Brazil’s quarterfinal exit shock for fans in Kolkata, but hail rise of Morocco

For Kolkata, where loyalty is always split between the Albiceleste and the Selecao, the defeat of Brazil to Croatia in the penalty shootout on Friday has been a matter of deep pain and anguish among the fans.

A boy walks past a wall decorated posters showing Brazil’s footballer Alisson Becker and Neymar Jr in Kolkata. | Photo Credit: AFP

The buzzing Fakir Chakraborty Lane, which came to be known as ‘World Cup-er goli (World Cup lane)‘, in the northern fringes of the city now wears a forlorn look after the shock exit of Brazil in the quarterfinals.

Some of the ubiquitous golden green with yellow rhombus flags (of Brazil) lie scattered, while a handful of life-size flex vinyl posters of the Neymars and Richarlisons lie at one corner of the Kolkata Dishari Club, unattended.

In south Kolkata, it’s business as usual for Kasba Ghugni seller Sukumar Haldar, who gained instant social media stardom for his crazy offers on his tangy yellow peas snack item during Brazil matches.

For a city, where loyalty is always split between the Albiceleste and the Selecao, the defeat of Brazil to Croatia in the penalty shootout on Friday has been a matter of deep pain and anguish among the fans. It has also dashed hopes of a mouth-watering semifinal clash against the arch-rivals.

The members of the Dishari Club had made plans of showing the semifinal and final live on a giant screen and organising a big feast, but Brazil’s exit has dashed all their hopes.

“We had planned to split the screen into two halves with Brazil and Argentina on either side, and decorate the street with posters of Neymars and Richarlisons,” member of the club Soumen Bora said.

“Everything is cancelled now, most of the para (colony) has gone into a state of mourning. It’s now about just watching the World Cup and enjoying football,” the 33-year-old, who works as a medical representative, added.

For the ghugni shop in Kasba which has become a place of attraction with Brazil posters, it’s now all over.

“With Brazil out of the World Cup, the offer has now stopped, it’s business as usual for me,” the 45-year-old Haldar,a diehard Brazil fan, said.

But, there are still some fans fans who just want to soak in the magic of the World Cup.

For former All India Football Federation senior vice-president Subrata Dutta, a diehard Brazil fan, the FIFA World Cup is a celebration of sport and he has witnessed every knockout round since 2002.

All set for his sixth consecutive World Cup attendance as a spectator, Dutta had made plans to witness his favourite team clashing against Argentina in the semifinals.

But it proved to be a dampener again as Brazil capped a second consecutive quarterfinal exit, and fourth in the last five tournaments at the same stage.

“It would have been a perfect treat to the eyes, I’m totally dejected,” Dutta told PTI, on the eve of his departure to Qatar.

“But I’m not cancelling my plans. At first, I’m a lover of the game. I support football. We celebrate football, it creates an electrifying atmosphere.

“It gives us different kinds of happiness without any geographical boundary. This has been a World Cup of upsets. Who expected Morocco to be in the semi-final?” he asked.

Debasish Dutta and Nitu Sarkar, top officials of Kolkata rivals Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, are also staunch Brazil supporters.

But Brazil’s exit does not mean the “end of the world” for them.

“Rather, it has been a World Cup full of positives,” Dutta said, citing the example of Morocco who became the first African nation to be in the semifinal after their stunning 1-0 win over Portugal.

“This World Cup has shown the World Cup is not just limited to Latin America and a few European countries. Football is growing,” Debasish, who has booked his ticket for Sunday’s summit clash, said.

Now that Brazil is not there, East Bengal’s Sarkar hopes for a France-Argentina final.

“But it won’t be that easy for France (to make the final). Morocco has won our hearts with their speed. Every match has been so thrilling,” Sarkar said.

The famous Gangulys of Kolkata too are known for their allegiance to Brazil.

“I always support Brazil. I hope to see a few matches in the World Cup this time,” former India captain Sourav Ganguly had said before the start of the World Cup.

His elder brother Snehasish Ganguly, who is now the chief of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), said it’s a World Cup of hope.

“Yes we have been Brazil fans from our childhood. But football doesn’t stop with Brazil.

“I don’t think it has been a World Cup of upsets. It has given hope for Asian countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Japan and Korea. And who knows if Morocco goes all the way.”