From Rio de Janeiro
Double shame is the synthesis that the Brazilian newspapers chose to describe the night of the Maracana, in which their country’s soccer team lost its undefeated record in the qualifying rounds, and the police completely lost their rationality when they savagely repressed the Argentine fans in a from the stadium’s headers.
They do not have precise data on how it all started, but they agree on several aspects: 1) That the distribution of the public was very bad, because the Argentine fans were trapped in the funnel of the stands without separation from the local fans. 2) That the police actions were crazy, batting the Argentines indiscriminately.
After the game, on the way to the subway, at the stadium deconcentration, we consulted several Argentinians who had been at the scene. We received different versions about the beginning of the incidents: that it all started when they threw a bass drum stick and hit a woman; which was when two of them grabbed pineapples because a Brazilian whistled the Argentine anthem; that the Brazilians provoked; that the screams from side to side led to pieces of the plastic seats flying. Where there are also coincidences is in the criticism of the police.
What the fans highly valued was the attitude of the players, who did not hesitate to run towards the battlefield (Emiliano Martínez jumped to the stands itself), and then retreat to the locker rooms as a sign of protest. Some commentators on radio stations in Rio highlighted the attitude of the Argentinians and questioned those from the canarinha, because they did not show solidarity. Only Marquinhos came a little closer to talk to the Argentine players, while the others watched.
The general behavior of the Brazilian public was very unique. There were many with Argentine shirts and the number 10 on their backs; they applauded when they mentioned the lineups; They shouted a goal when he started taking free kicks and placed the ball in the corners in the warm-up, and they booed him again and again after he took his teammates to the locker room to complain about what the police had done.
The torcida howled at every foul by Scaloni’s team, she repeated herself in a classic song that says that Pelé scored a thousand goals and Maradona was a drug addict, she got angry when her team threw the ball back or failed in a pass. Many left with ten minutes left after Joelinton’s expulsion, sure that everything was decreed, and many chanted “ole” at one point at the end, when Argentina played the ball for a minute straight.
The anger comes from the defeats against Colombia and Uruguay, it grows with some decisions by Fernando Diniz, and the defensive weaknesses that are becoming more and more noticeable. “The only good thing is that now there will be no playoffs until September of next year,” he says. And very few believe that the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti will materialize as has been announced for some time.
Brazil was left with seven points in the standings, eight from the top and only six from the bottom, but obviously no one doubts the classification. More so considering that there is time for the recovery of Neymar, Richarlison and Vinicius Junior.
In the Brazilian newspapers, the criticism of the locals increases, when analyzing how little Argentina did on offense. They are right, because in the first half Scaloni’s team handled the ball better but without any depth. From the back to three quarters of the field the ball was round to overcome the weak pressure, but from then on it was little or nothing, among other things because Messi played in poor physical condition.
Anyway, it was well earned, legitimately, and the ties between the players and the fans were strengthened. The love had not been broken by the setback against Uruguay, and the people continued singing that day despite the result. The pink novel opened a new chapter.
And if for them it was a double shame for what was inside and what was outside, for the Argentine fans it was a double joy for the victory on the field of play, and for the attitude of the footballers who stood up for those outside.
2023-11-23 03:01:00
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