‘Exciting for the country’

Winnipeg soccer fans groaned as Bosnia and Herzegovina took the early lead against Canada at the FIFA World Cup Friday afternoon.

“It’s the way it goes” said Mark Seburn, 67, one of a few dozen footy fanatics who were getting their game on at X-Cues’ Café and Lounge.

It was Canada’s first match on home soil — at Toronto Stadium.

“It’s a special moment,” Seburn said, noting he got into the sport when his children played as youngsters. He said soccer has brought their family closer together.

“It’s a very accessible game, and all of our kids play soccer, so we’ve always appreciated the game,” he said.

George Butz and his daughter watched the match intensely — all decked out in red to support the home side.

“It’s exciting for the country,” the 73 year old said.

Butz, who is of German descent, travelled across Canada while participating in the Manitoba Major Soccer League back in the day. He said the Beautiful Game is “in the genes.”

“I wasn’t born in Germany, but I’ve been back there three times and I love the game and German football has always done so well,” he said.

Since he retired from the pitch, the sport has become something he’s been able to enjoy with his daughter. They’ve frequented X-Cues to watch the last few World Cups.

He said his favourite part about the game is the ability for anyone around the world to enjoy it.

“Kids in many countries, they make a ball from newspaper, a bunch of socks, they don’t need anything to play the game. They just love it,” he said.

The tradition also continued for Reno Augellone, who has been watching soccer at the Sargent Avenue establishment for 30 years.

“I used to pull my kids out of school to come and watch the World Cup when it was early in the morning,” said the 69-year-old. “I remember once it was a 5 a.m. game, so they were here watching before they went,” he said.

The lounge has broadcast every World Cup game possible since it opened in 1970.

“Most of the people who are here now are our community that come here on a regular basis, and then there’s a few people here that I see every few years for the World Cup, which is hilarious,” said Sal Infantino, co-owner of X-Cues.

“Back in the day, we used to watch it on a 32-inch TV and there’d be 100 of us in here,” he said.

Infantino, a huge soccer fan who runs the lounge with his sister, said he hopes Canada will at least make it out of the first round.

The crowd left happy as Canada tied the match in the 78th minute and settled for a 1-1 draw, the team’s first point ever at a World Cup.

tiago.resko@freepress.mb.ca