SPORTS NEWS

Football
World Cup group stage match

Portugal 2 – 0 Iran



TUPNews watched this match at the Café Estrela in Stockwell.

Stockwell is sometimes known as Little Portugal, owing to the large Portuguese community living there. There are Portuguese cafes all along the South Lambeth Bridge Road: the Estrala is probably the most upmarket and popular.

People in these cafes love their football – every time TUPNews visits the area, the televisions in the cafes are invariably broadcasting live feeds of games from Portuguese networks, regardless of the time of day, or day of week – and so I thought I’d head down to soak up the atmosphere.

Sure enough all the cafes were packed, and Portuguese of all ages crammed the pavement outside the Estrala, whose TV screens face the street.

There was a nice buzz in the crowd, even if it wasn’t quite a carnival atmosphere. In contrast to England matches I have watched in public, many of the Portuguese fans were keeping only one eye on the game. Families chatted amongst themselves, shirtless teenage boys eyed up tanned teenage girls. Best of all, some fans simply circled the block in flag-adorned cars, beeping every time they passed the caff.

I was surprised to hear that many of the younger fans had full London accents. I eavesdropped on their conversation as they justified to each other their lack of support for the England national team.

I couldn’t really see anything of the match, but I was pleased when Portugal triumphed 2-0. With victory assured, the carnival atmosphere kicked in. Klaxons, drums, and massive Portuguese flags all came out. A few flags of former Portuguese colony and group stage opponent Angola were also in evidence.



There is a small slip road near the Estrala that leads on to the South Lambeth Bridge Road. At one point, a car bearing an England flag pulled up and was surrounded by the crowd. The Portuguese fans booed, which was taken with good grace by the smiling driver. They then started to gently rock the car, which the driver also took in his stride. TUPNews found this hilarious. Then one fan ripped the England flag off of the car, prompting the driver to floor it. Within seconds, the fan had his lighter out and the crowd were chanting “Burn it! Burn it!”

TUPNews watched from a safe distance, and then retrieved the battered standard. I keep it in my house now.