Notes from Natal

Thought it might be interesting to follow up the match report from US-Ghana with some other images and facts about the match. One of the things I think is really cool is for every match the past three World Cups I have attended, the match balls are specifically printed with the date, opponents, and venue. Don't know what happens to these balls after the tournament, but talk about a great collectible!

I know of at least one fan in South Africa who received such a gift, as at the conclusion of the Algeria match, Landon Donovan kicked the match ball he was holding up into the US crowd.

Speaking of crowds, the US fans in Estadio Das Dunas in Natal did significantly outnumber the Ghana fans in the announced crowd of 39,760. Most came in at least US colors or kits, but others as well, in some more unique presentations.

There were also couples, and even some friendly interaction among fans, there to take in a match that certainly had no feel, or import as a run-of-the-mill match, or 'friendly'.

Once the respective national anthems played, the crowd went into full partisan mode, with both sections being heard loudly voicing their passions. Ghana was first, and the largest of their contingent was energetic well more than an hour prior to kickoff, and through their national anthem.

Then the Star Spangled Banner played, and the Stars and Stripes in the crowd came alive in full voice. It was clear from their conviction, one thing was one their collective minds.

When kickoff came, then the show truly was turned over to the rest of the world watching. For every venue in Brazil, FIFA's television service provider, MBS, has 34 camera positions, some mobile, and this system is an upgrade from the 29-camera system used in South Africa four years ago. There are of course the traditional positions, such as field level on the midfield stripe, on both sides, then the more unique, such as everyone's favorite, the SpiderCam.

Then, the match kicked off, and very quickly from my lone camera position, I was in great position for the 29-second lightning bolt Clint Dempsey unleashed. Unfortunately, four Ghana defenders were blocking my view of the shot, and as he always does, our captain, 'Deuce' took his celebration directly away from me....

But from that point on, through the final three blasts of the whistle, there was one pervasive sentiment in the US crowd. Were it to be said, as the sign below indicates, possibly even from Deuce's part of east Texas, that sentiment was then, remains now, and continues on to Manaus and Portugal:

All contents of this blog, written and photographic, are copyrighted 2014, all Rights Reserved, by Perry McIntyre - Atlanta, GA.