ATLANTA (AP) — Argentine fans are well known for their enthusiastic and raucous support for their country’s national soccer team, and their fanaticism made their beloved team feel right at home at the game in Atlanta. world cup.
This wasn’t Buenos Aires, but the raucous pro-Argentine crowd made their voices heard. He serenaded his team with songs, chants and loud voices during Wednesday’s semifinal game.
And when Enzo Fernandes scored the equalizer off the Argentine’s assist. lionel messi In the 85th minute, water splashed from the top floor of Mercedes-Benz Stadium to the bottom.
Cups and water bottles followed. He took off his shirt and swung it into the air. much later Lautaro Martinez scores the winning goal in a 2-1 win against EnglandThe Argentine fans cheered as if it had just happened seconds before.
Messi, Fernandes and others took off their shirts and paraded around the field, soaking up the atmosphere as fans cheered on their players, but no one wanted the moment to end.
Lionel Scaloni, head coach of the Argentina national team, said, “There are no words or words needed. It’s a joy for the country and for the people.” “We’re really unique. It’s not arrogant, it’s from the heart. We’re unique. We’re grateful to these guys today because they carried us to win the game.”
The crowd of Argentine fans began to make their way to the exits as security officers began blowing whistles to direct pedestrians through the stands.
Gastón Reynoso, an Argentine who lives in Houston and traveled to Atlanta for the game, said the fan base’s dedication cannot be easily explained.
“It’s really hard to explain the passion of the fans,” Reynoso said. “When you’re Argentinian, football feels like a religion. Maybe this is everything to you. When you see an event like this, it’s a moment when people forget about religion, politics and everything else. Everyone is united. This is Argentina. There is nothing that compares to this.”
Some Argentine fans haven’t always been on the best behavior in previous World Cup competitions, but Atlanta has been kind to them this year, even if Messi and co have had to rally to win games.
“We’re off to a fast start,” Reynoso said. It was not Argentina’s strength.but the fanbase has not been abandoned.
Argentina returned to the scene of one of the World Cup’s greatest comebacks, a 3-2 victory over Egypt on July 7. Then on Wednesday, when two late goals clinched another improbable victory, the water started to fly.
“It was like a spray from God falling from the sky,” Reynoso said. “I started crying.”
The next stop on the Argentina roadshow will be Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. World Cup Final vs Spain. And there are definitely more than a few blue and white jerseys in the stands.
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