salons and supply stores on my way to the street, the shops were closed a
nd I saw men and women gathered around television sets much in the way I suppose the people were when we first put a man on the moon. That was so sweet, to see all the full grown acting like kids obsessed with cartoons.The street was so crowded, there was a tentage with a big projector placed in the middle of the street, accompanied by Brazilian party music. People were dancing, chatting, drinking and eating. Wat a party!
Jimmy and I tried to get a best spot to enjoy our game. However, it seems quite impossible to catch a glimpse of the match with so many Brazilian hunks in front of us.
I spotted a road-sign post with square base and guessed wat, I had been maintaining this same post throughout the game! A guy passed by and requested if he could take a pix of me, hah.. I think the brasilian must hv thot I had gone mad.The game started with slow pace, no goal conceded in the first half, the crowd seems less excited and some began to worry. 0-0 at the half of a France-Brazil match? Not in anyone's predictions. The chances were there, the finishes not quite. Jimmy and I ran quickly back to our apartment to relief ourselves after two can of Itaipava.
Second half began. Two young brasilian approached us and e
xpressed their disappointment in Brazil's performance. They bot us more beers and we start talking and commenting the game in two different languages.Time passed, a disappointing show by Brasil, still not rising to the occasion. France on the other hand is more crafty and hard working and.. GOOOOOOAL!!!A cross into the box from the far wing rite to Henry's boot from Zidane for a slam against the net! 1-0 France!
The game continues, the crowd were as panic as the Brazilian team, however none of the substitution of players (which happened many time) nor the last-min strike-back helps. The Brazilians were playing frustrates, getting carded and booes and sensing loss.... It's the end of the world as the crowd knew it, and I din feel fine as this will marked the end of my time-off from work after Brazil was kicked out.
BEEE!!!! The game ended officially. Brazil's star-studded team is leaving Germany without the trophy many assumed it would take home.
I watched the crowds shedding tears, hugging each other, shaking their heads in grief AND some immediately went back to party when the party-music was played before calling it quit. The World Cup has ended with a bitter taste for Brazilians but life still has to go on.To tell the truth, I was never so involved and committed to a World Cup like this before. I was so glued to the event that most of my friends in Singapore were constantly asking me about everything. My World Cup experience was enhanced in many ways.
I remember the few games that we watched in Jimmy's apartment. Usually when Brazilian scored their goal, although the streets outside were empty, through the open window we could hear loud cheers and shouts of excitement coming from the open windows of other homes and buildings. The guys in the apartment above us would start stomping their feet with joy and perhaps jumping up and down, cheering loudly. The uproar was contagious; it was so endearing to see how excited a whole street (and in that sense a whole nation) could get over one simple goal. Now towards the closing moments of the World Cup and the official end of Brasil attempt to be the 6th World Champion, I already feel nostalgic of these times, this fever and this madness that took over the world. I must wait another 4 years to have more heart attacks. I know that the next coach will endure heavy criticism and constant watch from the Brazilian, and the players will have to prove themselves more than ever. For the Brazilian fans the fall was too hard. Not only because of high expectations but for the lack of dedication of the players who din seem to understand what does that canary shirt means to their country.
"Football is a religion, the stadium is the temple, and the fans are the
worshippers. There is no other way to explain what happens when people gather in
one place in the name of football."
Labels: Brazil, Days of My Life, World Cup 2006
Brasil x Ghana, the fight between magician and voodoo
Date : Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Time : 5:52 PM
Time : 5:52 PM
Another game todae!! Brasil vs Ghana. The game was held at 12pm hence our office crew decided to catch the game together in a restaurant nearby (since we had been given time off from 1115 to 1500. =D)
As early as 2 weeks ago, we had made the reservation at the nearby restaurant, Taberna. It was already fully booked then, and we can only get the outdoor seat: a row rite in front of the not-so-huge plasma TV, full with Brazilian and a few SGreans.
The whole place was a sea of green and yellow. Regardless of age and gen
der, people are shouting, cheering, blowing whistles and trumpets, waving their beloved national flags & etc. Another mad phenomenon I enjoyed in Brasil: Time off for all to watch football! Shops, banks, metro train station, roadside stall – everywhere (but restaurants) I believed, were closed. The only activity was to cheer for their national team, even the old ladies also came out to join the crowd!
