Video: Argentina’s victory against Croatia was celebrated in the middle of a basketball match in Serbia

In the midst of all the criticism that the Argentine national team has received, even with some sectors exaggerating that the whole world was against the national team, there was one country that encouraged Lionel Scaloni’s team. Which? Serbian.

In full celebration Red Star from Belgrade, which was local to Zalgiris Kaunas of Lithuania for EuroLeague basketball started singing “Argentina, Argentina, Argentina”after the 3-0 victory of Lionel Scaloni’s team over Croatia in the semi-final of the World Cup in Qatar.

For some it may be surprising or unexpected, but it really isn’t. And it’s not a question of a preference of the Serbs for Messi and company, but rather rivalry with Croatia. And that comparison is not just football. It has its origins in geopolitical issues. Serbs and Croats are in a historical rivalry following the breakup of Yugoslavia, a conflict that led to war between 1991 and 2001.

Although it was a widespread border conflict where everyone seemed to be against everyone, the rivalry between Serbs and Croats was the most marked. After Croatia declared its independence on June 25, 1991, the Serbian population living in these places tried to create their own state in order not to secede from Yugoslavia.

However, Croatia viewed this as an attempt to include its territories in Serbia. The Serbs led by Slobodan Milosevic and the Croats led by Franjo Tudman were involved in a conflict that lasted for years and in which the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was later involved.

That rivalry, over time, has also transferred to sport. For this reason, there is extreme vigilance when teams from Serbia and Croatia cross paths. And in the midst of that conflict, Argentina got involved. And the victory over the Croatians at the World Cup was greatly celebrated by the Serbs.