rediff.com
News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Rediff.com  » Sports » World Cup: WAGS, Brazilian fans give Germany heroes welcome
This article was first published 10 years ago

World Cup: WAGS, Brazilian fans give Germany heroes welcome

July 09, 2014 13:51 IST

Image: Sarah Brandner, girlfriend of Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger, reacts after putting balloons under her shirt as she waits for the start of the 2014 World Cup semi-finals between Brazil and Germany at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday
Photographs: Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters

Brazilians in a northeastern town near Germany's training base adopted an "if you can't beat them, join them" approach to Tuesday's World Cup semi-final defeat by throwing their support behind the side that had thrashed them 7-1 just hours earlier.

Several hundred Brazilians waited for hours in the pouring rain to cheer the Germany players as they disembarked their team bus shortly after midnight and boarded a ferry for the crossing to their quarters in Santo Andre.

Many in the crowd chanted "Alemann, Alemann, Alemann" (Germany, Germany, Germany) amid raucous celebrations as fireworks lit up the night sky and revellers ignored the showers that threatened to dampen the party atmosphere.

Sarah Brandner, girlfriend of Germany's Bastian Schweinsteiger, was also seen among the crowd in the stands at the Mineirao stadium on Tuesday.

Complete coverage of the Football World Cup

- ...

'We just like the way Germany play'

Image: A Brazil fan and young Germany fan kiss a replica of the World Cup trophy after Germany's 7-1 win on Tuesday
Photographs: Michael Steele/Getty Images

"We just like the way Germany play -- all the creative goals and all the great passing they do," said Breno Antunes, one of the scores of police officers keeping watch over the bus and players on the short journey to the ferry.

"If Brazil's not in the World Cup anymore, at least there's one team still in it that play like Brazil."

The Germans have been generally well received by those gathered to watch the regular ferry crossings but locals greeted the players with a resounding chant of "Brasilia, Brasilia, Brasilia" on Monday when they departed for their semi-final against the hosts.

Complete coverage of the Football World Cup

- ...

''Germany play like Brazil used to'

Image: A Germany fan celebrates after their win over Brazil on Tuesday
Photographs: Michael Steele/Getty Images

However, any fears that locals would turn on Germany coach Joachim Loew and his players following Brazil's humiliating loss in Belo Horizonte proved unfounded as the weary-looking victors were greeted as heroes by an enthusiastic crowd.

"I very much like Germany," said Jose Amilton, a 32-year-old flight instructor who was leading the celebrations at the ferry crossing.

"They play so well, they pass the ball and they're so fast. They play like Brazil used to."

- Complete coverage of the Football World Cup

Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.