For many Jamaicans, the World Cup is a highly anticipated event. Even though Jamaica has only managed to reach the world stage once, this has not stopped Jamaicans from aligning themselves to a team.

Although most persons have no actual ties to the team they support, this does not stop the flood of emotions that follow when their pick is eliminated. While others can deal with disappointment well, some choose to turn off their phones, avoid their friends and develop steely exteriors to respond to ridicule.

Craig, a young man in his 20s told THE STAR that both his teams, Brazil and Argentina, have been eliminated from the contest. He said: " I've been bringing dem since I was little, before me even know what World Cup was about. I was so pissed. Especially the Argentina match. How you fi get four-love and a play ball?"

Another man, Jonathan, told THE STAR that when Brazil was eliminated last week, he did not take any calls from his friends. He said: "When di match done and mi see dat wi really lose, mi stop ansa mi phone, 'cause mi know di man dem jus' a call fi laugh." He said in previous world cups, he went as far as shedding tears when his team was eliminated." It's just a thing when you love a sport, yu jus support dem full-hundred."

This emotional attachment to teams does not apply to just men, however, as Alicia, a 23-year-old woman, told THE STAR that she was on the verge of tears when she thought the Dutch team was going home." When I saw that Brazil took the lead, I almost couldn't watch", she said. The student said she supports the Netherlands because some see them as underdogs and she wants them to win for this reason. "Trust me, if they lose, I think I'll be depressed for a few days. It's that serious to me."

Jamaicans show emotion for football teams

'When di match done and mi see dat wi really lose, mi stop ansa mi phone, 'cause mi know di man dem jus' a call fi laugh'.