Argentines in Qatar: the passion of the fans that amazes the world, but which also “can generate harmful pressure”

“We play as if we were in Argentina. Even when we lost to Arabia, people cheered as if we had won,” said Ángel Di María with his quarter-final ticket in his pocket. the confession of little angel Does this make sense. It is that in Qatar there is a particular phenomenon. Beyond the kilometers away, and the economic crisis of our country, there are many Argentinian fans who have traveled to the Middle East to cheer on the national team.

If you walk through the streets of the Qatari capital, you come across a hundred blue and white T-shirts, flags and items of clothing. If you pay attention to the stadiums, you might be surprised and even think it’s a Professional Soccer League match due to the number of Argentines there (an estimated 40,000 Argentinian fans traveled to Qatar). It is a particular phenomenon that has no explanation beyond passion.

Of course, the great gift of this Selection helps to get excited by embroidering an extra star on the logo, the third. A Messi who seems to be in the best moment of his career, accompanied by a renewed generation that helped him win his first Copa América and ended a 28-year drought without titles for the Albiceleste.

This spawned a wave of unusual situations. Fans who sold their car to travel to Qatar. People who have spent their entire life savings, or who have been in debt for many years to go and cheer on their national team and be present at what will surely be Messi’s last World Cup.

“It’s amazing people”, said the captain of the national team after the victory against Australia 2-1 in the round of 16. At Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium the Albicelestial He seemed to be playing at home. And that image shocked the whole world. They know Argentina is a tough rival for what they do on the pitch, but also for what they do off the pitch. An incomparable turnout that arises from illusion.

“I think the Argentinian fans are very good and are always there at the stadium.we have seen it in the last two games where they have created a great atmosphere,” said the Dutch defender Nathan Akewhich could start the quarter final match this Friday from 4pm.

“I was impressed by the performance of these matches and how people cheer in the stadiums”, the England national team manager was surprised Gareth Southgate.

“Guys, now we are excited again, I want to win the third, I want to be world champion (…)”, recites the song that is repeated by both fans and players of the national team and which was born as a battle cry after the victory of the Copa América at the Maracana. They sang in Brazil, they sang in Qatar, they sang at the Ahmed bin Ali stadium after the passage to the quarterfinals.

The images were eloquent. Lionel Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, Ángel Di María and company went to the stands to celebrate in communion a new victory that keeps alive the illusion of being world champions. However, there are those who believe that so much passion can play against.

“I often see the Argentine national team and the Argentine fans, who are the most passionate I know in the world, and there comes a time when I see Argentine players who I think ‘Ugh what a pressure my god of my life’. Since it doesn’t go the way they want… and I think it hurts more than helping“, said the technical director of Spain, Luis Enricoafter being ruled out against Morocco on penalties.

“A little more calm, a little more support and so on… but the players need an atmosphere of calm. This is not a war, this is a sport where you represent a country and I think this is a completely normal and sensible reflection that would be fine,” he added.

Finally, the Spaniard left Lionel Scaloni’s team his best wishes for the continuation of the World Cup: “Having said this, let’s see if Argentina, which is in the same university as us, reaches the place it deserves”.

The truth is, there is a commonwealth. Lionel Messi was very clear when he said that the team and the fans have been walking “hand in hand” for some time now. There is a special synergy that seems to go against all logic.

To this we must add the thousands of fans from Bangladesh, Pakistan and India who also add their support to the Argentine national team, mobilized by the fanaticism born with Diego Maradona and then continued with Lionel Messi.

Moroccan festivals

​Even fans of the Moroccan national team said they were present in Doha. In the Ciudad de la Educación stadium they filled the stands and made themselves heard during the ninety minutes. A red-colored invasion that surprised Qatar. Many fans also remained outside without being able to enter due to lack of tickets.

​After the historic victory against Spain on penalties, which allowed them to advance to the quarter-finals of the Qatar World Cup 2022Moroccan fans took to the streets of Qatar in pure celebration.

People gathered around the stadium for almost an hour before continuing with the celebrations in the subway and in various tourist locations in the Qatari capital.