Supporters of Albiceleste throng event’s largest venue to look at Lionel Messi and his teammates kick off World Cup marketing campaign.
Lusail, Qatar – At Qatar’s largest soccer venue, Lusail Stadium, there was little doubt who referred to as the tunes: Argentina followers far outnumbered Saudi Arabia’s supporters as the 2 nations’ males’s nationwide groups took on one another of their opening World Cup 2022 match.
From the metro station corridors to the stands contained in the stadium – whose design is impressed by the fanar lantern – it was a sea of blue and white as Argentinians and lots of the Albiceleste supporters burst into tune and chants of “Vamos Argentina” (Let’s go Argentina).
“Our followers are the perfect,” Mariano Alvarez, a fan from Rosario, the hometown of Argentinian celebrity Lionel Messi, advised Al Jazeera. “I do know I’m biased however actually we don’t let cash or work cease us from travelling to help our crew,” he mentioned.
“For us, soccer is a like faith … along with Christianity,” added the 52-year-old, who's attending his second World Cup after Brazil in 2014.
Like 1000's of different Argentinians on the stadium, Alvarez needed to journey for practically 24 hours to achieve Qatar in a cumbersome journey that included transit in Spain.
In distinction, the Saudi fan figures pale compared regardless of Saudi Arabia being Qatar’s neighbour to the west and sharing a land border.
Along with those that flew in from Argentina, folks from nations akin to India, Pakistan, Egypt and Malaysia had been among the many enthusiastic crowd supporting Messi and his teammates.
As followers streamed in direction of the practically 80,000-strong stadium, a Doha-based music group referred to as Qatar Mayyappada welcomed them with drums and percussion – facet by facet with a bunch of Argentina followers who had introduced their very own musical devices and audio system to uplift the group that gathered within the dozens round them.
“[Late Argentinian footballer Diego] Maradona and Messi unite the world,” 26-year-old Ashiq Siddiq, from India, advised Al Jazeera inside Legtaifiya metro station, the place he and different Argentina supporters had been chatting furiously concerning the crew’s formation and technique forward of the sport.
Messi’s ‘final probability’
The event in Qatar shall be Messi’s fifth World Cup, and doubtless his final.
The 35-year-old, regarded by many because the world’s finest footballer, shall be hoping to construct on Argentina’s Copa America triumph final 12 months and win the one trophy that has eluded him thus far in his illustrious profession.
“That is the 12 months,” mentioned Alejandro Fronto, an Argentina fan who believes that is Messi’s finest probability to assist his crew win the trophy. “Messi won't play once more after this in one other World Cup,” added Fronto.
“He can do it, I consider. The crew is extra united than earlier tournaments. They only gained the Copa America final 12 months so there's perception within the crew.”
Fronti mentioned with a robust squad that additionally options the abilities of gamers akin to Rodrigo De Paul and Angel De Maria, Argentina shall be laborious to beat.
“I solely fear about Brazil”.
On how Tuesday’s encounter will unfold, an optimistic Fronti mentioned it is going to be “devastating” for Saudi Arabia, predicting Argentina will beat the six objectives that England scored towards Iran.
Saudi followers, nonetheless, didn't appear nervous however had been hopeful their crew would trigger an upset.
“It’s going to be 1-1,” Mohammed Shaks advised A Jazeera at Lusail Stadium, cracking a cheeky smile as his buddies burst out laughing.
“Many individuals know Argentina, however Saudi Arabia is the perfect crew in Asia … I’m telling, there shall be a shock,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, the 29-year-old, draped in a Qatari and Saudi flag, mentioned even when they lose, he's simply glad to be at this recreation.
“I'll at the very least get to see Messi in Qatar, which is like my second residence,” he says, noting that many Saudis like him have household within the host nation with whom they're staying.
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