Brazilian tragedy punches hole through purses

About 90 minutes later, it’s all over. The Samba beats will not be heard. Brazil battered into submission by the French. It’s champagne time in France.

But Brazil’s sorrow found its echo in India and other nations all over the world who have been mesmerised over the years by the magic of Latin American football.Some feeling sad for Brazil, while others pondering over their own fortunes — their money gone with the defeat of the favourites. Before the match, rates in the betting market offered Rs 1.05 on a Brazil win, 2.25 fora draw and 2.90 on a French triumph.

When Zinedine Zidane put the hosts ahead, the odds on France narrowed to 1.10 and increased to 3.25 on Brazil. The probability of a draw remained the same.

Zindane’s second strike — widely considered a killer blow to Brazil’s contention for a Penta — had much the same effect on the punters’ fortunes.

France dramatically turned favourites. Brazil’s chances nosedived to 0.15 at the stroke of half-time, leaving punters little or no time to switch loyalties in money terms.

Strangely, France’s Marcel Desailly’s sending-off reflected a marginal increase in Brazil’s chances by five paise. There was feverish activity among city bookies, numbering around 200 and involving 100 punters each.

Millions of Brazilian fans in India were sorely disappointed. The long whistle in the wee-hours by Said Belqola, the Moroccan referee, brought in a gloomy silence over city sporting circles that had converged at several spots in the city to watch the final on giant screens.

In sharpcontrast to the pre-match Brazilmania, was a deathly silence. Brazilian supporters wept unabashedly even as French fans rejoiced all around the city.

The Brazilian fans lamented: “We had strong faith in our icon and firm belief that Brazil will lift the Cup for the fifth time to set up a new record. But everything is over now,” said Urs Haldimann, a station Manager with Swiss-Air.

French fans and those who put their money on France bubbled with joy as the hosts reduced Ronaldo and teammates to a shadow of the magical side that waltzed past opponents en route to the summit clash.

Brazil mania, at what cost, one might ask. As much as Rs two lakh in the case of Rajesh Madvani (name changed on request). Calculation and form, to his bitter experience, was thrown out of the window. Cold figures along with red hot Brazilian skills influenced Madvani.

“France, ranked 17, were playing only their 10th finals. Brazil have played in all 16 and were attempting a fifth title,” a sorrowful Madvanisaid.

“Support for the hosts was the instinctive commiseration one has for the underdog,” says Rajesh Pradhan, a sales executive with Bank of America.“Brazil sorely missed Romario who could have created at least goalscoring chances,” one ardent fan lamented.

While Ronaldo failed to illuminate the final, another star shone brightly to decide the final. “Zinedine Zidane proved his mettle and exhibited some extraordinary skills,” a collegian said, welcoming the balding Juventus player as another world superstar.

“Even if people who were not really interested in football, they also staked money out of sheer excitement. Some lost, some gained. They fell to the huge spell cast by the media,” says Amin, an NRI tourist from America.

As cricket stepped aside to give way to the people’s game, Mumbaikars sampled some passion that makes soccer the king of sport.“We Mumbaikars made the best of a month football during the summer vacation — even if only on television,” said Mamta Sarin, a student.

Butsome reacted differently, “Many people can wield a cricket bat with aplomb, but very few laymen would dare the scissor kick. And this is the endearing memory of the World Cup,” says Riaz Khan, an executive with Accor ticket restaurant company.

Football anybody?