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Boro fans of all stripes cheer for World Cup favorites

Boro fans of all stripes cheer for World Cup favorites
By Antonia Morales and Connor Adams Sheets

The 2010 World Cup Finals are growing closer and closer, and Queens residents of every nationality, background and level of interest in “the beautiful game” are going all out to root for their teams in bars, restaurants and other hangouts throughout the borough.

The international soccer championship, held this year in South Africa, has Americans’ attention like almost none before, with ratings soaring and the United States team making it past many solid teams.

But not all red-white-and-blues underdogs were out as early as the Americans, who fell to Ghana in the Semi-Finals, and nowhere was this as evident outside of South America as it was Saturday at I Love Paraguay Restaurant in Sunnyside.

Described as the only true Paraguayan restaurant in the borough by many of its patrons, it attracted fervent fans who moved to Queens from the small nation.

Some of them never expected to see Paraguay facing off against Spain to make it into the Quarter Finals, just a few goals from World Cup glory.

For those fans, like Rosie Franco-Iorio, a Maspeth resident born in Yvycui, Paraguay, the fact they were still in the runnings after South America powerhouses like Brazil and Argentina had been knocked out was enough to bring happiness. She witnessed firsthand three weeks ago what simply qualifying for the international tournament meant for the people of her poor home-country.

So she decked herself out for the occasion, painting her face red-white-and-blue, wearing a Paraguay jersey, and draping herself in the Paraguayan flag.

“If we win, I’ll be so happy, mostly for my people back home. There’s no hope in the country, and so the little happiness they can get comes from sport,” she said. “It’s bigger than Paraguay’s Independence Day, bigger than anything there. This is bigger than anything for Paraguay.”

Paraguay ended up losing the match to the Spaniards, who scored one goal in the second half to eliminate the persistent team.

It was nonstop suspense for fans of another South American team Friday as Brazilian fans watching their team on the giant television screen at Chateau Brasil in Long Island City. Located in an area with a large Brazilian population, the dimly lit bar and restaurant was catering to a large crowd filled with bright yellow Brazilian jerseys.

As the team fought hard to keep their 1-0 lead over the Netherlands in the first half, the fans waved flags, cheered and blew on the infamous vuvuzela. They reacted to every missed shot, save and penalty as if every move Brazil made was a game-changer.

But the fans had high hopes for the team.

“Of course I think they’ll win,” said Carlos Vasconcelos, a Brazilian immigrant living in Astoria. “But it’s like the [lottery], ‘You never know.’”

Vaconcelos, originally from Rio de Janeiro, said he is a regular at the restaurant because he loves being surrounded by other Brazilians.

While Brazil looked like they had the edge over the Netherlands, the Dutch managed to deliver two goals in a strong second half showing to defeat the Brazilians and crush all hopes of a sixth championship for the nation.

The World Cup resumed Tuesday afternoon with its version of the “Final Four,” as Netherlands faced off against Uruguay.

Reach reporter Connor Adams Sheets by e-mail at csheets@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4538.