National team’s 2-1 victory over Chile on Sunday night dominated talk in Caracas, pushing aside speculation about President Hugo Chavez’s cancer treatment in Cuba.
Fans poured onto the streets immediately after the win, and fireworks filled the sky above the city of about 5 million people. In anticipation of the semifinal Wednesday against Paraguay, fans are proudly wearing the burgundy national jerseys that give the team its nickname “Vinotinto” (red wine).
It’s a rare show of common cause in a country where supporters and opponents of Chavez feud bitterly.
“Sports unite us. Politics divide us,” said Daniel Farinez, a 30-year-old security guard who has closely followed the matches in Argentina. The country seems “super united,” he said.
“I think Venezuela is going to end up the champion,” he added. “Venezuela is a team that’s inspired.”
The satirical Venezuelan website El Chiguire Bipolar — which translates as “The Bipolar Capybara” — posted a parody quoting politicians on both sides of the divide urging the country to put a stop to “the unity and the happiness surrounding soccer so that President Chavez can be talked about again.
Chavez flew to Cuba July 16 to receive chemotherapy, saying he would be back "in a few days." The socialist leader was operated on June 20 in the communist island to remove a baseball-sized tumor in the pelvic area after doctors discovered an undisclosed form of cancer during an operation to remove an abscess June 11.
Soccer Surprise
Before departing Chavez delegated some powers to his ministers while rejecting demands from his opponents he cede power during his absence. Chavez, who has used Twitter to announce policy initiatives in the past, said technology will allow him to communicate with his cabinet and electronically sign laws from Cuba.
Venezuela, which has never qualified for a World Cup and is better-known as a supplier of talent to Major League Baseball, surprised its South American rivals by advancing deep into the elimination round of the 12-nation tournament. After drawing even against five-time World Cup champion Brazil in the group stage, Venezuela defeated Chile 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
Paraguay will face Uruguay in the Copa America finals July 24, while Venezuela will face off against Peru for third-place.
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