Is this rock legend jinxing World Cup teams?
In this June 4, 2014 file photo, Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger performs during a concert in Hayrkon Park in Tel Aviv, Israel. In what’s fast becoming something of a modern World Cup tradition, Brazilians are closely following every team the 70-year-old rock star supports with an eye for mocking the alleged spell he casts on every team he picks. Brazilian media has taken to calling his pick, Jagger’s “pe frio” a term describing the bad luck he brings teams that translates literally as “cold foot.” AP
RIO DE JANEIRO — 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 at mocking him for apparently casting bad spells on his picks.
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 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 at the month-long tournament 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 may 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 or so 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.
Earlier in that tournament, he had already earned a reputation for losing picks by showing up in the stands with Bill Clinton to cheer on the United States, which lost to Ghana in the second round, and then a day later watched as England was trounced by Germany 4-1.
Whether Jagger tempts fate and offers up another prediction this World Cup is anyone’s guess.
But if he does, Brazilians are begging it’s not for them. Within hours of Italy’s defeat Tuesday, social media was buzzing with pleas for the rocker to keep quiet, or better yet, lend his reverse rabbit’s foot to the country’s despised rival, Argentina.
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