The Love of the Game - Futebol

Sunday afternoon futebol.  Sounds a lot like home (the great white north) but I assure you it is much different here in Rio. A group of 11 of us (Brazilian, Canadian & German) took in Sunday's semi-final game (Flamengo vs. Botafogo).  The energy was unreal - and the fans are so organized, it is amazing! They put on a show themselves (to be honest, that's the show I'm most interested in), I also love watching the security at these things - German shepherds, helicopters flying right over the stadium, police on horseback, police in riot gear, gotta love it!

I'll let the photos do the rest of the talking but I assure you, we loved it, Brazil is such a passionate  country.  Last year after I attended a futebol game in Sao Paulo (which was some sort of exhibition game) I was so impressed with the outpouring from the fans, and likened some of the biggest demonstrations we see in Canadian cities (i.e. the "Red Mile" in Calgary when the Calgary Flames had its playoff run a few years ago) to a little girl's tea party in comparison to the antics down here.  You'd think you were at the opening ceremonies of the Olympics or something! (Except of course then the fireworks would be a little more organized and a little less "random"... but that's part of the excitement too).

The passion for the game is difficult to describe, where at home guys will sit around and watch replays of certain scenes or plays of the game, I have on many occasions this week walked by pubs where the game is being re-shown in entirety with crowds of people watching it (presumably again?)...

The final game is on Sunday...

Photo time.

The teams enter the stadium:

They even have public service announcements!

GOAL!

No, the stands are not on fire, it's just the fireworks being set off from the stands...

Comments

[Sergio]

Excellent description!!
I love to hear from outsiders, about their impressions on a football game in Rio!
I have a blog with the schedule for football in Maracana, if interested.

[DRL]

Thanks Sergio, fantastic, I will add a link to your site soon!