Horrified fans are fearing the worst
BUENOS AIRES — The party at the Buenos Aires fan zone fell flat as a crowd expecting a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina World Cup revival could only watch in horror as the nadir of Nizhny Novgorod unfolded.
“We lost very badly, they really humiliated us this time,” said 22-year-old Joaquin. “And now, on top of that, we’re depending on Nigeria!”
After the abject 3-0 loss to Croatia, the team will have to beat Nigeria in its final game and hope other results go its way to advance.
For even the most passionate fans here, that seems a tall order now.
Messi came in for particular criticism after a sub-par performance.
“Messi, who keeps winning for Barcelona, who continues to deliver triumph after triumph for Barcelona, has given us nothing but defeats and sadness,” said an angry Miguel Angel Gutierrez, 50, wearing an Albiceleste wig.
But this was no party in Buenos Aires as fans young and old hid their sky blueand-white painted faces in their hands as if watching a horror movie.
Some wept and others hugged like survivors at a disaster scene. One man stood and gestured angrily at the big screen as passes went astray.
“We are very sad because it’s all wrong! Just look at the dollar, we are very tired of everything. We trusted in this team,” a despondent Alfredo Dominguez, 48, said from under his blue-andwhite-striped hat, which read “Messi 10”.
The nation faced a long night of TV pundits arguing loudly about the shortcomings of Jorge Sampaoli’s misfiring team, and what he could do to inspire his flops for the next match against Nigeria.
Zulma Suarez smiled sadly and sighed as she reflected on the shattered hopes of a nation that has already suffered through a 1-1 draw with Iceland, during which Messi had a penalty saved, in its first game.
“I thought we would get there, that it would get easier as we went along. But well, as an Argentine, I feel my country in my heart.”