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‘Argentina endures’: In Buenos Aires, emotional celebrations of a World Cup victory

發佈時間 19th Dec 2022 @ 1:06 PM

‘Argentina endures’: In Buenos Aires, emotional celebrations of a World Cup victory

Argentine soccer fans descend on the capital's Obelisk to celebrate their team's World Cup victory over France in Buenos Aires on Dec. 18.

Thousands, if not millions, streamed into the streets of this capital city as soon as La Albiceleste, Argentina’s national soccer team, beat France. It was an emotional start to a boisterous early-summer celebration — horns honking, strangers hugging, and yes, crying.

In the Colegiales neighborhood, speech therapist Angeles Usovich erupted into tears after the final penalty kick, falling to her knees on the pavement as she called her father to celebrate.

“Aguante Argentina,” she shouted into the phone. “Argentina endures.”

Indeed, many in this soccer-obsessed South American nation have said they badly needed something to celebrate. Soaring inflation has meant hard economic times for its 47 million residents, many of whom have had to forgo vacations or skip buying beef for their famed asados, or barbecues. The recent conviction and sentencing of Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on corruption charges has also further polarized an already divided political landscape.

Argentine soccer fans celebrate their team's World Cup victory over France in Buenos Aires on Dec. 18.

On the sprawling Avenida 9 de Julio in downtown Buenos Aires, though, none of that seemed to matter: La Albiceleste had taken home its third World Cup — a crowning berth for Lionel Messi, the 35-year-old forward and team captain.