Today's recap is dedicated to the Round of 16 match between Colombia and England. The game was held at Spartak Stadium in Moscow. Colombia, after a shocking defeat to Japan in the opening game, advanced from the number one spot of Group H and faced England, a second place team from group G. The stage was set for one of the closely matched games of the Round of 16. Colombians from all over the globe flooded the grounds surrounding Spartak Stadium and all you could see were the colors of yellow, red and blue. They definitely represented their country well, with majority of the fans wearing face paint and national flags and jerseys. The few English fans that I was able to spot around the stadium disappeared in the sea of yellow.
The atmosphere before the game was simply fantastic. Everyone was in good spirits and respectful of each other. I could see fans from Colombia and England taking pictures together, taunting each other with songs, and exchanging a few words with each other. What surprised me the most was that there was absolutely zero hostility between fans from opposing sides. Everyone was there to enjoy the game and cheer on their team, not to get into each other's faces.
The true magnitude of the Colombian support was evident once I made my way into the stadium. About 80% of the stadium was covered in yellow colors. The fans definitely made themselves heard during the national anthem and once the game started. Every touch of the ball by the English team was met with a series of boos that were raising the roof of the stadium. I do not know how these players were able to keep their cool with such mighty support. The game itself was rather sloppy in the beginning with both teams making a lot of mistakes. Once England got on the board with a penalty the game livened up a bit. The Colombian pressing resulted in a dramatic goal in the last minute of the stoppage time. The reaction across the stadium was a frantic frenzy. The large uproar of excitement and happiness overpowered any announcements that were being made.
Unfortunately for Colombia they were unable to capitalize on their opportunities and the fate of the game was to be decided by penalty kicks. In a dramatic fashion, England prevail to win a penalty shoot out for the first time in their World Cup history! The devastating result did not result in Colombians being disrespectful or aggressive towards the other. The way they handled the loss made me respect them even more. I could see disappointment, angst and even tears in their faces, however, I have not seen even one fan try to pick a fight with any of the English fans. On my way out of the stadium, I saw an English and Colombian fans exchanging jerseys. That made me realize that football is truly the median that can unite us and bring people of different cultures, races, and nationalities together. This is why I love football and this is why it is the greatest game ever played!