Peter Prandalos who plays for Wollongong Olympic is currently in Brazil.  Peter is our FSC World Cup reporter and captures the spirit on the streets as Brazil played against Chile.  Check out the story below.

AUSSIE WORLD CUP: Watching Brazil in the Sao Paulo city centre -

After stopping over in Santiago, Chile for a night, my friends and I flew to Sao Paulo at midday, Saturday June 28 to begin our Brazilian world cup adventure. This also happened to be the first game of the knockout rounds with the not-so-small matter of Brazil taking on Chile.

Sao Paulo is the largest city in the southern hemisphere with a population of roughly 20 million people. However it didn't feel like this as we drove through empty streets in free-flowing traffic. Our taxi driver from the airport, Carlos Eduardo, told us "When the Brazilian national football team plays, that day is a national public holiday; such is football's standing in Brazilian culture." As we moved closer to the city centre and our accommodation on Paulista Avenue, we saw little bars and restaurants that were overflowing with people... even petrol stations had customers with eyes only for the game rather than the bowser.

Upon arrival at our hostel we changed into our Australia merchandise and hopped into a taxi to a match day party in the city centre. Streets were closed, drums banging, horns blowing, flags waving all in a sea of Brazilian green and gold. Squirming through thousands of people who filled the streets, we eventually settled at a hostel bar where we watched the game.

When David Luiz headed Brazil into the lead in the 16th minute, the surrounding streets erupted. An enormous roar followed with people jumping up and down, hugging and celebrating with the nearest fan. The building we were in was shaking as celebrations continued for the following minutes.

But how quickly things can change in football...

In the 22nd minute, Alexis Sanchez provided a cool finish to draw Chile level. The horns stopped blowing, the drums stopped banging, jaws dropped in disbelief and Brazilian heads in hands. This was not part of the script.

Half time came and I left the bar with my friend, Karl, to go and explore the streets for a bit. To describe what I saw, picture standing outside Crown street from Wollongong Hospital all the way to the beach and people are all crammed together. As far as the eye could see, it was just Brazilians cheering their team on.

When the second half started, we went back to the original bar we were at. Getting into the spirit, myself and the other Australians in the venue began some Brazilian chants that everyone caught onto and began singing with us... chants such as "we love you Neymar, we do, we love you Neymar, we do," "vai (go) Brazil, vai Brazil, vai Brazil" and "Brazil!!! *clap clap clap*, Brazil!!! *clap clap clap*." Such was our success, that the Brazilian people began chanting "Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi" in appreciation.

The match ended one-all and extra time couldn't separate the two so it was onto the dreaded penalty shoot out. Before each penalty, a dead silence rung throughout the city, only to be met by wild celebrations when a Brazilian scored or Chilean missed. I saw more sign of the crosses made than I've seen at church over the years during that shootout.

When Chile missed the final penalty, the city erupted once again with random hugging, yelling, screaming, fire crackers being let off in the street and Samba music playing loud over the speakers in the surrounding venues. The party was in full swing now as everyone with their jerseys, flags and body paint went out into the streets to celebrate a famous, yet unconvincing victory.

This was just day one of my Brazil trip and I'm already counting down the days until Brazil play their quarter final against Colombia in Fortaleza. VAI BRAZIL!

Peter Prandalos
Commerce & Journalism Student,
Wollongong University