World Cup in London: Colombia

I've started watching the 2014 World Cup in London with foreign fans, as I've done before.

My first match for 2014 was Colombia -v- Greece, which I watched with lots of Colombian fans in Elephant and Castle.

There's a large Latin American community around Elephant and Castle, mainly since the 1980s. Each year the area hosts the excellent Carnaval del Pueblo, the largest Latin American carnival in Europe.

So I was expecting good things as I headed there.

My first 2014 World Cup with the foreign fans off to a glamorous start: hanging out on the street outside a butcher's with Colombian fans.

There were certainly lots of fans around - I reckon about 8 or 9 venues showing the match, all busy. The main venue, La Bodeguita, was super-busy with long queues.

Colombia-v-Greece 1at half highlights: fun family atmosphere outside the Carnería and big mass selfie being taken. 

Elephant and Castle awash with Colombian fans' yellow jerseys this afternoon #WorldCup #se1 (No hope getting in to La Bodeguita!)

There was a real family atmosphere, with all ages around, from abeulas down to babies.

I mainly hung out in two places - in a restaurant called Leños y Carbón which was packed and outside a butcher shop in a back-street which had a TV plonked on a table and lots of people watching the match.

With that second goal, the place has erupted; they're chanting Co-lom-bia!! Co-lom-bia!!

Outside the butcher's, the owner repeatedly slammed a metal tray onto the ground. Everyone found this hilarious - the first time, they weren't so keen the rest of the time.

There was a great atmosphere, taking mass photos of the whole crowd, chanting songs, doing Mexican waves and flinging popcorn around.

With Colombia's third goal and the final whistle, they all started dancing and singing and celebrating a wonderful win.

Goal 3! Lots more cheering and shouting! And now comes the music and dancing for victory!

I loved being on the street watching the match, seeing people walk past, get involved and excited by the match and cheer along with the Colombians.

Some England-flag-clad fans just went past: "Is it a pub, a café? Nah, is just a TV, innit?" This isn't *just* a TV

African taxi driver just pulled up, asking, "Are you winning?! What's the score?" His response: "OK! Good luck! Hehehe!!"

So a 3-0 victory to Colombia and lots of celebrations - there were still fans dancing hours later.

Next match for me: Iran -v- Nigeria with Iranian fans.