“Brazil to win 3-0… Brazil for 2-1… No, it’ll be 2-0.” Ahead of the quarter-final between Brazil and Croatia at the FIFA World Cup, nobody had given Croatia a chance. Not least at Ajay Sanghati Club in Kolkata’s Paschim Putiary. Despite the fact that Brazil had only scored three goals in the group stage, one of them a very late winner against Switzerland, and had fired blanks against Cameroon (a match they lost 1-0), the Brazil fans I saw were already preening at the prospect of a meeting with Argentina in the semi-final. A scintillating display against the Korea Republic in the round of 16 had convinced them that this was Brazil’s carnival in Qatar.
As I rode to the club ahead of kickoff, I could see the beautiful decorations that adorned the locality around Ajay Sanghati Club, life-size posters of Brazil’s stars included. A smattering of Argentine support was also there, but unlike this place in Haridevpur, loyalties were far from evenly split. Here, Brazil ruled. No questions asked.
Once the game began, nerves started to jangle in anticipation of a quick Brazilian breakthrough. Intense discussions on tactics and gameplay were pouring in, especially around Croatia’s right-back Josip Juranovic being allowed to run into space.
The setting was not pristine or pompous, but the energy was infectious
Posters of Brazil are at every nook and corner of Ajay Sanghati Club Debrup Chaudhuri
Huddled into a small room whose only source of effective lighting was the TV, 30 Brazil supporters — most wearing some shade of yellow — watched as if they were partaking in a collective ritual. Precise positions had been decided and a Brazil flag was draped on an almirah. The setting was not pristine or pompous, but the energy was infectious.
Talking to Sushavan Saha, a 28-year-old businessman, I learnt that fans at Ajay Sanghati Club start preparing for the World Cup two weeks in advance — collecting funds, arranging the decor and building a vibe that often transcends the sport. Arijit Nandy, a 29-year-old working at an event management company, explained how Brazil fans significantly outnumber those of the Albiceleste in this locality. Arijit then went on to prove his point by screaming in unison with his friends in yellow during the match until he lost his voice.
Somagni Biswas, 31, a sound engineer, confessed to falling in love with Brazil in 2002, not unlike many of his neighbours, who were smitten, in particular, by the trio of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho. One such fan is so in love with Brazil to this day that he preferred to watch his favourite team in action instead of spending time with his wife, a day after their wedding!
As the game wore on, jackets and hoodies were removed to show even more yellow. Not a soul moved inside the room as Brazil kept moving the Croatian defence from left to right and from back to front, probing but not penetrating. Croatia’s low-block had suffocated Neymar and Co, and Ajay Sanghati Club burst into expletives the moment Dominik Livakovic made a save. And yet, none of them lost hope for a moment. They were convinced that victory would be theirs.
Watching Ajay Sanghati Club in raptures made me question my footballing allegiances for a few moments
As the mercury began to dip, tensions began to rise. The game had entered extra time, the sort of situation Croatia almost aimed to play for. And then, it happened, a moment that released all the pent-up nervous energy by converting it into instant ecstasy. Brazil's favourite son, Neymar, had danced his way through the opposition defence, tiptoed past the goalkeeper and buried the ball into the back of the net. With 105 minutes on the board, Brazil had broken the deadlock. Watching Ajay Sanghati Club in raptures made me question my footballing allegiances for a few moments. As a Germany fan, my tournament had long seemed over. But here I was, in the midst of a mini-Brazil, almost inspired to root for another giant of the sport.
The short break between the two halves of extra time was mostly filled up with celebrations. The result felt like a foregone conclusion. And then, it happened again. Another memorable moment, but this time for Croatia. Pin-drop silence enveloped the room as Bruno Petkovic, with inadvertent assistance from Marquinhos, equalised for Croatia on the counter. Increasingly impatient at seeing out a narrow lead, Ajay Sanghati Club was crushed at having to settle for penalties. “What was the need to attack with just three minutes left?” cried out one voice. Another followed instantly: “Croatia sat back for 105 minutes, we couldn’t even do that for three."
The lights were out. And so were Brazil
Neymar in shock after Brazil lost on penalties to Croatia FIFA
As penalties began, the mood in the room could not have been more different from the one right after Neymar’s strike. Many of the fans remembered Croatia’s penalty win over Japan, more as a bad omen than as a sporting outcome. A hum of discomfort spread around the room right after Croatia opened the scoring with Nikola Vlasic. When Rodrygo missed his spot kick, Arijit gave up and walked out of the room. “This match is lost,” he said. The others held on to their last few straws of hope.
After some more accuracy from Croatia and some more sloppiness from Brazil, the score was 4-2. The equation for Marquinhos was quite simple: score or get knocked out. As the centre-back’s shot crashed against the woodwork, someone near the TV slammed the switchboard. The lights were out. And so were Brazil. Abuses, complaints and regrets filled the room, its darkness never more palpable. Soon enough, fans disappeared as if they had forgotten the purpose of their original assembly. Undying loyalty had paid a heavy price.
But such is the nature of the beautiful game. Sometimes you end up snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. A strange World Cup for Brazil had ended on a shocking note. However, in four years’ time, with or without Neymar, Brazil will come again, to claim what they feel is rightfully theirs. Enough time for those at Ajay Sanghati Club to dust themselves off and go again. To hope again.
