Whether you want a few pints of Bass with your breakfast is up to you. Just know that to truly enjoy football as played by the people who invented it, it won’t hurt to get a little pissed for the match. Having a drink or two is clinically proven to help you chant better. The English are masters of altering the lyrics to well-known songs to boost their players’ morale. For example, consider this paean to Liverpool midfielder Stephen Gerrard, set to the tune of “Que Será, Será”:
Steve Gerrard, Gerrard
He’ll score from 40 yards
In addition to more-general choruses like “We love you England, we do,” England supporters have also claimed as their unofficial theme song Elmer Bernstein’s score from The Great Escape. It’s much better than the real theme, a Britpop anthem by Embrace called “World at Your Feet.”
Up the road from the Plough and Stars is Cambridge’s other venerable soccer establishment, Phoenix Landing (512 Mass Ave). A techno dance extravaganza by night, the beautiful game rules this roost during the day. With a reputation for early-morning soccer, the Landing will be packed with plenty of red and white jerseys for England’s June 15 match against Trinidad & Tobago.
Your only chance to see a World Cup game in a stadium atmosphere comes on Saturday, June 17, when the US takes on Italy in the second match of group play. Anyone who buys tickets to that evening’s Major League Soccer match between the New England Revolution and DC United at Gillette Stadium (1 Patriot Place, Foxborough) can get in early to watch the live broadcast from Germany on the stadium’s massive video screens. You will have to check your hooligan tendencies at the door — Revs games tend to be family affairs. On the plus side, ticket prices top out at $34 and parking is free. Not a bad alternative, considering that most bars in Boston will probably be showing the Red Sox game (which starts at 1:20 pm that day).
You could cross enemy lines for the US-Italy match and head to Caffe Paradiso in the North End (255 Hanover Street). It already boasts an enthusiastic group of regulars to watch Italian Serie A matches, as well as other international fixtures, and they expect a large audience for the World Cup. The place should be electric, but if you really want to kick things up a notch, try to start a conversation about the Italian match-fixing scandal that has implicated several members of the national team, including star goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
Technically the Cactus Club (939 Boylston Street) isn’t exactly authentic Mexican — at least, not judging by the clientele (there are not that many backwards caps in all of Mexico City). But if you want to see America’s archrivals crash and burn, you might as well do so while holding a margarita. (You might want to keep your pro-Iran cheers to a minimum, however, when they go up against Mexico on June 11.)
Mexico will be facing off against Portugal in group play to determine once and for all which is the better country. The match takes place on June 21, and which side you support is entirely up to you. Just don’t root for Mexico. Boston has precious few genuine Portuguese eateries, but one is O Cantinho Café (1128 Cambridge Street). Although it doesn’t boast the most impressive setup compared with some of the larger establishments (there’s a single TV in the corner), you’ll likely meet up with an abundance of partisan supporters while you munch on your mista grelhada.
The Dutch are another strong favorite this year, fielding one of their best sides since Johan Cruyff led the 1974 edition to the finals. Reader, we looked high and low for a Dutch establishment in Boston and had no luck. We might suggest, hypothetically, replicating the experience of most Amsterdam residents: lock yourself in a dark room with some close friends, watch the games wearing your best orange T-shirt, and “drink some coffee,” if you get our drift.
On the Web
Jacob Wirth: //www.jacobwirth.com
Roggies: //www.roggies.com
The Green Briar: //www.greenbriarpub.com
Kinvara: //www.kinvarapub.com
Ipanema Brazilian Grill: //www.ipanemabraziliangrill.com
The Plough and Stars: //www.ploughandstars.com
Phoenix Landing: //www.myspace.com/phoenixlanding/
Gillette Stadium: //www.gillettestadium.com
Caffe Paradiso: //www.caffeparadiso.com
Cactus Club: //www.bestmargaritas.com
O Cantinho Café: //www.atasca.com/ocantinho/
FIFA World Cup: //www.fifaworldcup.com
US Soccer: //www.ussoccer.com
The First Eleven: //thefirsteleven.co.uk