- Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Argentina fans celebrate victory over Nigeria
- Date: 25th June 2014
- Summary: PORTO ALEGRE, BRAZIL (JUNE 25, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FANS LEAVING STADIUM AFTER MATCH ARGENTINA FAN BANGING ON HIS CHEST AND SAYING IN SPANISH: "Lets go." ARGENTINE FAN DRESSED AS POPE CELEBRATING WITH OTHER FANS MORE OF FANS LEAVING STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA FAN DRESSED AS POPE, WHO CALLS HIM SELF FRANCIS, SAYING: "As Pope I bless this team which deserves to be champions." ARGENTINA FANS WEARING PAPAL HATS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA FAN FROM BUENOS AIRES, NOELIA, SAYING: "There is always faith, there is always faith. If we continue to improve like this we will be able to continue progressing [in the tournament]." FANS LEAVING AFTER MATCH BANNER READING IN SPANISH "THE MALVINAS [FALKLAND ISLANDS] ARE ARGENTINE, FUCK FIFA" MORE OF ARGENTINE FANS LEAVING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish ARGENTINE FAN, NICOLAS, FROM BUENOS AIRES, SAYING: "Argentina knew how to take the game ahead with a great goal by Messi. There was an equalizer with Nigeria later, the defence was a little weak but then with the third goal we were ok. We were lucky but it was a nice game." VARIOUS OF FANS LEAVING STADIUM AFTER MATCH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ARGENTINA FAN FROM TUCUMAN, SERGIO, SAYING: "It was spectacular, two Messi goals, it's a unique happiness. I hope so, I hope we will reach the final, I have a lot of confidence. Go Argentina." CHILD BEING CARRIED BY HIS FATHER ARGENTINE FANS CHEERING AS THEY LEAVE STADIUM NIGERIA FANS LEAVING STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIGERIA FAN JIMBO, SAYING: "With due respect to Messi, maybe without him Nigeria would have beaten Argentina. It was a very good game. I'm sure FIFA itself will be happy seeing this game. Our joy is that we have moved to the next round. Watch out for Nigeria." ARGENTINE FANS LEAVING STADIUM (SOUNDBITE) (English/Spanish) NIGERIA SUPPORT FROM ABUJA, UNGOZI, SAYING: "I think we did a very good job. We didn't win but it's fine." FANS LEAVING
- Embargoed: 10th July 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA75HVLRKSZN84HB0JDMKK5PI8R
- Story Text: Argentine soccer fans on Wednesday (June 25) celebrated their national team's 3-2 victory over Nigeria in the World Cup Group F match.
Lionel Messi scored twice to inspire Argentina to a the thrilling win over Nigeria which clinched them the top spot in group and sent home an army of Sky Blue supporters with smiles on their faces.
One Argentina supporter who calls himself Francis, attracted lots of attention dressed as the Pope.
"As Pope I bless this team which deserves to be champions," he said.
"There is always faith, there is always faith. If we continue to improve like this we will be able to continue progressing [in the tournament]," added Noelia, who travelled from Buenos Aires to see the game.
"It was spectacular, two Messi goals, it's a unique happiness. I hope so, I hope we will reach the final, I have a lot of confidence. Go Argentina," said Sergio, an fan from Tucuman.
The few Nigerian fans in the crowd also left happy because their team advanced to the knockout phase thanks to Bosnia's 3-1 win over Iran. Argentina finished on nine points, Nigeria on four, Bosnia three and Iran one.
"With due respect to Messi, maybe without him Nigeria would have beaten Argentina. It was a very good game. I'm sure FIFA itself will be happy seeing this game. Our joy is that we have moved to the next round. Watch out for Nigeria," said Jimbo, a Nigeria fan from Abuja.
"I think we did a very good job. We didn't win but it's fine," added Umbozi, a Nigeria fan.
The match at Beira Rio stadium was as close as Argentina will come to a home game at this World Cup as an estimated 150,000 fans flooded across the border into this southern port city looking to get in on the party.
Although Argentina were guaranteed a place in the last 16, the twice champions still had plenty to play for on a drizzly day with the top spot up for grabs and the soccer world waiting for the Sky Blues to flash their championship credentials after uninspiring wins over debutants Bosnia and unfancied Iran.
Nigeria entered the contest as the only team who had yet to concede a goal but had not faced a side with the attacking quality of Argentina, who immediately put the Super Eagles under pressure. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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