The Ghanas were really on the offensive tactics, they have tried so many shots at Brazil but none went in. They were like
11 black bulls charging in the field, running after the single ball. Good stamina, good spirit, good speed, too bad no finishing power. Brazil did not perform as well as they should, however they were lucky. Ronaldo fifth-minute strike was an unexpected one and wat a mayhem- everyone, including me, was screaming and shouting, banging on the table, waving the flags, horning the trumpet. I thought I would go deaf from the noise and dumb from the shouting. This not only give Brazil a good opening-goal but also put the name of this Brazil marksman into the record bk. This was his 15th goal in the FIFA World Cup, taking him past Germany's Gerd Muller as the most prolific scorer in the 76-year history of the tournament.
The game ended with Brazil winning 3:0 as most expected. We strolled back to office with full stomach full of beers, frango portuguesa and pau de queijo. Foods, beers and game! That’s how Brasilian love and celebrate their football! And thats also how i love this country and their amdness. =D
As early as 2 weeks ago, we had made the reservation at the nearby restaurant, Taberna. It was already fully booked then, and we can only get the outdoor seat: a row rite in front of the not-so-huge plasma TV, full with Brazilian and a few SGreans.
The whole place was a sea of green and yellow. Regardless of age and gen
der, people are shouting, cheering, blowing whistles and trumpets, waving their beloved national flags & etc. Another mad phenomenon I enjoyed in Brasil: Time off for all to watch football! Shops, banks, metro train station, roadside stall – everywhere (but restaurants) I believed, were closed. The only activity was to cheer for their national team, even the old ladies also came out to join the crowd!The Ghanas were really on the offensive tactics, they have tried so many shots at Brazil but none went in. They were like
11 black bulls charging in the field, running after the single ball. Good stamina, good spirit, good speed, too bad no finishing power. Brazil did not perform as well as they should, however they were lucky. Ronaldo fifth-minute strike was an unexpected one and wat a mayhem- everyone, including me, was screaming and shouting, banging on the table, waving the flags, horning the trumpet. I thought I would go deaf from the noise and dumb from the shouting. This not only give Brazil a good opening-goal but also put the name of this Brazil marksman into the record bk. This was his 15th goal in the FIFA World Cup, taking him past Germany's Gerd Muller as the most prolific scorer in the 76-year history of the tournament. 
The game ended with Brazil winning 3:0 as most expected. We strolled back to office with full stomach full of beers, frango portuguesa and pau de queijo. Foods, beers and game! That’s how Brasilian love and celebrate their football! And thats also how i love this country and their amdness. =D
Labels: Brazil, Days of My Life, World Cup 2006
Brasil x Japan 4:1
Date : Thursday, June 22, 2006
Time : 7:03 PM
Time : 7:03 PM
Hurray!!! Our second day off due to World Cup. What a good thing to work in a country crazy of Football during the World Cup. Kekee....
Brasil x Japan. It's one of the world's oddest cross-cultural m
ixes if stereotypes are to be believed - the quiet, private and reserved Japanese versus the loud, chatty, and famously flamboyant Brazilians. And if there's one man who can bear witness to this , i believe there is no one but the Brazilian football legend Zico, one of the greatest players never to win a world cup, and nowadays coach of the Japanese national team.
Early in the morning.. once i stepped out into the street, the passerby start asking if i support Japan or Brasil... All yellow-skin, small eyes races looks like Japanese to them.
Well... cant you see i m wearing Brasil Jersey???!!!
On the way back to the apartment, our taxi stopped in front of a pub.. Some apparently drunked Brasilian who might have start drinking from eleven am got so excited and start blowing the big tru
mpet at us! The situation got out of control, and we quickly ran towards home soonafter we alighted. We cant help but to wonder, waht of Japan won and brasil kena kick out?? I think i had a valid reason not to go to work tmr due to my safety consequences.
well... same as last game.. Jimmy fixed us salad, penne and some side dishes. Ed, Pauline and I enjoyed the food as well as the game. Hidetoshi Nakata still looks good. However, he looks even better in the magazine and on the red carpet of
celebrity's party. I think he belongs to the show ring. Asia's Beckham.
