World Cup in London: Uruguay

I've watched the World Cup with Uruguay fans before - in a bar in Leicester Square. Since then, I've wondered if there is a more authentic place to watch... a Uruguayan bar or cafe perhaps.

With that in mind, for Uruguay -v- Colombia, I headed to Canthinha do Goias in Stockwell (thanks to a tip from World in London) where I found a very dark, small room packed full of Uruguay fans, some Brazil fans and three Colombia fans!

There were lots of Uruguay flags and football shirts on display, and the small crowd were hooked on watching the match.

But it soon went south for Uruguay as Colombia scored a goal.

Colombia goal celebrated here by a mass groan from the Uruguay fans and a single overhead hand clap from the Colombian woman.

Then, just as some enthusiasm was waning, another person arrived who got everyone excited again.

Some old dude with long hair has just bounded in and got everyone shouting and chanting. Maybe he's their ambassador?!

Despite being 2-0 down, the Uruguay fans are still chanting: Vamos! Uruguay! Opa! Allioppa! Vamo! Alle! O Zelete! Vamos!

One woman here has rather hopefully tried to get a "C'mon Suarez!" chant going. The love has not been felt.

Full on singalong here now. One song goes "no passera" (not going through, I think). It's good to have a song for every occasion, isn't it?

"It is possible, it is possible!", pleads the long-haired Uruguay dude here. Others less than convinced.

In the midst of all this Spanish chanting, a Liverpudlian lad has launched into a string of ferocious expletives.

But, despite their singing, chanting and applauding, it was not possible and Uruguay were defeated and out of the World Cup. It didn't seem to phase the fans too much though; they continued dancing and singing regardless.

Variations on a Brazilian flag

When I was in Belgium, I saw this flag hanging from a building. It's the Brazilian flag re-purposed with Belgian colours.

I love this take on the Brazilian flag, re-purposed to support Belgium in this year's football World Cup.

So I decided to make a few more flags:

 This could be any number of countries - Australia, Costa Rica, Chile, France, Croatia.

Cameroon.

Colombia or Ecuador

Netherlands - though I suspect they're more likely to have a big, bright orange flag.

Germany

 Portugal

1

Iran or Mexico or Italy

Ivory Coast

 Nigeria

Spain

Switzerland

Uruguay or Bosnia and Herzegovina

World Cup in London: Uruguay

Or: Futbal! Football with London's Uruguay fans



It's World Cup time, so I'm going to watch football with London's foreign fans, starting with Uruguay -v- France.

London has a very small Uruguayan community - something like 900 people. According to a man at the embassy, Zoo bar in Leicester Square (where I'd been with Danish fans) was the place to be. He wasn't going though: "too touristy".

Lo, as I arrived, two Uruguayan flags were draped over the door. Hurrah. Inside, a woman sold empanadas. I was in luck!

The small crowd there watched the match in a very polite way. Neither chants nor flag waving, no whooping nor hollering. Just standing, just watching.

To be honest, the match was boring and made me re-assess my plan to sit through hours of football.

At one point, a man tried to start a chant but to no avail. I salute that man.

Highlights for me were: the Uruguayan goalkeeper's fabulous yellow jump suit, meeting another foreign football blogger (hello Jo) and seeing a rather attractive man surrounded by a veritable harem of women (there were 6! One even sat on him). They were like his bodyguards.

The match ended in a dull draw, to the gallic shrugs of the few French people present. And as I left, the Uruguayan flags had gone and were replaced by a French tricolore.

Next up: South Korea -v- Greece in London's improbable Korean centre: New Malden.