SUPER FAN Brian Wright has been writing a special World Cup diary for the Observer detailing his Brazilian adventures, and in the third and final instalment he reveals why this has been the best tournament he has ever been to.
“I’ve been to six Euro finals and six World Cups and Brazil is easily the best of the lot. They are football mad. Everywhere you look people are either watching the World Cup in bars or playing football on the beach.
“We’ve been so looked after and the atmosphere in Brazil is fantastic. I haven’t seen any incidents despite all the talk before we came out.
“The place is buzzing and I’m just really disappointed England didn’t turn up and bring our game to the party.
“Despite knowing we were already out when we faced Costa Rica last Tuesday there was a sense of optimism amongst the England fans that the future is looking bright.
“A lot of the young players did well and with the likes of Theo Walcott and Andros Townsend to come back I think things are looking good.
“The party in Brazil after the Costa Rica game was brilliant. You could be forgiven for thinking we had qualified for the last 16.
“England fans were dancing with the local Brazil fans and Costa Rica fans too until the early hours.
“I’ve been to some great parties after matches. Argentina in Japan back in 2002, Scotland in Euro 96 and Germany in qualifying back in 2001.
“Obviously we won all those games and it felt like that after the Costa Rica match – it was the best party I’ve been to!
“When you look at teams like the USA and Algeria they’ve shown passion and pride, and I think England were lacking something – they let us down.
“It’s a shame the experience for us England fans didn’t last longer in Brazil but we just didn’t go for it.
“We’ve got to look ahead to France 2016 now and I’m really looking forward to the opening qualifying match against Switzerland.
“Next time around we must improve and we must be remembered in the same way as teams like the USA and Algeria in the World Cup.”
