The full moon shines in the sky souq waqif, the traditional market located in the heart of Doha. The clouds that appeared in the last couple of days have disappeared and also released a couple of drops, a rarity in Qatar. There are stars. The frame is completed by more than a thousand fans dressed in blue and white who once again dominated this iconic venue in the city with a flag full of shots from the stands ahead of their quarter-final clash with the Netherlands.
But there, among the Argentines born in Argentina, Local or foreign fans who sympathize and support Lionel Messi’s national team are also camouflaged. They are not few; quite the opposite. There are almost half of those who participate in this meeting where the goal is to sing, jump and shout as loud as possible so that all this boundless passion reaches the players.
“They have the best fans and the best songs, the vibe is amazing”says Arjan in English, an Indian who keeps recording with his phone everything his eyes see as albiceleste flags wave and drums beat.
About four umbrellas with the colors of the Argentine flag are waved. A parade with the image of Diego Maradona it takes place on one side of the main road and a picture of Lionel Messi walks from side to side. The landscaping is ideal.
The fever for Argentina and for Argentines is one of the attractions of the Middle East. It has been since the beginning and, now, with fewer teams competing and with the Escaloneta among the eight best of this World Cup, there are even more that add to Lionel Scaloni’s sympathy for the team.
“It’s the first time I’ve seen something like this. There’s no fan like Argentina, they’re the best in the world”says a teenager from Bangladesh, the South Asian country where they go crazy every time Messi and company play, wearing an Argentine shirt and grinning non-stop.
Even Qatari women are carried away by the party and the Argentine color. Sara, wrapped in her hijab (her veil that covers her head and neck, but she leaves her face free), applauds relentlessly. “I don’t understand anything they say or sing because I don’t know Spanish, but I feel happy because they convey joy. I’ve never seen anything like it”explains, also in English.
The güiro makes itself felt in the song repertoire. “I was born in Argentina, land of Diego and Lionel…”, the most sung song of all in this World Cup suddenly comes out of the mouths of everyone present. Palms up. Staff flags are flown. The blue and white tide moves here and there. The thermometer marks around 23 degrees at night in Qatar, but in the bowels of the banner the thermal sensation is 35.
“We’re not having a great time with the Argentinian fans. I’m very happy they’re here and I hope they keep winning”says the vendor of the Shawarma stand that was left in the hustle and bustle. He cares little that his tent shakes and runs the risk of disarming before jumping when it sounds: “What doesn’t jump is Dutch…”.
Everyone, Argentines, Qataris, Indians, Bengalis, respected the ritual of the day before each engagement of the Selection, in the same place, at the same time. A habit that makes the World Cup beat and which serves as a further impetus to the Argentine players, who follow the images through the networks and the media, for when the ball starts to roll.
Doha, Qatar. Special delivery.
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.