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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Postcards From Brazil, Part 8: Ivi's World Cup Adventure
July 10, 2014 | Women's Soccer
One of the newest Bowling Green State University women's soccer alumnae, Ivi Casagrande, has enjoyed the experience of a lifetime this summer. Casagrande, who recently finished her senior year at BG, is back in her native country, and helped with the world's largest sporting event. A native of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, she worked at the 2014 FIFA World Cup with the Australian National Team and their travel party. The Socceroos did not advance past the group stage, but Ivi continued to enjoy the World Cup experience in her homeland. Brazil suffered a 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinals, and Brazil now will face the Netherlands in Saturday's third-place match. Germany will meet Argentina in Sunday's World Cup final ...
LINKS
PHOTO GALLERY: Ivi Casagrande at the World Cup
Ivi at the World Cup - Previous Updates: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Toledo Blade article of July 6: Former BGSU soccer player Casagrande heads home for World Cup
Tim Cahill's goal for Australia vs. Netherlands (ESPNFC.com)
July 9
I am still trying to recover from what we experienced yesterday. To be honest, I am not sure if what I feel is sadness, anger, shame or disbelief. What I know for sure is that I had too much expectations for our national team, and can't describe how painful it was not only for me but for all Brazilians to see our team losing by 6 goals in a World Cup semifinal. Maybe we got too excited after the game against Colombia because it was the first time in this world cup that we saw our team play good soccer. However, we forgot we were playing Germany, the team that in my opinion was one of the most focused teams in the World Cup. I believe our National Team lacked adequate preparation to face such a good team as Germany. Mauricio de Souza, a famous Brazilian cartoonist said it all in an interview at a local channel: "We did not see any tactical strategy, we did not see any form of leadership (either coming from the players or the coaching staff). We need to start a team from scratch, we need more experience, people that will be brave to show us new ideas."
David Luiz, one of our best defensive players (pictured above), gave an emotional interview in which I believe that not only me but the country as a whole felt the same way when listening to his words. He said that the only thing he wanted was to give happiness to our country; we are part of a generation that is starting to speak up against all the inequities the government is causing. Before the World Cup, a lot of protests were happening because of our lack of good education and health system. Losing a semifinal in our own country by 6 goals was not only sad because we are the country that breathes soccer but because all we needed was the hope and happiness that soccer would be able to provide in times like this. We would forget about our problems as a nation for once to enjoy being champions at our own country.
?For us, the dream is over. The rest of the world cup will not be the same for us. Especially today after we watched Argentina, our worst rival,  beat Netherlands to advance to the championship game. After all, I can say from the bottom of my heart that I did have the time of my life. I was able to feel all the different kinds of feelings that a World Cup can give us. I was able to work behind the scenes but also be a supporter at the Brazil's game, being able to show all my patriotism and love for the country I come from.
To read Ivi's previous updates, or to view more of the many photos she has passed along, click the links located near the top of this page. Thanks to Ivi for all of the updates she has provided during the 2014 World Cup!
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LINKS
PHOTO GALLERY: Ivi Casagrande at the World Cup
Ivi at the World Cup - Previous Updates: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Toledo Blade article of July 6: Former BGSU soccer player Casagrande heads home for World Cup
Tim Cahill's goal for Australia vs. Netherlands (ESPNFC.com)
July 9
I am still trying to recover from what we experienced yesterday. To be honest, I am not sure if what I feel is sadness, anger, shame or disbelief. What I know for sure is that I had too much expectations for our national team, and can't describe how painful it was not only for me but for all Brazilians to see our team losing by 6 goals in a World Cup semifinal. Maybe we got too excited after the game against Colombia because it was the first time in this world cup that we saw our team play good soccer. However, we forgot we were playing Germany, the team that in my opinion was one of the most focused teams in the World Cup. I believe our National Team lacked adequate preparation to face such a good team as Germany. Mauricio de Souza, a famous Brazilian cartoonist said it all in an interview at a local channel: "We did not see any tactical strategy, we did not see any form of leadership (either coming from the players or the coaching staff). We need to start a team from scratch, we need more experience, people that will be brave to show us new ideas."
David Luiz, one of our best defensive players (pictured above), gave an emotional interview in which I believe that not only me but the country as a whole felt the same way when listening to his words. He said that the only thing he wanted was to give happiness to our country; we are part of a generation that is starting to speak up against all the inequities the government is causing. Before the World Cup, a lot of protests were happening because of our lack of good education and health system. Losing a semifinal in our own country by 6 goals was not only sad because we are the country that breathes soccer but because all we needed was the hope and happiness that soccer would be able to provide in times like this. We would forget about our problems as a nation for once to enjoy being champions at our own country.
?For us, the dream is over. The rest of the world cup will not be the same for us. Especially today after we watched Argentina, our worst rival,  beat Netherlands to advance to the championship game. After all, I can say from the bottom of my heart that I did have the time of my life. I was able to feel all the different kinds of feelings that a World Cup can give us. I was able to work behind the scenes but also be a supporter at the Brazil's game, being able to show all my patriotism and love for the country I come from.
To read Ivi's previous updates, or to view more of the many photos she has passed along, click the links located near the top of this page. Thanks to Ivi for all of the updates she has provided during the 2014 World Cup!
Â
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