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Rediff.com  » Sports » Fan Zone: Brazilians samba; Croatians 'vow to never eat Sushi!'
This article was first published 10 years ago

Fan Zone: Brazilians samba; Croatians 'vow to never eat Sushi!'

Last updated on: June 13, 2014 17:16 IST

Image: Fans cheer a Brazilian goal as they watch the game on a large-screen
Photographs: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Brazil waited for the World Cup for years. They spent billions building stadiums and preparing for the big day.

Finally, the big party has begun.

-Football World Cup

The hosts made a winning start to their campaign, after a colourful opening ceremony at the Arena de Sao Paulo, beating Croatia 3-1.

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Fan Zone: Brazilians samba; Croatians 'vow to never eat Sushi!'

Image: Brazilian soccer fans react while watching the opening match between Brazil and Croatia in a fan zone
Photographs: Yves Herman/Reuters

Thousands of Brazilian fans flocked Fan Fests in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo to watch the match against Croatia.

Thanks to two goals from Neymar and a third from Oscar, the hosts rallied from an own-goal to victory.

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Fan Zone: Brazilians samba; Croatians 'vow to never eat Sushi!'

Image: Croatian fans react
Photographs: Andrew Kelly/Reuters

Croatian fans were saddened and disappointed after their team’s loss.

They were furious with the Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura for giving Brazil a penalty.

"It's a pity, the referee ruined us!" said a bitter Goran Vlahic, 28, as he was leaving the square with his girlfriend.

"I'll never eat sushi again," added Goran.

- ...

Fan Zone: Brazilians samba; Croatians 'vow to never eat Sushi!'

Image: Croatia fans
Photographs: Buda Mendes/Getty Image

Thousands of fans watched the match in cafes across Croatia. Many supporters gathered at Zagreb's main square.

Nearly all were dressed in Croatia's distinctive red and white squared shirts and watched the match on a 52-square metre screen above an improvised stage.

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Fan Zone: Brazilians samba; Croatians 'vow to never eat Sushi!'

Image: Croatia fans pose before the Brazil-Croatia match at Arena de Sao Paulo
Photographs: Buda Mendes/Getty Image

The Croatian papers labelled the clash as the "biggest match in Croatia's history". Indeed, the country is gripped by World Cup fever.

In Zagreb's main square up to two million people are expected to pass through a giant 'Fan Zone' to watch the games over the next month.

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Fan Zone: Brazilians samba; Croatians 'vow to never eat Sushi!'

Image: A fan holds up a sign before the Opening Ceremony
Photographs: Christopher Lee/Getty Images

Fans and humour are a part and parcel of the 'Beautiful Game'. There was full evidence of it in the opening match.

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