Delirium in London's little Brazil

As the whole of England fell into mourning, the party was just beginning at the Salsa Bar in London's West End.

More than 500 Brazil supporters crammed into the basement bar to make it a sea of yellow and green. Whistles and plastic maracas were handed out on the door and the samba dancing began before 7am as fans gathered.

By the final whistle, it was delirium. The party spilled onto Charing Cross Road and more and more Brazilians arrived for the biggest celebration this side of Rio.

Jubilant supporters danced and sang under the anxious eye of police who encircled the area to prevent any backlash from England fans.

Almost everyone in a yellow shirt was phoning home on their mobiles to share their joy. Andrea Alfieri, director of a tour company in Euston, had predicted the result almost to perfection."Its going to be close and it will probably be won by a free kick" he said before the kick-off.

Angelita Alves, clutching her lucky teddy bear in Brazil colours had been worried before the game. "I am not confident," she said. Like most of the expats she wished she was back in Brazil for the match. "I'd like to be with my family. My father has just come out of hospital but he will be watching like everyone else even though its four in the morning there.

"But it's nice to be here among the Brazilian community in London. I can't think of a better place to be in England today."

Some in the bar had divided loyalties, Eduardo Fonseca, in a Brazil top, watched the game with his English wife Louise, sporting her England colours with pride. At the end of the game, Eduardo said: "We only got married six months ago, but I am worried she might ask for a divorce."