Supporters of Argentina from all around the world cheered the Argentinian aspect on to victory over the Dutch.
![FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20221210_011233-01.jpg?resize=770%2C513&quality=80)
Lusail, Qatar – They got here to Qatar from far and large.
They got here to Lusail Stadium clad within the white and sky blue of Argentina’s nationwide colors.
However these making the journey to Lusail on Friday – situated about 20km (greater than 12 miles) north of central Doha – weren't all from the South American nation.
Meet the non-Argentinian Argentina supporters at World Cup 2022.
“Messi, he's mesmerising,” stated Karan Agarwal, who travelled from Jaipur in India to look at Argentina play in Qatar’s World Cup.
“You possibly can’t train his abilities even in the very best soccer academies. You're born with it,” Agarwal advised Al Jazeera.
Agarwal is simply one of many many non-Argentinian followers of Argentina who've embraced the Albicelestes as their staff of alternative and travelled to Qatar to point out their assist for the South Individuals.
Agarwal stated, rising up in India, he grew to become an Argentina fan due to the legendary Diego Maradona, and he sees echoes of Maradona within the present staff’s star participant and captain Lionel Messi.
“Each time I see Messi he jogs my memory of Maradona. Anybody who loves soccer loves Messi,” he stated, his voice husky after a lot cheering throughout Argentina’s hard-fought penalty win over the Oranje of the Netherlands.
“Who else might do this aside from Messi?” Agarwal stated referring to the move that led to the primary Argentina purpose in opposition to the Dutch on Friday.
“I'll journey anyplace to witness such magic.”
Messi: ‘The little magician’
The temper contained in the 88,000-capacity Lusail Stadium was electrical on Friday evening due to the Albicelestes followers. All over the place you appeared, there have been banners adorned with photographs of Messi and Maradona.
The Dutch followers weren't solely outnumbered, they had been additionally out-cheered by Argentina’s supporters, who had travelled from internationally to see Messi lead his staff to victory.
Messi, a seven-time Ballon d’or winner, stated this may be his final World Cup. The little magician, as he's identified, has been in high type on the pitch throughout this event and now has three targets to his title.
Because the Dutch sat deep in defence of their match on Friday evening, it was Messi’s run and beautiful move that unlocked and outdid their defenders.
Every time Messi obtained the ball close to the Oranje purpose, it felt as if the whole stadium was on its ft cheering wildly and anticipating to witness Messi’s magic.
Argentina are favourites to carry the World Cup trophy and their followers understand it. They've are available in large numbers, not simply anticipating to win however to be entertained too.
![Supporters at fan zones in Doha during the FIFA World Cup, December 9 2022. [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/SOR03914.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513)
However the staff suffered an enormous shock after they had been crushed of their opening recreation by Saudi Arabia and there have been worries Messi would possibly head house early. Nevertheless it was Messi’s magic that unlocked Mexico of their second recreation the place Argentina received 2-0 in what was a really nervy match.
Ali Khajah, an electrical engineer from Kuwait, couldn't consider he lastly had an opportunity to look at Argentina and Messi.
“That is my second Argentina recreation I’m watching on this World Cup. It’s an honour to see him and Argentina within the flesh,” he advised Al Jazeera.
Khajah was undecided if Argentina would come out on high on Friday evening. In spite of everything, they had been going through a Dutch aspect that had been unbeaten of their final 20 World Cup matches in opposition to non-European opponents – profitable 14 matches and drawing in six. You would need to journey method again to 1994 for the final defeat – a quarter-final loss to Brazil.
“Holland are very sturdy. So, I used to be undecided,” Khajah stated.
“However I’m glad I got here to look at as a result of I noticed the magician do wonderful. I like him and Ronaldo. They're [in a] completely different class,” he stated.
‘With Messi in your staff, something is feasible’
Savouring each second of the win, most of the non-Argentinian Argentina followers had been gradual to exit the stadium lengthy after the ultimate whistle was blown.
“Superb recreation. I'll always remember. We performed very well and Messi was nice,” stated Hani Albashir, who travelled from Saudi Arabia to look at his favorite staff.
Greater than half-hour after the sport had completed, Albashir was nonetheless within the stands taking selfies to recollect the second.
“I assist Argentina due to the way in which they play the sport. Lovely, and so they make it look easy and really pure. They play horny soccer,” he added with amusing.
He nonetheless couldn't consider he had simply witnessed Argentina beat the Netherlands.
Earlier than Friday’s match, Messi had 9 World Cup targets for the Albicelestes – one behind Gabriel Batistuta, who is taken into account certainly one of Argentina’s best strikers. Within the 73rd minute of the sport in opposition to the Netherlands, the little magician transformed a penalty to equal Batistuta’s report.
“I got here to witness historical past. And Messi made historical past tonight,” stated Jasim Jamal, an IT technician from Kerala, India, clad in a Messi soccer jersey at Lusail Stadium.
![Argentina supporter Jasim Jamal from India at the Argentina vs Netherlands FIFA World Cup match at Lusail Stadium, Qatar, on December 9, 2022 [Hamza Mohamed/Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/20221210_011222-01.jpg?w=770&resize=770%2C513)
“It’s an evening I'll always remember. Argentina don’t simply play soccer. They entertain you,” stated Jamal, including there was “no staff like Argentina”.
“Argentina play soccer the way in which it ought to be performed irrespective of the opponent. It's why I'll at all times assist them,” he stated.
Now Jamal stated he would do something to get his fingers on a ticket for the semi-final.
“This chance doesn’t come round usually,” he stated.
Argentina now face Croatia who had earlier on Friday eradicated Brazil to ebook their place within the semi-finals.
However Argentina’s followers in Lusail assume it's their time.
“With Messi in your staff, something is feasible,” stated Albashir, the supporter from Saudi Arabia.
“I've each religion we are going to win this World Cup.”
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