Japan's World cup adventure is finally over. They were beaten 4-1 by Brazil which leaves them bottom of Group F table. Personally, i think Japan played very well in the first half of today's game especially the early lead with a fantastic goal but Brazil always looked dangerous all night and when they equalised on the struck of half time, I sensed the second half will be tough. And so it turned out. But I think the Japanese players gave their all and especially goalkeeper Kawaguchi tonight made some fantastic saves.
=( No excuse for not going to work tmr.
Brasil x Japan. It's one of the world's oddest cross-cultural m
ixes if stereotypes are to be believed - the quiet, private and reserved Japanese versus the loud, chatty, and famously flamboyant Brazilians. And if there's one man who can bear witness to this , i believe there is no one but the Brazilian football legend Zico, one of the greatest players never to win a world cup, and nowadays coach of the Japanese national team.Early in the morning.. once i stepped out into the street, the passerby start asking if i support Japan or Brasil... All yellow-skin, small eyes races looks like Japanese to them.
Well... cant you see i m wearing Brasil Jersey???!!!
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On the way back to the apartment, our taxi stopped in front of a pub.. Some apparently drunked Brasilian who might have start drinking from eleven am got so excited and start blowing the big tru.jpg)
mpet at us! The situation got out of control, and we quickly ran towards home soonafter we alighted. We cant help but to wonder, waht of Japan won and brasil kena kick out?? I think i had a valid reason not to go to work tmr due to my safety consequences.well... same as last game.. Jimmy fixed us salad, penne and some side dishes. Ed, Pauline and I enjoyed the food as well as the game. Hidetoshi Nakata still looks good. However, he looks even better in the magazine and on the red carpet of
celebrity's party. I think he belongs to the show ring. Asia's Beckham. Japan's World cup adventure is finally over. They were beaten 4-1 by Brazil which leaves them bottom of Group F table. Personally, i think Japan played very well in the first half of today's game especially the early lead with a fantastic goal but Brazil always looked dangerous all night and when they equalised on the struck of half time, I sensed the second half will be tough. And so it turned out. But I think the Japanese players gave their all and especially goalkeeper Kawaguchi tonight made some fantastic saves.
=( No excuse for not going to work tmr.
Labels: Brazil, Days of My Life, World Cup 2006
Brasil First Match vs Croatia 1:0
Date : Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Time : 10:42 PM
Time : 10:42 PM
Vai Brasil!! Vai!!! Todae was the first match of Brasil in this yr world cup. We were allowed to knock off at 2pm in lieu of the soccer game. A hectic day for me thou. I had to goto Niteroi yard for medical checkup early in the morning b4 going to office. It was quite a scene on the street. Almost everyone were wearing brasil national team jersey. The shopvendors, the supermarket patrons, the taxidrivers, the office-boy... everywhere u go was flooded by yellow n green!! Everyone was parading in colors of their national flag. The car owners swayed their flags proudly while zooming along the street. Every corner of neighbourhood had been decorated with confetti, roads are painted, banners hung high up the buildings. Wat a city in yellow n green!! The high and passionate spirit was so contagious that i cant help to feel as 'high' as the brazilian. 
The medical checkup was fast thou i felt a bit giddy without any food for the past 12 hr. Stopped by Assemblia to look for HR, had my breakfast with Ed at a nearby bakery. A nice morning to sit down by the street, sipping my orange juice, biting my sandwiches, chit-chatting wif Ed and enjoying the yelloe-greenish parade.Reached office ard eleven. The office were also full of yellow & green & white. Jovial and excited. World Cup fever was upon us. The world’s most watched television event had commenced and all of us need to rush back to catch brasil first match in this yr world cup!!
Left office at 2pm and the traffic was terrible. The street situation was similar to our Chinese New Year Eve when everyone was hurrying home for reunion dinner, whereas in this case ppl hustled home for the TV live match. The roads were congested, several streets were cordoned off by party people getting ready to celebrate Brazil’s victory. We was caught in a heavy traffic jam hence it was already 3pm by the time we reached home.
