Propelled with a fan support as massive as 66,613 at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan stadium here (a record in this FIFA-17 World Cup) on Sunday, Brazil rallied from behind to beat Germany 2-1 in the last quarterfinal match. Getting a home-team like love from the crowd, made them a better side, says match-winner Paulinho.
"We never played a game like this with such a huge crowd backing us," said the Brazilian winger. "We were really happy to get such a big support. This is something that really makes us strong. The crowd as big as 60,000 supporting us, it was first time experience in our life. We want to come back here again."
His compatriot Alan Souza shared similar views as he said it "felt like home" to play in front of a crowd that was double than their previous game.
"I am really happy to play in front of this crowd," said the number 10. "In Kochi it was 30,000 and here 60,000 that really made it a great experience for us. It felt like we were playing in front of our home crowd."
Despite having a boisterous crowd behind them right from the kick-off, Samba Boys had tough time finding their feet in the game. Paulinho described how Germans took them out of the comfort zone.
"We started the match little bit lost, we were a bit confused and nervous," he said. "They (Germany) were playing long balls and long shots and making things tough for our defence. We were getting the ball back too slow and when we had the ball we were not playing our football."
Midfielder Alan, who assisted the first goal, felt he made a mistake by not being himself in the first half as they were playing a very tough opponent and said pep talk from coach Carlos Amadeu helped him get back to his usual self.
"I think in the first half I wasn't moving like the way I like to do and it was a mistake against such a big team," said Alan. "During half time, coach had a talk with me, he asked me to move around more and play my game. That really helped me to change the game and play in my comfort zone.
Finding it hard to find a loophole in German defence, the Brazilians finally found the ball through when Alan found substitute Weverson free on left flank. The winger was filled with emotions after scoring the equaliser.
"I was concentrated from the beginning of the match and I did had the feeling that if I get the chance to play I could score," he said. "But we have 21 players in the team and everyone is good to play in the first XI, so when the coach called me over as a substitute, I went with the purpose to enjoy my game and I really had fun. Once I scored the goal it was all emotion because it was just what we needed."
After the goal, the German defence started to crumble as wave of Brazil attacks kept on barging the opponent's goal post and eventually Paulinho found the winner six minutes after the equaliser. The Vasco da Gama winger said sticking to their identity helped them achieve the win.
"It was a great goal as we knew from the beginning that it is going to be a difficult match," said Paulinho. "But we knew if we be ourselves and remain focus on the game we could win the match. I am really happy that I scored a match-winning goal like this for my country when it mattered."
Despite assumption in media that the memory of 7-1 humiliating loss to Germany in the 2014 FIFA World Cup semifinal will give players extra motivation, Alan said revenge was not in their mind before the match.
"7-1 is something that is for us. Even when we won other trophies, the World Cup exit like that really hurts," said Alan. "But we were not thinking about revenge in tonight's match as we were out there to only win this match and reach the semifinals."
The winger is also linked to Spanish club Real Madrid after his performance at club level and at the World Cup. Alan dismissed the rumour saying he has heard nothing about it and he is only focused on the next game. "I know that there are some news in Spain about me moving to Real Madrid but I am not aware of any such agreement with the club. My mind is here, I am completely focused on the World Cup. This is all what matters at the moment. We have enjoyed the victory, did the celebration we deserved and now we need to start preparing for the England match," said Alan.
Paulinho too expects nothing less than a war when they face England in the semifinal, which was recently rescheduled from Guwahati to the ground they preferred — YBK stadium, Kolkata.
"Now we have to be really focusing for the next match which is going to be another war like the one we had today," concluded Paulinho.