Brazil Deploys 25K Police, Soldiers for World Cup Final

Brazil Deploys 25K Police, Soldiers for World Cup Final

Brazilians and Argentinians just don’t like each other when it comes to soccer. And Brazil’s security forces want to ensure nothing gets out of hand after Sunday’s World Cup final.

When Argentina plays Germany for the World Cup title at the legendary Maracana Stadium, there will be “more than 25,000 soldiers and police, the biggest security detail in Brazil’s history,” deployed in Rio de Janeiro.  

About 75,000 fans are expected to attend, and Jose Mariano Beltrane, security secretary for the state of Rio de Janeiro, said he prefers “to have a great number of men rather than to be caught by surprise.”

For Brazil’s fans, the only thing worse than getting shellacked 7-1 by Germany in the quarterfinals and losing 3-0 to Holland in the third-place game would be seeing their hated rivals Argentina lifting the World Cup trophy on Brazilian soil. Argentinian and Brazilian fans have already clashed in the tournament, with fans throwing bottles at each other. Brazilian fans have been booing and rooting against Argentina at every game. 

Argentina fans have been mocking Brazil after the host nation’s two humiliating defeats, and they have taken over the Copacabana and Ipanema beach areas in anticipation of a possible third World Cup title.

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