BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2014: Argentina fans set up camp in Sao Paulo for semi-finals

Record ID: 347926

  • Title: BRAZIL: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: WORLD CUP 2014: Argentina fans set up camp in Sao Paulo for semi-finals
  • Date: 9th July 2014
  • Summary: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL (JULY 8, 2014) (REUTERS) ARGENTINE FLAG IN CAMP SITE VARIOUS OF CAMP SITE WITH FLAGS FLYING GROUP OF ARGENTINES EATING AND DRINKING, USING A RUBBISH BIN TOP AS A TABLE TENTS AND VANS VARIOUS OF GROUP OF ARGENTINA FANS EATING ON FOLD-OUT TABLE AND CHAIRS OUT THE BACK OF A VAN BOY WITH ARGENTINA SHIRT PLAYING WITH A SOCCER BALL FAN WITH BLUE AND WHITE WIG P
  • Embargoed: 24th July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Brazil
  • Country: Brazil
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAD0PJAORFNLUF20XET4XM33JBD
  • Story Text: Thousands of Argentina fans have descended on Brazil for the World Cup, crossing the border in convoys of vans adorned in blue and white flags, for a cheap and self-sufficient stay.
    Much to the dismay of the Brazilian hospitality sector, their South Americans rivals have avoided investing in the local economy by setting up camp in a car park in Sao Paulo, where their team will play the Netherlands on Wednesday (July 9) in the hope of facing Germany in the final.
    Spirits are high in the camp, as fans play music, set up picnics and, of course, play soccer as they wait for the dawning of their semi-final moment.
    "We expect that we will suffer tomorrow as we have done in all the matches, but that we will get through every stage and make it to the final," said Argentina fan Raul Lajara, travelling with his wife. "I think that Argentina will get to the Final, but suffering, like we have suffered throughout the World Cup."
    "Today is my 15th birthday and I didn't want to have a party or go to Disney or anything like that. I wanted to come and celebrate my 15th birthday by winning the World Cup," said fan Mara Ortiz, enjoying the attention she has received in the camp, showing photographs of herself with friends which were published in a local newspaper.
    With no expensive hotel or flight bookings, the latin travellers maintained the flexibility to follow their team, looking to follow them on to Rio de Janeiro for the final at the iconic Maracana on July 13.
    "(We came here) for this match and the next one, because we're going to win and from here we go to Rio to carry on celebrating, and there we are going to celebrate more than ever because obviously, we are going to be champions," said Argentina fan, David Aranda.
    Standing in the way of this dream are the Dutch, who would be in the final for a second World Cup in a row, and would be a contender for the first European team to win on South American soil, should they eliminate Argentina on Wednesday.
    The two teams have met four times before in the World Cup, including in the 1978 final which Argentina won 3-1 after extra time on home soil.
    That was their only win over the Dutch at the finals, however, having lost twice and drawn once in the other matches, and is a feat that Lionel Messi and his men will be pulling out the stops to repeat in the semi-final.
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