Why did Brazil skip dressing the Rocky statue?

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Brazil Opted Not to Dress Rocky Statue Due to Superstition

Brazil's decision to forgo dressing the Rocky Balboa statue and holding large pre-match celebrations on the Rocky Steps was a deliberate choice rooted in a superstition known as the "Rocky curse." This long-standing belief among visiting supporters in Philadelphia suggests that interfering with the statue, such as adorning it with team colours, brings bad luck to visiting teams. Brazil's supporters were reportedly aware of this superstition and chose to avoid it to maintain their team's winning momentum.
Awareness of the "Rocky Curse" Superstition

The "Rocky curse" is a superstition centred around the bronze statue of fictional boxer Rocky Balboa located outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Traditionally, visiting team fans would gather on the steps to celebrate and often dress the statue in their national colours as a pre-match ritual. However, over time, a belief emerged that such actions could lead to misfortune, with several visiting teams reportedly failing to win after decorating the statue.
Recent Attention to the Superstition

This superstition gained renewed attention following Ecuador's recent match. Ecuador fans had decorated the statue in their national colours before their 1-0 defeat to Ivory Coast on June 14. This outcome was quickly linked by fans to the "curse," contributing to the growing folklore surrounding the superstition, even if many dismissed it as mere coincidence.
Brazil's Cautious Approach

Aware of the increasing discussion around the superstition, Brazil's supporters decided against dressing the statue or staging their usual large-scale celebrations on the Rocky Steps before their match. This cautious approach was seen by some supporters as a way to preserve the team's winning streak and maintain their strong start to the tournament. The team ultimately secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Haiti, further fuelling the narrative that avoiding the "curse" had contributed to their success.

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Why did Brazil skip dressing the Rocky statue?

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