The club has been opening early for its soccer-loving patrons.
Portugal's Danny, center foreground, misses a scoring opportunity against Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, right, during the World Cup group G soccer match between Portugal and Brazil at the stadium in Durban, South Africa, Friday.LUDLOW – Cold beer and hot expresso appeared to be the beverages of choice at the Gremio Lusitano Club Friday morning as patrons watched their beloved Portugal take on arch-rival Brazil in World Cup play.
The Winsor Street club opened early to accommodate a happy crowd of fans who watched the game unfold on three big flat-screens mounted near the bar.
Two more televisions on the periphery of things showed the World Cup match between North Korea and the Ivory Coast.
“We have been opening early since they started the World Cup,” said club bartender Michael F. Martins, adding that the town is full of World Cup fans. “It’s a pretty big crowd for early in the morning.”
“To me it’s better than the Olympics,” said Jose A. Alberto, shortly after the game started at 10 a.m., adding that watching the Cup and keeping abreast with the games is “controlling my entire life and messing up with my schedule.”
Alberto and just about everyone else inside the Lusitano Club stressed that the two countries have long been rivals on the playing field.
“It’s a huge game because of the historical significance,” Alberto said. “Portugal, for a long time, had Brazil as colony. It’s kind of a bone-of-contention between Portugal and Brazil...”Who plays better? Who plays a better style of soccer? It’s a matter of national pride.”
Those intently watching the game included Tony Goncalves. “I thought I’d take a half a day and come over and support our country,” he said.
“Portugal!” said 6-year-old Sebastian Goncalves, when asked who he thought was going to win the match. The boy came in the club to watch the game with his father, Joe Goncalves.
“I can’t go anywhere without him and he wanted to come to so I figured I’d bring him with me,” the elder Goncalves said. “He is just glad that school is over and he gets to come and doesn’t have to go to school.”
Alberto predicted a 2-1 victory for Portugal. The game ended in a 0-0 tie, however, allowing both teams to advance in the tournament.
This is the sign outside the Gremio Lusitano Club in Ludlow.“A tie will be nice,” said Miguel G. Fernandes, vice-president of the club.
Fernandes got his draw. Portugal reached the second round of the World Cup after a 0-0 draw Brazil.
Brazil had already secured advancement and won Group G with seven points, two more than Portugal.
Portugal faces the Group H winner Tuesday in Cape Town. Not surprisingly, according to the Associated Press, its coach blamed Brazil for the lack of offense.
Brazil plays the runner-up in Group H on Monday in Johannesburg.
“You almost don’t care if they win or lose,” Alberto said. “You want them to play with style, with flair, with heart...Soccer is about balance.”
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.