By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Rio World Cup MixUp viewing parties continue tonight, Sunday, June 22nd, at Gringo Café with a live broadcast, beginning at 7PM, of the USA taking on Portugal for their second World Cup Group Game. An important match, it could determine who will advance into the next round of the 2014 World Cup.
“Portugal is going to have or is having, since its already started, a very difficult tournament, we the supporters knew this from the beginning,” Portuguese expat living in Rio for four years, Sandro Benidio told The Rio Times.
“All of our best players came into this World Cup carrying injuries that gave them no time to prepare themselves to be ready, players like Fabio Coentrão, Rui Patricio, Pepe, Raul Meireles and of course our main man Cristiano Ronaldo.”
“Now for Portugal and its star man Cristiano Ronaldo, everything is going to be decided tomorrow against a very resilient USA team,” Benidio continued, “in my opinion the team that wins is going to be the one that will qualify in second place [of Group G].”
Tonight’s event is the fourth of six USA and England group game viewing parties hosted by The Rio Times with co-hosts, the U.S. Consulate General, the American Society of Rio de Janeiro (AmSoc Rio), The British & Commonwealth Society of Rio (BCS), and the British Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Brazil (Britcham).
The first USA viewing party took place on Monday, June 16th with the USA taking on and defeating Ghana during the second Group G game of the World Cup. Germany defeated Portugal 4-0 in an earlier Group G match on Monday.
During the viewing party tonight, promotions will again include bottles of beers for only R$5 and caipirinhas and caipivodkas for only R$10. DJ Slim Seleem will return to play before, during breaks, and after the game.
Additionally, VIP seats with the best views of the large screen TV are again available. Those seats are by reservation only and there is a R$50 minimum consumption per person.
“Considering what’s been going on with this World Cup, all bets are off,” said Melissa Mello E Souza Brazilian/American political analyst/consultant and attendee of the first USA Group Game viewing party at Gringo Café, adding, “having said that, go USA!”
What: Rio World Cup MixUp @ Gringo Café
When: Sunday, June 22nd at 5PM (6PM kick-off)
Where: Gringo Café, Barão Da Torre 240, Ipanema
Entrance: FREE
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