After a long game against the Netherlands, the Argentines traded anxiety for jubilation on Friday after a narrow victory propelled their side to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
On a national holiday and in soaring temperatures, Argentine fans gathered in homes, bars and public squares to watch their team led by superstar Lionel Messi beat the Netherlands 4-3 on penalties.
Next Tuesday, Argentina will play Croatia, who also beat Brazil on penalties. That means Argentina is the last American team left in the competition to win the World Cup.
A fan in a square in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos Aires, who watched the match on a giant screen along with some 30,000 other fans, said: “An unprecedented madness, I swear, it broke my heart and I can’t stand it.” I did more”.
There is still hope for the Argentines that their country can win the World Cup for the third time, after winning the title of the version that took place in their country in 1978 and in Mexico in 1986 when they were led by the late protagonist Diego Maradona.
“Everything happened in that match,” said one fan in Palermo, where supporters waved flags with images of Messi and Maradona. I was happy and nervous, but I always support the national team.
Another said: We suffered, but we won.
