Mexicans go nuts, Brazil wave gold goodbye
Over 80,000 people were packed into Wembley to see men’s final but this is how fans back home reacted to the result.
Jubilant Mexicans celebrated their 2-1 Olympic gold medal soccer win over Brazil on Saturday, waving flags and chanting in plazas and streets across the country.
Crowds began gathering not long after the Mexican team scored their first goal in the first minute of play, with shouts of “Goal!” ringing out from bars and homes. Fans erupted in massive celebration as the game ended, marking Mexico’s first ever Olympic soccer gold medal.
Cheering Mexicans turned the downtowns of Mexico City, Guadalajara and other cities into street parties. Hundreds of fans waving the country’s red, white and green flag took a victory lap around the capital’s landmark Angel of Independence statue, with traffic shut down on the city’s main boulevard.
“Mexico didn’t let up in the match,” said law student Arturo Castellanos, who watched in Mexico City’s chic Condesa neighborhood.
“Even though I was embarrassing myself, I was screaming all kinds of rude things.”
Ignacio Villegas, 18, took the risk of wearing Brazil’s yellow jersey while walking through the neighborhood. He said he admired Brazil’s style of soccer and his grandfather was Brazilian. But he couldn’t help celebrating his country’s victory.
“Brazil didn’t play as a team although they have nothing but stars,” he said.
“And Mexico played excellently.”
Still waiting
The mood was notably more somber in Brazil, a country known for their elegant form of soccer but still awaiting their first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sport. Brazil have won more World Cup titles than any other country.
Sadness and frustration were clearly etched on the faces of the nearly 100 beer-drinking fans that packed the Prainha Paulista bar in the country’s biggest city, Sao Paulo.
“Brazil played horribly,” chemical engineering student Leoncio Martinez said, turning away from the TV screen.
“The team deserved to lose, and the Mexicans more than deserved to win.”
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“The team deserved to lose, and the Mexicans more than deserved to win” Brazil fan Leoncio Martinez |
In Rio de Janeiro, fans in surfer shorts and bikinis gathered on the seaside city’s white-sand beaches to watch the game.
People dressed like Brazilian soccer star Neymar posed with other fans to take pictures before the match, while the Beija-Flor samba group’s drummers pounded out heavy Carnival rhythms, stoking the festive atmosphere.
The party didn’t last long. Mexico’s first goal immediately silenced the crowd and sent the few Mexican fans on the beach into delirium.
Brazilian fan Rosemary de Oliveira put the best face she could on the loss.
“I wanted it to be gold, but it doesn’t matter, the most important is to participate,” she said after the match.
“We won the silver! Go Brazil!”