Show on the ground and in the stands: Colombia, impressive since the start of the Women’s World Cup, is also leaving its mark in the stands of the stadiums through which it passes thanks to the yellow tide of fans.
Led on the field of play by the promising Linda Caicedo and by Mayra Ramírez, the “Superpowers” also rely on the thousands of fans who give strength to their team, as they hope to do again on Tuesday (3:00 am Colombia time). ) in Melbourne against Jamaica, in the round of 16.
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The most striking example of this support is the moment of the national anthem, sung in chorus by the 40,000 spectators at the Sydney Football Stadium more than 15,000 kilometers from Bogotá during the first game against South Korea (2-0), but above all the win against Germany (2-1).
Around the new stadium in Sydney, dances, songs, drums and flags brought a corner of Colombia to the oceanic country.
Inside the stadium, a tide of yellow jerseys who cheered with deafening volume throughout the game and whistled practically every ball the Germans touched, surprised by the electrifying atmosphere.
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“We tried to play well, but I’m sure the atmosphere was a decisive factor why we didn’t win this match,” reacted coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg.
Midfielder Lena Oberdorf compared the atmosphere to that of Wembley during the Euro 2022 final against England (2-1 for the Lionesses): “It’s the same, but you don’t expect it when you play against Colombia in Australia,” then valued the Wolfsburg player.
The Colombian team “constantly felt the support of the fans, before and after the game. It was something extraordinary,” said assistant coach Angelo Marsiglia.
But, where do these passionate fans of soccer and the Colombian team that fill the stadiums come from?
Many South Americans, Brazilians and Colombians, live in Australia: most members of this diaspora went to study and stayed for work.
In context: Colombia qualified for the round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup, despite losing to Morocco
Columbia, Australian local
This is the case of Alexandra, 31, a graphic designer asked by AFP in the Sydney fanzone during the match against Morocco (6-0): “There are many Colombians who came to Sydney because at one point it was easy to come to Australia from Colombia,” he explained.
“Above all, we are a people who are passionate about football,” adds this fan, who went to the stadium for the first two games.
“The political and economic situation is really difficult for our country and it is one of the reasons why many people come (to settle) here,” underlines Solana Tomala, a student made up in yellow and red.
“Young people come for studies and can easily apply for jobs,” continues the young woman, happy that the Colombian players receive support comparable to that of the men’s team.
When asked by AFP, team spokesman Carlos Lajud confirmed that most of the fans are students, while others are people who moved to Australia to look for work.
In 2021, more than 35,000 people born in Colombia registered in Australia, according to census figures.
As in other countries, Colombia suffers from high inflation, while unemployment barely exceeded 10% at the end of last year.
According to a 2021 report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), close to 80% of Colombian migrants are in the United States, Spain, Venezuela, Ecuador and Canada. The rest is divided between Australia, Mexico and Panama.
On Tuesday, against Jamaica (3:00 am Colombian time), during the round of 16, Mayra Ramírez’s teammates will be pushed again by their fans, in Melbourne, to try to finally crack the defense of the “Reggae Girlz”. », who have not yet conceded any goals.
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AFP
