WORLD CUP SOCCER
Ecuador, Costa Rica May Not Win Title But Bring World Cup Passion
Steve Davis, The Dallas Morning News

HAMBURG, Germany - Americans dwell in a land of plenty.

And not just when it comes to consumer goods. The "plenty" extends to a rich history of achievement, in spite of our nation's relative youth.

For other countries, mileposts of accomplishment may not be so easily spotted.

And yet, a relative lack of trophies on the national mantel doesn't diminish citizen pride.

Ecuador and Costa Rica met Thursday in the AOL Arena. And even if this match was hardly a first-round plum - featuring two relatively starless, undistinguished teams - in some ways, this is the essence of a World Cup.

These fans enter the stadium carrying passion, flags, face paint, funny hats, their national colors and sometimes mementos from home - but they rarely come toting any real delusions about winning the whole thing.

Rather, a few thousand supporters from each nation are here to enjoy what they seldom get the chance to do: revel in their nation's temporary permit past the velvet ropes. They swim in pride simply because their country's name is crossing lips around the planet.

Obviously, they prefer that their team wins. But that's not the only point. That's why a few nights ago, Croatian fans, fiercely proud of their homeland, continued singing and lighting flares in the waning moments of a loss to Brazil.

Even in defeat, at least people are paying attention to them. It's a concept we know nothing about in the United States - because people will always pay attention to us.

"Things like this just don't happen very often to people from Ecuador," said Ricardo Navarrette, who is from Ecuador but has lived in Chicago for 34 years.

Ecuador has a petroleum industry, which generates a bit of global cred. Past that, the country exports bananas, coffee and flour.

And that's what this country, which doesn't even have its own currency (it uses the U.S. dollar), hangs its hat on.

"This gives us something else to be known for," said Abel Jarrin, who came over from Ecuador's capital, Quito. "It makes the people of our country feel so good about themselves."

Jarrin may dream in his quiet moments. But in the harsh illumination of reality, he understands that only a handful of 32 teams can realistically hope to appear in the July 9 final in Berlin.

Fans of countries like Ecuador or Costa Rica aren't looking for their Miracle on Ice moment. They just hope to keep the party going a little longer. Jarrin said his countrymen would be satisfied with a place in the quarterfinals.

"It was a huge party just when we classified," he said, employing a common Spanish translation for the English word "qualify."

That, too, is a big distinction from the United States, where the prevailing sentiment says, "If we can't win it, what's the use?"

Several thousand U.S. fans have made their way to Germany 2006. They love soccer and want to support the U.S. team. By extension, of course, they are supporting their country.

The fans from Ecuador and Costa Rica see a different picture. They are here to love and honor their land.

Or, as Ecuadorian fan Juan Pablo Aguayo said:

"In our country, soccer is passion. Soccer is life."