Language certainly was no barrier as these football fans celebrated two historic victories for Asian teams over two football powerhouses
Doha, Qatar: Even as Japanese fans came out of the Khalifa International Stadium in a state of wild jubiliation on Wednesday, November 23 following their team’s stunning win over Germany in the Qatar World Cup, there was one couple were pulling in different directions, a special report by Rituraj Borkakoty in the Khaleej Times says
This was Japanese wife, Yurika, and her German husband Oliver, here in Doha to watch the FIFA World Cup matches along with their daughter.
Yurika’s face was all lit up with joy and happiness after Japan had just beaten one of the biggest teams in world football. And yet she was equally respectful of her German husband Oliver’s sentiments.
Oliver unable to hide his disappointment ruefully says “Well it’snot the result I expected from Germany today. So yeah, you can say that I am very disappointed now.
“Overall, for us as husband and wife, it was a great experience of watching a World Cup game between Germany and Japan,” he said.
“We wanted to watch this match and finally got the tickets last week. So as a family, to be able to watch this match with our daughter, it was great. It’s been very nice in Qatar. Now we are ready to go back.”
Yurika could no longer hide her joy after her husband went looking for a food stall with their UK-born daughter, who was wearing a Germany shirt.
“It feels great. I am married to a German, but I am still Japanese, you know. So obviously, you can see how happy I am now.”
As Japanese fans wandering around the stadium long after the game was over, they were joined by Saudi Arabian fans who were still celebrating their team’s unforgettable victory over Argentina on Tuesday.
The Saudis hugged the Japanese fans as both groups started singing and dancing in their own languages.
The language certainly was no barrier as these football fans celebrating two historic victories for Asian teams over two football powerhouses in the first-ever World Cup in the middle east region.
“We wanted to watch this match and finally got the tickets last week. So as a family, to be able to watch this match with our daughter, it was great. It’s been very nice in Qatar. Now we are ready to go back.”
The Japanese and Saudi fans were soon joined by a group of Brazilians who were waving their own flag and taunting Germany and bitter rivals Argentina.
“Bye, bye, Germany, bye, bye,” the Brazilians sang, before mocking the Argentinians.
“Bye, bye Argentina. Bye, bye Messi, bye, bye, bye. Cry, cry cry, Messi, cry, cry, cry….” the Brazilians kept singing.
“Oh, being Brazilians, we are just so happy to see Germany and Argentina lose,” Willian, who has came to Qatar with a group of friends from Brazil for five matches,
“We always celebrate when they lose, especially Argentina. It’s the same, when we lose, they celebrate. We are big rivals. But it’s all for fun, we are just rivals in football, that’s all.”
Meanwhile, Tara, a Japanese fan, hoped that her team would build on the great start in Qatar.
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