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FanSpeak: Are The Goans Unhappy With The Portuguese Exit?
Goal.com's Anselm Noronha finds out what Goa thinks about the Portuguese having to exit the World Cup....
01-Jul-2010 12:21:00 AM
By Anselm Noronha
Portugal lost to the mighty Spaniards in the last of the Round of 16 matches of the World Cup played at the Green Point Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa on Tuesday evening.
Although the Portuguese ruled Goa with an iron fist until the year 1961 for more than 400 odd years, the negative history of which has been long forgotten, Goa has developed a soft corner for the Portuguese over the years. Besides the flare created by Brazil's 'samba' football, the magic in Lionel Messi for Argentina and the class of David Villa for Spain, (and of course, other countries of which Goans are fans of) a majority of Goans still support Portugal which can be attributed to the Portuguese influence coming down from our ancestors. So why should football be any different?
Here's what a few die hard Goan fans of the Portuguese football team had to say after Spain ended Portugal's dream of entering the quarter final stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa...
Lawrie Da'costa: I am very disappointed with Portugal's performance, but anyways the better team won. The best player for Portugal (Eduardo) didn't deserve to be on the losing side. Portugal could have played well if the coach used his players correctly. Pepe shouldn't have started and the change of Danny and Leidson for Almeida and Simao made the team weaker. Ronaldo went missing in the second half. It was Portugal's lack of flare and their refusal to involve Ronaldo that not only left him stranded for most of the game, but also cost Portugal the match.
Ralph Da Silva: For me, Portugal played a fantastic game. I mean, I could see the frustration on the players like David Villa and Torres being unable to break through the Portuguese defence. The substitutions made by the coach cost them the match. They concentrated more on defence and less on attack. I think C. Ronaldo must have hardly got a feel of the ball, he was like a loner standing there. Other-wise I feel Portugal played very well. It was just one of their days. I feel they had a lot of potential to reach the semis at least, if not the finals. Now even that they are out, they will always be my favourites... So, VIVA PORTUGAL!
Nassissa D'souza: I wanted Portugal to win but certain fouls against the Portuguese were not considered by the referee. The Portuguese keeper kept them in the match for most of the time, while there weren't any stinging attacks by the players, they were too busy defending. They did their best but Spain were at their game. I also support the Maradona boys.
A number of Goans who gained Portuguese citizenship which guarantee one the privilege of becoming a European Union citizen are now based in the UK and the rest of Europe as Portuguese Goans, who also support Portugal, even over England and their respective countries. Here's what some of them had to say...
Gordon Pinto (France): I thought they would be better this time. I was waiting for a good game but they chose to play defensive and the ref didn't play fair either. They had high potential that they didn't use at all, all the Portuguese players except the goal keeper Eduardo.
Deane D'Souza (England): Well, obviously I'm unhappy, they lost! It was a poor game from them, especially second half, they didn't play as well as they could. The second half was all Spain. There were brilliant save from Eduardo which was the only thing worth talking about. Eduardo was just awesome and I can't say that enough.
To sum it up, Goal.com also caught up with a Portuguese national...
Angela Antunes (Portugal): It was a crap game, but the all throughout the tournament, they weren't as bad as i thought. They lost because they weren't as good, which doesn't mean they're bad, the goal that made spain win wasn't even defendable. Honestly, I think that Ronaldo shouldn't have played. Definitely, Eduardo was amazing and Fabio Coentrao did a very good job all the way. I support teams I empathize with.
I sometimes support Brazil because I think of them as kind of cousins and I think that there is similar kind of a relationship between Goa and Portugal. Like there's a historical rivalry between Spain and Portugal, but i love Spain and the people, except for last night.
Although the Portuguese ruled Goa with an iron fist until the year 1961 for more than 400 odd years, the negative history of which has been long forgotten, Goa has developed a soft corner for the Portuguese over the years. Besides the flare created by Brazil's 'samba' football, the magic in Lionel Messi for Argentina and the class of David Villa for Spain, (and of course, other countries of which Goans are fans of) a majority of Goans still support Portugal which can be attributed to the Portuguese influence coming down from our ancestors. So why should football be any different?
Here's what a few die hard Goan fans of the Portuguese football team had to say after Spain ended Portugal's dream of entering the quarter final stage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa...
Lawrie Da'costa: I am very disappointed with Portugal's performance, but anyways the better team won. The best player for Portugal (Eduardo) didn't deserve to be on the losing side. Portugal could have played well if the coach used his players correctly. Pepe shouldn't have started and the change of Danny and Leidson for Almeida and Simao made the team weaker. Ronaldo went missing in the second half. It was Portugal's lack of flare and their refusal to involve Ronaldo that not only left him stranded for most of the game, but also cost Portugal the match.
Ralph Da Silva: For me, Portugal played a fantastic game. I mean, I could see the frustration on the players like David Villa and Torres being unable to break through the Portuguese defence. The substitutions made by the coach cost them the match. They concentrated more on defence and less on attack. I think C. Ronaldo must have hardly got a feel of the ball, he was like a loner standing there. Other-wise I feel Portugal played very well. It was just one of their days. I feel they had a lot of potential to reach the semis at least, if not the finals. Now even that they are out, they will always be my favourites... So, VIVA PORTUGAL!
Nassissa D'souza: I wanted Portugal to win but certain fouls against the Portuguese were not considered by the referee. The Portuguese keeper kept them in the match for most of the time, while there weren't any stinging attacks by the players, they were too busy defending. They did their best but Spain were at their game. I also support the Maradona boys.
A number of Goans who gained Portuguese citizenship which guarantee one the privilege of becoming a European Union citizen are now based in the UK and the rest of Europe as Portuguese Goans, who also support Portugal, even over England and their respective countries. Here's what some of them had to say...
Gordon Pinto (France): I thought they would be better this time. I was waiting for a good game but they chose to play defensive and the ref didn't play fair either. They had high potential that they didn't use at all, all the Portuguese players except the goal keeper Eduardo.
Deane D'Souza (England): Well, obviously I'm unhappy, they lost! It was a poor game from them, especially second half, they didn't play as well as they could. The second half was all Spain. There were brilliant save from Eduardo which was the only thing worth talking about. Eduardo was just awesome and I can't say that enough.
To sum it up, Goal.com also caught up with a Portuguese national...
Angela Antunes (Portugal): It was a crap game, but the all throughout the tournament, they weren't as bad as i thought. They lost because they weren't as good, which doesn't mean they're bad, the goal that made spain win wasn't even defendable. Honestly, I think that Ronaldo shouldn't have played. Definitely, Eduardo was amazing and Fabio Coentrao did a very good job all the way. I support teams I empathize with.
I sometimes support Brazil because I think of them as kind of cousins and I think that there is similar kind of a relationship between Goa and Portugal. Like there's a historical rivalry between Spain and Portugal, but i love Spain and the people, except for last night.
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