The Courier introduces Vancouverites who are devoted to the World Cup and following their team from afar in coffee shops on Commercial Drive, pubs in Strathcona and convenience stores on Robson Street.
Mexico may have backed into the 2014 World Cup, but now in Brazil it鈥檚 giving fans a reason to believe it could go deep. And because of it, The Mexican, a restaurant and bar on Granville Street, is open for more than evening antojitos.
The busy cantina is where you鈥檒l hear 鈥淐ielito Lindo鈥� and find out why fans idealize Chicharito, 26-year-old striker Javier Hern谩ndez who plays for Manchester United.
Claudia Romo opened The Mexican with two partners three years ago and they routinely show matches from Mexico鈥檚 Liga MX. Although Romo grew up in Guadalajara where Chivas reigns, she is more mindfully partisan than madly fanatical.
鈥淯sually we have all the games from Mexico and sometimes you have to cheer for one team or for the other because it depends on the day or the game,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ometimes, my [co-owner] has to cheer for one team, I have to go for the other one depending how many customers are for one of the other.鈥�
Cheering comes naturally. She loves how the sport is celebrated.
鈥淔ootball in Mexico is part of our culture,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n Mexico, every state has its own soccer team and it鈥檚 very popular on weekends for families to get together and watch games.鈥�
In the first stage of the Round of 16 on Sunday, Mexico plays the Netherlands for a shot at the quarterfinals. We asked Romo how a typical fan celebrates El Tri.
What does a fan drink?
CR: They usually drink beer and after one goal, they will go for the tequila shots. Different beers are from different regions and depending on where they鈥檙e from, they will go for that beer. Corona, of course, is the most popular. People from Mazatlan will go for Pacifico, or people for the north like Monterrey, they will go for Tecate.
What does a fan eat?
CR: Appetizers, guacamole, nachos or in the last game, we were selling a lot of tortas, which are like a sandwich with meat with some lettuce. Tortas are easy to eat and not messy. The last game was so excited and people were yelling and dancing, so being not messy is important.
What is your favourite World Cup memory?
CR: I remember the last game [a 3-1 win over Croatia to prevent elimination on June 23]. Of course I鈥檓 really proud of my country, but to see all the people yelling and jumping from chairs, it鈥檚 a special moment that everybody shares. It was really good.
What chants do fans use?
CR: There was a problem with, initially in stadiums in Mexico, people got so exited they yelled what is a really bad word in Spanish. It has a history from local games [鈥 and it鈥檚 controversial because it鈥檚 a really bad word but it depends how you use it. While it was a very controversial thing, that word became very popular because FIFA said it was wrong to use it. Now [鈥 there are more countries that are using it.
How do fans celebrate a win?
CR: It鈥檚 popular to sing a very traditional song, 鈥淐ielito Lindo.鈥� It represents a lot about Mexico and every Mexican knows it. It鈥檚 not a national anthem but it鈥檚 very popular and is played at the end of a game and people sing.
Who will win if not Mexico?
CR: I will be very happy to see a Latin country, like Brazil or Argentina.
The Mexican is located at 1049 Granville St.
