Kevin Whitcher
Yesterday was a day without physically attending a match, or catching a plane. I think we have three more of those, two in Manaus and one in Rio. A relaxing morning in the hotel room was followed by five hours in the fan park here in Salvador. We decided to get there to watch the first game of the day - Belgium v Algeria - so we could get a decent spot and avoid queuing to get in later on when the Brazil game was getting close. It was a hot day, although there was a pleasant breeze off the sea. We were well protected with suntan cream which seems to have done the job as I do not feel burned from sitting in the mid-afternoon sun.
Most of the attendees for the first game were visitors. I guess a local would probably think it a bit nuts to sit out in the sun for the hottest part of the day. A case of mad dogs and foreign football fans. The zip wire continued sending thrillseekers from one side of the screen to the other, but low enough not to disturb the view of a half decent game of football which almost poroduced an upset. Credit to Belgium for remaining focussed and clawing back the game. Thomas Vermaelen did what he has been doing for much of the season and watched from the bench.
In the time between that match and the Brazil game, the zip wire stopped and we had some entertainment. First some dancers in costume with those giant papier mache heads - including Phil Scholari and Neymar. That was followed by an open top bus with a band playing on the top deck. Whilst this was going on, a couple of huge inflatable balls with Coca Cola branding were inflated and the crowd played keepy uppy with their hands, until one was caught by the wind and carried over some rocks and into the ocean. They retrieved it, but I think it was punctured as it disappeared soon after.
Sellers were circulating selling drinks which constantly produced empty cans but the operation was well handled as rubbish collectors were always on hand to put them into their polythene sacks. There seems to be a living to be made from recycling, as I see this all over the place. It meant, unlike a lot of open air events in the UK, a mass of trampled tins did not pose the risk of turning your ankle.
By the time of the Brazil game (4pm), the place had filled up considerably, although the crowd was a little more mixed than the evening match the day before, in terms of age. The conclusion was that the young take their chance to socialise in the evenings, and those over the age of, say, 20 are elsewhere by then. It would have been some experience to be in the midst of seeing the reaction to a Brazil goal, but it just didn't happen. Mexico did a decent containing job, sometimes a little cynically, and when all else failed, their keeper made the headlines he did. The result is not a disaster for the hosts - they should beat Cameroon in their final game - however, the attack did not convince as much as I believed it would. I had Fred down as a better forward than maybe he is. Maybe it was just an off day, but one of those in the knockout stages and there is no second chance. They certainly do not appear ominous on the two appearances so far though. I saw a press conference with Scholari later and it appeared that he walked out due to his dislike for the questioning. From memory, they looked a lot better in the Confederations Cup last summer, but at this stage, it's just about getting out of the group. There is time to hit form. Still, in Brazil, every game has to be won by a distance and playing with style.
Getting out of the fan park after the game was a challenge. It isn't designed for a quick exit, but at least we were not in a hurry to get anywhere. Our evening meal was followed by a nice stroll around in the warm temperatures to take in the sights and sounds, including an impromptu party with a car blasting out the music at a petrol station and some hip movement from underdressed females that made your eyes water. It's a different world out here.
As for the tournament, so far, no doubt about the two most impressive sides - both European. Germany and Holland have started excellently. Still, it's early days. Interesting to see Brazil and Mexico completed two matches before Russia and South Korea had even played their first. Doubtless TV scheduling, but a definite advantage if you are in Group A or B.
This is our last day in Salvador, This evening we catch a flight that gets into Sao Paulo fairly late, so straight to the hotel there. We will have time to watch the Holland and Spain games on TV somewhere (although we will have to vacate our hotel room by noon) before Lillian reappears to give us a lift to the airport. Our flight is at 21.10, but she says the traffic is so bad in the evening that she will pick us up at 18.30. We will leave her three tickets to the football feast that is Bosnia v Iran which we have not been able to sell. Doubtless, she will be thrilled.
Tomorrow, England v Uruguay, followed by an evening in Sao Paulo and a 3am flight to Recife. I think that's what you call a long day. I might not post again until after we get to Recife, as I imagine the combination of a lack of wifi and the poor battery on this dying on its arse notebook I am using on this trip may combine to foil any attempt to do anything in Sao Paulo.
