Ehere they are, the electrifying moments in the stadiums, even if some follow the events of the World Cup with subdued emotions. For example, in those final minutes of the game between Uruguay and Ghana, in which the South Americans were 2-0 up, but suddenly needed a goal to go through after a goal from South Korea in the parallel game.
The air crackles in the eight minutes of stoppage time. Horror, fear, hope, the great football feelings fill the stadium. Ghana can also go through with two goals because Uruguay suddenly throws everything forward. Luis Suárez sits on the bench in shock, it should be the last World Cup moments of a legend, while something amazing happens in the stands: Hundreds, probably thousands of people flock to the exits and go home. It’s a weird World Cup.
Didn’t you understand the drama? Don’t you care? Enigmatic. But the late evening at least provides clues. Since Switzerland plays against Serbia, the winner of the politically highly explosive duel reaches the round of 16. So on to the Corniche coast road, where there are many screens. On the huge screens in the Orient Perl, however, only the almost meaningless game of the Brazilian B-Elf against Cameroon is running.
80 meters further in the Halul Cafe there are eight screens, the waiter says: “Only Brazil”. A bit further at the big public viewing: Brazil, Brazil, Brazil. But isn’t the other game more exciting? Smile, shrug.
It would have been easier to go to the stadium at this World Cup than to find a screen that shows what’s really interesting that evening. But that too is probably just a question of perspective for Brazil this Monday (8 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the World Cup, on ZDF and on MagentaTV).