The High School Performing Arts Center was painted in green and yellow on Friday morning, as roughly three hundred kids put their school books aside to watch the quarter-final World Cup matchup between Brazil and Croatia.
Center stage was a group of enthusiastic Brazilian students, waving flags and singing songs through both the joy of a near-victory, and the pain of a shocking defeat.
Goooooooal for Brasil!
— Ray Ewing
“We figured if we didn’t have this then none of the students would’ve come to school,” said school administrator Sam Hart, marveling at the crowd’s enthusiasm. “Last time there were kids running up and down [the aisles] with flags.”
Brazilian students make up the largest foreign nationality at the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School. According to 2021 student census numbers, the Island’s public school system has about 350 Brazilian students who are classified as English Language Learners, and significantly more with Brazilian heritage.
But with the World Cup in Doha, Qatar this year and Brazil’s matches taking place at 10:00 a.m. in the morning, the high school knew it had a tricky choice; either face empty seats in classrooms as the hordes of Brazilian high school fans stay home to watch the game; or host the Island’s largest Brazil watch-party, leaning into the moment with a bit of extracurricular education. They chose the latter.
On Friday, the most die-hard Brazilian fans gathered in a lemon-lime conglomeration on the left side of the PAC. Brazilian colors were most common, and while Vineyard purple also made its appearance, it was often supplemented by green-and-yellow face paint.
Vineyard high schoolers, audible in Doha.
— Ray Ewing
Brazil, of course, is a solid horse to back in the World Cup for any fan, having taken home five trophies – the most in the world. Chants of “Brasil hexa!” (or six) rang out all through the match. The country, ranked first in the world by FIFA, also has an all-star lineup this year. Questions about the team’s best player sparked intense controversy and spirited Portuguese-language argument among the fans, as partisans for Neymar and Richarlison both made their cases. Judging by the number of #10 jerseys in the crowd, Neymar won out the day.
“Brazil is super well composed,” said girls soccer coach Matt Malowski, coming off a heated playoff season for the Vineyarders. “Brazil has ridiculous speed not just with sprinting but with passing.”
Mr. Malowski smiled at the loud audience reaction to Neymar drawing a yellow card, before turning serious.
“Croatia is no joke,” he cautioned. “They could very easily win this.”
At halftime, neither team had scored, but MVRHS Brazil fans still felt confident.
The day ended in heartbreak.
— Ray Ewing
“I just know that our manager is playing it calm,” said student and former footballer Manny Oliviera. The strategy, he said, was a good way to deal with Croatia’s strong midfield play, led by team captain Luka Modric.
“I’m expecting some counters in the second half. I’m expecting a little, beautiful goal and some great passes and playmaking.”
Agata Rodriguez also felt the team still had a strong advantage.
“If we go into the penalty [kickoff], we win. We’ve got some really good strikers,” she said, “But that’s kinda dangerous.”
Mr. Oliviera’s prediction for a second half goal did not come to fruition, and so the game stretched into overtime. One group of students near the front row tried to work out why their team was lagging. “They need to fix their midfield!” one boy exclaimed, and the group agreed – Modric was the MVP of the first half.
A few minutes into overtime, Neymar made Manny Oliviera’s prediction reality, weaving through the Croatian defense to score a nifty goal that led to an eruption from the high school crowd. Chants of “Brasil” and rhythmic clapping joined flags waved frantically in the air. Victory seemed near.
But just minutes later, in the second-half of overtime, the crowd became rather less enthused when Croatia’s Bruno Petkovic blasted an equalizing goal, their pain all the deeper since the shot was deflected off a Brazilian defender.
About 300 students packed the PAC for the game.
— Ray Ewing
With overtime ending in a tie, the game moved on to penalty kicks. Each team would have five chances to make a shot, winner take all.
“It’s kinda nerve-racking,” Ms. Rodriguez said, holding on to a friend for support. The atmosphere turned tense, as each Croatian make and Brazilian miss led to equally-loud reactions.
Eventually, it came to 4-2 with Croatia ahead; Brazil would have to make its last two shots to survive. The Brazilian kicker, Marquinhos, took his place. He made his kick. The ball ricocheted off the side goalpost. The whole auditorium deflated.
It was an gut-wrenching finish, followed by tears, sobs and hugs. “It wasn’t the outcoming we were hoping for, but I’m glad we got to do it,” said language coach Justine DeOliveira, sitting on a bench next to a few dispirited Brazilian fans outside the theater.
The commiseration did not last long, however. It was still Friday afternoon, and the students had to get back to class.
