footy fever in brazil

Posted on June 20, 2014 Updated on June 20, 2014

As the Australian National anthem is being sung, the reality of being here, in Brazil, finally sinks in. We both got goosebumps (despite it being subtropical temperatures) and we got a bit emotional as we squeezed each others hands, singing at the top of our lungs with pride.

Australia loses to Chile 2-1 and then loses to the Netherlands 3-2 several days later but it doesn’t matter. We are so proud of how the Socceroos played, the whole country should be proud. Australia gained a LOT of respect from supporters of all nations!

Following the game yesterday against the Netherlands, everyone (that are not Australian) have been really encouraging and supportive. After the Netherlands onslaught against Spain, people were “dooming” the chances of the Socceroos. We were getting all types of reaction before the game, everything from sympathy and jokes about Australia not scoring.

Twenty-four hours on, we hope the Socceroos have silenced their critics.

We thought we knew what footy fever meant but until we experienced football and World Cup in Brazil …. it has taken on a completely different meaning for us.

The entire country is immersed in green and gold (supporting Brazil, of course) with no one getting off lightly. But those who know,  Australian sporting colours are green and gold too, so we feel like home here, except at games where the other countries are very well represented.

Every TV no matter where we turn has the game on when its game time. Even on the plane as we fly, everyone is glued to the TV.

The atmosphere is sensational and the games itself could not be more full of energy. We are one week into the World Cup 2014 and 21 games have been played so far. England are playing Uruguay as Le writes (with one eye on the TV) and David with both eyes on the TV. We are in the hotel lobby and all the staff are lined up watching the TV too.

One more Australia game for us to attend but that doesn’t mean the World Cup ends for us. It goes on up until that last game is played, even if it means watching it at some godly hour when we get home to Sydney.  Because it is only once every 4 years for one month where footy fever infects (on a world scale)!