Jimmmy cooked some porridge and a lot of good stuff, preparing us for a feast while watching the game!! The game start at 4pm sharp. Having the forever smiley, talented cool fella -Ronaldinho, (ex-)superstar Ronaldo, add the talents of Kaka, Robinho, Adriano, Juninho AND the Adidas Teamgeist ball, Brasil team seems to having a recipe for goals. Brazil getting the samba into play early with Ronaldinho dancing around like a ballerina. What a joy to watch. He was such a cool guy and i simply admired his joyous attitude. I believe he must be a happy-go-lucky guy in real life. The solid Cratia team was playing great too. Their defence was good However, i was quite disappointed as Brasil wasnt playing as passionate as wat i had expected. A bit of a slow start to the game as both teams work out the nerves. Neither team looked especially sharpe. Finally!!! 43:25 GOALLLLL. Kaka with a blast. He took two dribbles and smacked it from outside the box with his left foot. Great shot. A handsome guy who even sweat in a cool way. Wat a luxury brasil has.. Croatia played them even but a late first half goal gives Brazil a huge lift heading into the dressing room. With a blink of an eye Kaka hammered that shot. Can’t turn your back on Brazil for a second. The cheering was sooo loud that even in the apartment you can hear it clearly. People start walking out to the Balcony, swaying flags and blowing horns.. Before that, the street was like a ghost city.. no cars or patron on the road as everyone is either sitting or standing in front of a television set. Haha!! Football is really in the Brasilian blood.
The 2nd half was so-so. The obstinate croatians tried to fought back but without success. Not much excitement except for a streaker on the pitch. He got down and kissed Prso’s shoe. Well played streaker but you are gonna spending the night in a German jail. That might have been the highlight of the game. He was fully clothed and painted face with croatia colors. Finally, Brazil came away with a 1-0 win thanks to a great goal by cute Kaka in the first half. Croatia played the defending champions even but Brazil earns the three points and is now tied with Australia atop the Group F table. A fairly yet uninspiring win. However, it doesnt stop the Brasilian from celebrating the victory. Beeps and honks and shouting can be heard all over the building and neighbourhood. Streets were once again full of people and cars.
I was rather appalled by the performance of Ronaldo, hoping that he can proed that weight issue is not a problem for him. Looking forward to a better coordination, improve defence and more stunt from Ronaldinho in the nect game. Not to forget my fave- Kaka's gifted talents and spped( and of course his cute face too)!! . 
Labels: Brazil, Days of My Life, World Cup 2006
Copa do Mundo 2006!!!
Date : Thursday, June 08, 2006
Time : 3:57 PM
Time : 3:57 PM
HOT!! HOT!! HOT!!! I can feel the heat even from the air!! Everyone is wearing green and yellow.. and you can see confetti hanging along the road.. street drawing on the wall, painting competition on the road, WORLD CUP is coming!!!My dear Sharry.. i bet the pub here is even more crowded than in SG!. The Brasilian are real incsane over the world cup esp this yr they all believe that Brasil is gonna be the Champion again for the 6th time. On the 13th and 22nd where Brasil is playing, we are allowed to knock off two hour b4 the game, the hours are compensated by working an hour everyday extra for the last week thou, there is no free lunch in this world my dear. There are some companies who install large plasma TV for their employees to watch the game too, wwll.. definitely then having half of the employees faking MCs and the other half watching live matches thru internet rite??
Hehee.. My brasilian colleague Rosie ored sent out email inviting us to watch the game at her place. Some colleagues too intend to catch the excitement in one of the nearby pub or restaurant. Haha.. i am SOOO looking forward to it even thou i had not make up my mind of which one to go yet.
In order to celebrate this happy events, we decided to get some jerseys and T-shirts. My Brasilian colleague brot me to a Market called 'SAARA' near our office, one of the biggest market in Rio. Its soooo similar to Chatuchak in Thailand! We took the subway down to Uruguaina, and the stalls is just right in front of the exit. Its is a very very big market, look at the map, and its such a shopping paradise. The Brazilian really live and breathe soccer, the whole market are full of shirts, toys, flags, whistle, drums for the world cup celebration now!!Well.. of course, there are also tons of interesting and beautiful accesorries, beads and etc. i think i could have stay here for the whole day if i do not have to rush back to work.We bot a few jersey and some accessories.. I guess sooner or later my wardrobe is gonna flooded by GREEN and YELLOW. Din bring my cammy or else I shall definitely took tons of pix.!! =)
Labels: Brazil, Days of My Life, World Cup 2006
