Gasps gave solution to stony expressions of disbelief, after which tears, as Argentina followers gathered in Buenos Aires watched the humiliation of their soccer group unfold on the World Cup in Qatar. “It was a walloping, a bucket of ice-cold water,” Carlos Cuera, 26, stated of the 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia. He was nonetheless seated in entrance of a restaurant tv the place followers decked out of their group’s white-and-blue colours gathered from earlier than 7:00 am for the breakfast match within the Argentine capital. “No person anticipated this. We thought the primary three matches could be simple victories, and now it has turn out to be extra difficult,” he stated, including the loss had ramped up strain forward of Saturday’s duel with Mexico.
It was one of many best upsets in World Cup historical past for Lionel Messi‘s Argentina aspect, ending a successful streak that included final yr’s Copa America championship. The proud, football-crazed nation entered the World Cup among the many favorites, eight years after they reached the ultimate.
However Buenos Aires shortly resumed its regular hustle and bustle as desolate followers headed to their places of work. In central Corrientes Avenue, not removed from the town’s towering Obelisk, one cafe had arrange a display screen on the sidewalk, prompting deliverymen, taxis, and even bus drivers to gradual as they handed — hoping for one more purpose.
Pilates teacher Lena Widgren, 50, stated she had heard it might be “a straightforward sport.” However she had observed that each time Argentina is confronted with a tie or a loss in a World Cup match, “their power ranges drop a bit, they lack hearth.”
The day began higher than it ended. Followers leaped from their chairs, screaming with pleasure, when Messi scored from the penalty spot within the tenth minute. “I really feel very unhappy, actually. The sport began with such euphoria, with a lot want to win, and all of a sudden the sport rotated,” stated Llanca Salvi, a 26-year-old plastic artist, who added that she didn’t know a lot about soccer.
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However it was about “the emotion of being Argentine, of going out to have fun”.
Second half of ‘terror’
Followers joined in with a cascade of insults when three first-half targets had been canceled for being offside, with VAR concerned. Norberto Protzmann advised AFP he sat in “terror” through the second half.
“We underestimated them a little bit an excessive amount of and so they dominated us within the second half,” he stated.
“The gamers had been too assured, whereas the rival group put their lives into every transfer, as a result of they knew they had been dealing with a fantastic group. And it labored properly for them.”
Gustavo Leal, 75, complained about the usage of VAR, saying, “soccer with know-how is not soccer”.
“This World Cup wants (Diego) Maradona,” he stated, referring to the Argentine nice who died in 2020.
However he remained optimistic. “The primary match is as onerous because the final. I belief him,” he stated of coach Lionel Scaloni, including he was a “measured man who is aware of tips on how to lead the group”.
Now, all eyes are on Saturday’s sport in opposition to Mexico, to see whether or not the group can flip their fortunes round.
“Mexico is a really tough group and it has at all times been tough for Argentina,” stated Protzmann. “If we do not put our lives into every play, we cannot win, particularly in opposition to Mexico.”
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