Fans get ready for fireworks from Big Two

KOLKATA: Unparalleled craze for football will assist the westerly winds to send the temperature soaring over the weekend. With city’s favourite teams — Brazil and Argentina — set to hit the pitch, and a couple of other high-profile teams — Germany and France — starting their World Cup campaign, soccer fans will have a packed schedule this Saturday-Sunday.


Argentina is set to play Iceland in its first group league match at prime time on Saturday while Brazil will take on Switzerland in an 11.30pm match on Sunday. To add to the flavour, there is France vs Australia in a 3.30pm match on Saturday and a Germany-Mexico tie at 8.30pm on Sunday.

“For us, the World Cup begins from Saturday evening when our favourite team play their first match in the league stage. Although we are confident of the match being a one-sided one, but I am all kicked to see Messi magic in full flow,” said Uttam Saha of Argentina Football Fans Club in Ganguly Bagan.

The club has issued strict instructions to all the members to cancel all plans for Saturday and be there around the club premises since morning, preparing for a yajna and setting up the projector screens and shamina in the area. “We will start the yajna from 5pm and before the start of the match, we will cut a huge cake and distribute sweets in the neighbourhood,” said Saha.

Brazil fans at Uttar Purba Kalikapur Unnayan Samity at Madhyamgram has planned a mini football match between supporters of Brazil and Argentina before Brazil takes on its first opponent in the group stage – Switzerland. “It will be a good contest but we are sure to come out as the better team. We have a very good team this year that has the capability to win the Cup. I just hope Neymar remains fit for the entire season,” said Tarunmoy Kundu, an MA student and a diehard Brazil fan.

Keeping the match timing in mind, several football fans are even changing their plans. “I had a get-together with a group of college friends, many of whom are coming from different states and even outside the country, this Saturday. I would have loved to skip the occasion as Argentina would be playing on Saturday evening but it is a difficult prospect. Hence, I changed the plan from a restaurant to a sports café in south Kolkata where we can meet as well as enjoy the match,” said Aritra Bhattacharya, a senior bank official and a resident of Beliaghata.