Early Sunday saw dejected fans removing hoardings and banners hailing their favourite team after its 1-0 loss to France at the quarter-finals Saturday.

"By around 3 a.m. Sunday morning, immediately after the match was over, Brazil supporters were in tears. They started removing the huge banners of their favourite soccer stars," said 23-year-old K.P. Saseer, president of Valancherry's Tornado Arts and Sports Club.

In soccer-crazy Malappuram, a Muslim-majority district, emotions ran high as supporters watched the match Saturday night. The numerous sports clubs had put up banners, hoardings and flags of the participating countries, especially of Brazil, Argentina, Holland, England, France and Germany.

"The mood is rather sombre today, almost the same as when Argentina was defeated," remarked K. Noushad, 26, a former senior division district league football player from Valancherry near here.

Enthusiasm had peaked in Malappuram when the South American giants had entered the second stage.

"Most of the clubs were supporting either Brazil or Argentina. Passions between rival clubs ran so high that Argentina supporters were full of glee last night after Brazil was also ousted," added Noushad.

Now most people here say - may the best team win, said Saseer.

"Of the four semi-finalists, Germany is likely to have more supporters. But with the exit of the South American giants, the passion which was overflowing for almost a month is now more or less over," he added.

And with the soccer extravaganza nearing its close, the Islamic hardliners here are quite relieved as they feel the World Cup fever was keeping away the youths from the evening prayers.