Brazilians mock Mick's picks

Updated: 2014-06-26 07:06

By Associated Press in Rio de Janeiro (China Daily)

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The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger can't get no soccer satisfaction.

In what's becoming something of a modern World Cup tradition, Brazilians are closely following every team the 70-year-old rock star supports, with an eye toward mocking him for apparently casting bad spells on his selections.

Italy was the latest victim of what local media have taken to calling Jagger's pe frio - a term describing the bad luck that he brings teams that translates literally as "cold foot."

At a concert in Rome on Saturday night, Jagger predicted to 70,000 fans that four-time World Cup champion Italy would pull off a clutch victory over Uruguay to advance to the knockout phase.

The Italians lost 1-0 on Tuesday and were headed home after the tournament's first round.

At a show in Lisbon in May, the singer predicted that Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, the game's top player heading into the World Cup, would win it all in Brazil. Portugal is on the brink of elimination after failing to win in its first two group matches.

Earlier in the World Cup, Jagger suffered some good-hearted ridicule after taking to Twitter on June 19 to urge on his native England in a game, also with Uruguay. "Let's go England! This is the one to win!!" he wrote. England lost.

While Brazilians might laugh at Jagger, they love his music.

The Stones' 2006 concert on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro drew an estimated 1 million people - a lot more than the 20,000 that pack the beach now to watch World Cup games on a giant screen.

Jagger also loves Brazilians, having fathered one 15 years ago with former Brazilian model Luciana Gimenez.

Brazilians' obsession with Jagger's soccer insights, or lack thereof, began four years ago at the World Cup in South Africa. Searching for an explanation for their country's stunning quarterfinal loss to the Netherlands, Brazil's fans settled on Jagger, who showed up at the stadium accompanying his son dressed in a Brazilian jersey.

TUNE IN

Friday, Beijing time

Group G

00:00 US vs Germany

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00:00 Portugal vs Ghana

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Group H

04:00 South Korea vs Belgium

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04:00 Algeria vs Russia

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(China Daily 06/26/2014 page24)