The dramatic 4-2 win over France on penalties in Qatar ended Argentina and its fans' 36-year wait for a World Cup trophy. Their emotions were rocked by the match, which was like a thriller film.
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AMBROSIUS HARTO MANUMOYOSO, LUKI AULIA, YULIA SAPTHIANI
·4 minutes read
AFP/TOMAS CUESTA
Fans of Argentina wait for the arrival of the players to their country after winning the Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup final football match against France in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, on December 19, 2022. - Football star Lionel Messi and his teammates will be received as heroes on Tuesday in Buenos Aires, where millions of excited people await their arrival to celebrate together the World Cup obtained in Qatar 2022, the third that the Albiceleste has added in its history.
BUENOS AIRES, MONDAY — The Argentine football team’s success in winning the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was greeted with joy by millions of people, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Dhaka, Bangladesh. The "tango" team has brought joy in the midst of economic difficulties and suffering.
Hundreds of thousands of Argentinian fans in downtown Dhaka simultaneously shouted with joy and hugged each other when Gonzalo Montiel scored the decisive goal during the penalty shootout at the World Cup final in Lusail, early on Monday (19/12/2022) in Western Indonesia Time.
“Messi, Messi! Argentina!” they screamed as they braved the bone-chilling winter cold that night.
Some fans who had watched the match on a giant screen, even shed tears when they saw Argentine star Lionel Messi kneeling on the field at Lusail Stadium and covering his face, which was red from crying.
Even though they were 4,000 kilometers apart, his fans in Dhaka and Messi in Qatar seemed to be united by the same emotions.
"I don't know why I suddenly started crying. However, I cry for him [Messi],” said Nafiun Rahman Zian (18), who lives in Dhaka.
The dramatic 4-2 win over France on penalties in Qatar ended Argentina and its fans' 36-year wait for a World Cup trophy. Their emotions were rocked by the match, which was like a thriller film.
I don't know why I suddenly started crying. However, I cry for him [Messi].
They could hardly believe it when France striker Kylian Mbappe scored twice in just two minutes at the end of normal time. Argentina’s 2-0 lead in the first half had vanished. The image of its tragic 3-4 defeat to France in the last 16 at Russia 2018 resurfaced suddenly.
"It's like I'm having a heart attack," said Abdus Sabur (40), a motorcycle taxi driver in Dhaka, who had stopped taking passengers so he could watch Argentina in the 2022 World Cup final.
AFP/EMILIANO LASALVIA
Fans of Argentina cheer while waiting for the arrival of the team after winning the Qatar 2022 Fifa World Cup final football match against France, in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, on December 19, 2022. - Football star Lionel Messi and his teammates will be received as heroes in Buenos Aires, where millions of excited people await their arrival to celebrate together the World Cup obtained, the third that the Albiceleste has added in its history.
They were again forced to watch in dismay as Mbappe once again showed his magic with a cool penalty in extra time to equalize Messi's goal minutes earlier. So it was unsurprising that emotion and joy erupted among fans in Dhaka when Argentina won on penalties.
"The long wait is over to see my love [Messi], the little wizard, holding the trophy he so yearned for," Zian said, clearly moved.
Bangladesh, a Muslim majority country with a population of 170 million, is better known for being "cricket crazy". However, every time a World Cup is held every four years, many of its youths support Argentina and Brazil.
Several fans from the country, where one-fifth of the population lives below the poverty line, were even flown to Qatar to support Argentina. One of them is Hussein (37), a sales employee who uses a wheelchair due to a motorcycle accident and who saved 20 percent of his salary every month for five years.
With savings worth US$3,000 (Rp 46 million), he was determined to go to Qatar to watch Messi and Argentina firsthand. "[Watching] the World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Hussein, as quoted by TRT World.
Even though they couldn't watch their national team in person in Qatar, millions of fans in Buenos Aires celebrated the country’s third World Cup title, spilling into the streets and public spaces in an impromptu celebration. At least 2 million people gathered at the Obelisk at the heart of the Argentine capital.
All our suffering was worth Argentina's victory
The “tango” team’s victory made the Argentinian people forget about the hardships of life, at least for a moment. Around 40 percent of Argentina’s 45 million people live in poverty. Soaring inflation of up 88 percent in 2021 and currency devaluation have wreaked havoc on the country's savings and incomes.
These difficulties temporarily disappeared. All night long, the people celebrated by dancing, singing, setting off fireworks and honking car horns as if they might never stop.
“Economic conditions are fluctuating uncertainly and at the end of the month, it is always difficult to make ends meet. However, all our suffering was worth Argentina's victory,” said Agustin Acevedo (25), a construction worker from Temperley, who came to Buenos Aires only to watch the final on a giant screen.
Burying differences
In Rosario, the hometown of Messi and Angel Di Maria, the fans of rival clubs Newell's Old Boys and Rosario Central buried their differences. They have been united in joy.
"The national team brings everyone together. Central and Newell's fans hugging and singing, that's the most beautiful thing ever," said local resident Nahuel Cantero (21).
Messi and Argentina’s achievements were also celebrated by the world’s top tennis players.
“A fairy tale for Argentina. Time and time again, Messi has redefined greatness. It's a privilege for me to watch you," Roger Federer posted on his Instagram account.
