Miami was a sky-blue and white party. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing: Argentina suffered until the last minute to beat a combative Cape Verde 3-2 in extra time and seal their place in the World Cup round of 16. The Hard Rock Stadium erupted in relief when the referee blew the final whistle, and the fans, who filled the stands, burst into an ecstasy that lasted several minutes after the match.
The match, which seemed under control, turned into a nightmare when Cape Verde equalized in the second half and then leveled again in the first half of extra time with a stunning goal by Sidny Lopes Cabral. Argentine hearts stopped, but ultimately the individual brilliance of Lionel Messi and the push from the fans tipped the scales. «This is Argentina. Whoever doesn’t understand it… It’s hard. We do, Argentines will understand it. Nothing is easy,» said Lionel Scaloni after the match, summing up the feeling of an entire nation.
The albiceleste wave made itself felt in Miami. An estimated 40,000 Argentines were present at the stadium, while thousands more filled the streets, bars, and beaches of the city. The Argentine community in Florida, the largest in the United States with about 200,000 residents, mobilized en masse. Flights from Argentina multiplied and travel packages sold out. Tickets, sold out for months, were resold at crazy prices: between $2,000 and $5,000, depending on location.
The weather also played its part. While Buenos Aires suffered a polar wave, Miami endured temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, with oppressive humidity. But nothing stopped the fans, who turned the city into a branch of any Argentine city. From the flag-waving on Thursday in North Miami to the chants in the stands, the passion never waned.
Now, attention turns to Atlanta, where on Tuesday Argentina will face Egypt for a place in the quarterfinals. Fans are already making plans: many will travel from Miami to the state of Georgia to follow the team. «I’m done, I can die in peace,» shouted a father from Bella Vista who came with his two teenage sons. All three, wearing Messi shirts, are ready for the next battle.
Criticism, however, was not long in coming. Complaints to the AFA about the lack of tickets at official prices multiplied at every gathering of Argentines. AFA president Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia acknowledged that «nobody expected such a turnout» and assured that they were requesting leftovers, but no new tickets went on official sale. Scalping remained the only option for many.
Argentina, world champions, showed once again that they know how to suffer. But also that they have a fan base that never stops cheering. The journey continues, and the next challenge is Egypt. Can the albiceleste wave keep advancing? On Tuesday in Atlanta, the next chapter begins.
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Para mí esto huele mal. ¿Cabo Verde, un equipo de negros, casi nos empata? Una vergüenza nacional. Messi la salvó, pero el resto es un desastre. Así no ganamos nada. ¡Vamos Argentina, pero con huevos carajo!
para mi esto es una cagada como sufrimos pero bueh los negros de cabo verde nos hicieron renegar messi y los pibes demostraron que la zurda argentina es la unica que vale vamos seleccion carajo