EL TRI’S DAY TO REMEMBER

Mexican fans party long into the night as team end their opening-game curse

- Deepanraj Ganesan

As early as 7am, Mexico’s capital was awash in green, as a nation of football-mad citizens geared up for a day they would never forget.

Almost six hours before the 1pm kick-off of their World Cup opener on June 11, train stations teemed with masses of people, moving in a slow crawl towards the platforms for the Azteca station.

Inside the sweltering carriages, the Mexican faithful were already in full voice, singing songs in support of their national team.

Outside the Estadio Azteca, nearly three hours before the match against South Africa, the scene looked less like a crowd gathering for a football match and more like a festival spilling into the surrounding streets in Mexico City.

A river of green football shirts flowed down the streets, with fans decked out in lucha libre (free wrestling) masks, face paint and ubiquitous sombreros.

As the sky around the stadium came alive in a breathtaking blaze of red, white and green, the co-hosts kicked off their campaign in spectacular style, delivering an opening day to remember for the 80,824-strong crowd.

This storied venue has witnessed Brazil’s Pele and his iconic 1970 championship-winning team, and it was here that Diego Maradona scored his controversial “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” goals against England in 1986.

And the stories will now have El Tri in them, after a 2-0 victory over South Africa ended their opening-match curse.

While the action — which saw red three times — may not be remembered, the vibrancy and sheer fervour in and around the venue on the day will live long in memories.