World Cup postcard: great views vs. a boring game

Posted February 25, 2014 3:00 pm

By Mike Taylor Special to the Daily Herald

Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro was packed with World Cup fans waiting for the start of the USA vs. Germany game on Thursday. Photo courtesy of Mike Taylor

Editor's note: A suburban soccer coach is attending the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Today he shares a report on his travels in the country and the viewing party he attended for the U. SA-Germany match.

After a day spent seeing the Rio harbor and beaches from a spectacular view atop Sugar Loaf Mountain spectacular, we witnessed a very boring France vs. Ecuador game (0-0 on Wednesday). Viva la France.

The next day, we put ourselves among the thousands to watch the USA vs. Germany game on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro. Like a lot of fanfests here and back home in the states (from what we have been reading about), it was packed and ready for every possible outcome.

Even though the USA team lost, it was the overall outcome that mattered and they are through to meet Belgium in the Round of 16.

Now the real party gets started. Now it is time to put everything on the line and get the win, because nothing else matters. No Group of Death - just survive to the next game.

Our final two days before we head home will be a trip to see the famous Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio, and then our final game of the World Cup - Columbia versus Uruguay. Should be a good game.

• Mike Taylor is the boys and girls soccer coach at St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights.

Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro was packed with World Cup fans waiting for the start of the USA vs. Germany game on Thursday. Photo courtesy of Mike Taylor

If you can't get tickets to the game in Brazil, then the games comes to you. Here's a view of the big screen at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro that carried the USA vs. Germany game. Photo courtesy of Mike Taylor

The views of the harbor in Rio de Janeiro are spectacular from the mountains surrounding the city. Photo courtesy of Mike Taylor

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