GamblersPost Gamblers Post is a dedicated news and networking portal in the online gambling industry which features news, opinions, interviews as well as product and software reviews.
And now, what? This is a question all Cruzeiro Esporte Clube supporters are asking the last two weeks. The situation they’re into is totally unprecedented: Their team is out of Brazilian football’s top tier for the first time in their 98 year history.
It was more than shock for the millions of Cruzeiro fans in club city Belo Horizonte, located at Brazil’s south. Cruzeiro is not, and won’t be, the only historic football club in decline, but nothing could warn the fans for this unpredictable relegation. Last season Cruzeiro finished 8th among 20 teams, in 2017 they grabbed the 5th place and secured a spot at Copa Libertadores and no more than five years ago they have won the Serie A championship.
Cruzeiro has a bitter taste also about the last game, held at home against Palmeiras. The opponent had no motivation of winning the tie, as they’ve secured a place in next Copa Libertadores finishing 3rd in the league. The two teams have a strong bond, as they’ve been founded by Italian immigrants about a century ago. They also used to have the same name (Palestra Italia).
In January 1942, Brazil entered World War II and a decree of the federal government forbade the use of terms from enemy nations in entities, institutions, establishments, etc. With this, the Italian name was removed and the club could no longer call themselves Palestra Italia. The Sao Paulo club chose Palmeiras and the green color as one of the basic Italian flag’s colors, and the Belo Horizonte club switched to Cruzeiro to honor the biggest symbol of Brazil, the constellation of Crux.
This bond didn’t show up; Palmeiras won 2-0 and sealed Cruzeiro’s relegation.
The next day after the relegation is rather trying to walk on quicksand. President Wagner and first vice president Herminio decided to accept responsibility for the club’s humiliating results and resigned. Second vice president Granata took charge, but for now is not clear whether he’s accepted by the fans to guide the club back to Serie A. Coach Adilson Batista, who led the team in last matches (he was the fourth coach of Cruzeiro during the season) said he’s accepting the challenge of taking the team in Serie B, but fans would not forgive him for the last results.
However, most players declared that they could stay and help Cruzeiro in Serie B, as long as they keep on taking their money. But such a rich team like Cruzeiro couldn’t just have all these expensive contracts just to play in second tier. The club has to lean mainly on youngsters.
