Two syllables usually mean the end for most teams at the World Cup: Bra-sil.  On Monday night at Ellis Park in the Round of 16, Chile meet the latest version of the Brazilian football dynasty and lost 0-3.  Brazil, now in the quarterfinals awaiting a quarterfinal match against the Dutch, showed off their classic effortless movement of the ball and their timely defensive stops.  Fans of the amazing Brazilian squad dominated the Ellis Park atmosphere as well.

Before the game, an older man decked named Osvaldo Salsalima decked out in green and gold brizilian gear climbed to his seat and mumbled enthusiastically, “Chile vs. Brazil, it’s Chile vs. Brazil, Chile vs. Brazil…”  Mr. Salsalima is what the World Cup is all about.

Carrying a vuvuzela with a pump, Salsalima who has been to four World Cups, tried hard to get the section excitedly pumped for an old South American rivalry played on the soil of Johannesburg.  His vuvuzela buzzed so loud into the ears of the fans around him that at least five people tried to get him thrown out within the first 15 minutes of the game. To his resistance, security guards confiscated the vuvuzela with a pump.  It didn’t matter too much though; he was there to see the best show on turf.

In World Cup land, fans of all countries wear Brazilian football star jerseys  of Kaka, Luis Fabiano, Robinho and Ronaldo like Americans sport Jeter, A-Rod and Posada jerseys of the New York Yankees.  “Bandwagon fans” of the five-time World Cup champions are everywhere –even South Africans coincidentally have the same green and gold colors.  And why not support the great football giant? It’s fun for everyone.  Of course, except for the opponent.

Brazil routed Chile on Saturday night even with arguably the best player in the world, Kaka, playing subpar, and the team making mistake after mistake in the first 35 minutes.  But once the flood gates are open, Brazil goals come in bunches to the delight of Brazilian fans.

First, Juan broke the scoreless tie on a rocket header in the 34th minute. Then, Brazil made the Chilean defense look like helpless players hoping for offside when Fabiano received the last of a line of Brazilian passes in front of an open net in the 38^th minute.  Finally, in the 59^th minute, Robinho made the deficit insurmountable for Chile with a beautiful strike outside of the box.

After each goal, I looked back at the vuvuzela-less Salsalima and saw him cheerfully raise his hands in the air and shake them.  Chants of “Braaah-zeel, Braah-zeel” rang throughout the stadium like a death sentence for a good Chilean team getting routinely manhandled by the football powerhouse.  Chileans voiced their displeasure after being dominated by a fellow South African team.  Brazilian fans just mocked them.

Once the game ended, and the routine route finished, the real celebrating began.  Classy Brazilian fans don’t quite wear emotions on their sleeve quite like Argentina or England.  It’s almost as if goals come so readily, they wait until the end of the game to really break out the flags and banners and sing the Brazilian national anthem.

Brazil fans, holding a massive ten-foot World Cup trophy, chanted “olay, olay” as they walked out of the stadium, and some flashed 6 fingers in the air, representing a possible 6th championship.  Salsalima and the Brazilians have plenty to look forward as they are only three games away from another trophy to add to the collection.  Also, Brazil hosts the World Cup in 2014.  Indeed, Bra-sil  and the World Cup always go hand in hand.