- Title: BRAZIL: SOCCER/FOOTBALL: Argentine campers rise and shine for Belgium showdown
- Date: 5th July 2014
- Summary: BRASILIA, BRAZIL (JULY 5, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ARGENTINEAN FANS, VEHICLES AND TENTS IN CARPARK PEOPLE IN FRONT OF BUS SHOWING ARGENTINEAN PLAYER LIONEL MESSI FAN WAVING SHIRT IN AIR BANNER READING 'TIERRA DEL FUEGO" (SOUTHERN REGION OF ARGENTINA) ON SIDE OF VAN CUTOUT OF MESSI ON DOOR VARIOUS OF FAN ROLLING UP TENT BLUE BUS WITH MESSI ON SIDE MAN LYING IN FRONT OF TE
- Embargoed: 20th July 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Brazil
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA8EL0Z99X8LQZF4EOG1EGQE03J
- Story Text: Argentines on a budget woke up in mobile homes and tents as the sun rose over a car park in the Brazilian capital on Saturday (July 5) ahead of their quarter-final showdown with Belgium Dozens of buses and vans stood decked out with the Argentinean national colours and cut-outs of star player Lionel Messi.
Groggy fans clambered out of tents while others sat sipping Mate, Argentinean tea.
The expense of travelling from neighbouring Argentina and then from game to game puts off many.
But Facundo Alconcher, who drove from Buenos Aires and shares his van with five others, said it's all worth it.
"The ticket is priceless. Some people pay 1,500 dollars, some 1,000, some 2,000. But it's priceless. It's priceless for the experience of entering the stadium with the people in the stands, the anthem, everything that the match represents. That's it," he said.
Sebastian Pierolli and his three friends sharing the same small tent said they hadn't slept in three nights of travel.
"It's totally worth the effort. Even though we don't sleep, and get stressed at certain times, it's worth the pain for the adventure and above all to come for the World Cup. It's something you can't describe," he said.
An estimated 50,000 Argentineans are expected to descend on Brasilia for Saturday's game in the National Stadium.
Authorities are boosting security for the game and say they have already deported at least 31 'barras bravas,' Argentina's notoriously violent football hooligans, during the Cup. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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