All the ESPN Deportes commentators shamelessly rooting for every Spanish-speaking team, and reeeeally hard against Brazil.
Thousands in the streets of Paris watching games on giant screens and cheering.
Hundreds, maybe thousands of Mexicans here in LA crying in the streets over their elimination.
Thousands of Americans, in several U.S. cities, watching the games on big screens. Offices closed, giant screens in the middle of the most important Google conference of the year, all to watch the national team play a sport they don’t give a damn about for 4 years.
Tens of thousands of Argentines invading Brazil to follow the cup.
All the South American countries, inspired by Brazil during the last Confederations Cup, sing their anthems “a capella” even after the “FIFA standard” is over.
But not Brazilians. They get outraged at the people who just want “bread and circuses.” In Brazil, liking soccer means being apolitical and ignorant.
If we’re “patriots,” singing the anthem, they condemn us for lack of patriotism during the elections (I’d like to see these same critics actually engaged in the elections).
My friend, buy some meat, fire up the barbecue, have fun, cheer, get hyped, sing the anthem, get emotional over the 23 Brazilians who are out there… you’ll hardly see the entire world gathered, having fun and spending hours of good conversation around a single topic, for the next 4 years.