ARGENTINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2014: Argentines celebrate team's victory over Belgium in World Cup match

Record ID: 449179

  • Title: ARGENTINA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2014: Argentines celebrate team's victory over Belgium in World Cup match
  • Date: 5th July 2014
  • Summary: BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (JULY 5, 2014) (REUTERS) AMPHITHEATRE WHERE FANS WATCH THE WORLD CUP QUARTER-FINAL MATCH BETWEEN ARGENTINA AND BELGIUM ON A PROJECTOR SCREEN DESPITE RAIN ARGENTINA FAN PUTTING A PLASTIC BAG OVER HIS HEAD TO PROTECT FROM RAIN AMPHITHEATRE WITH ONLY A FEW FANS WATCHING THE GAME, SOME WITH UMBRELLAS, AS RAIN FALLS FANS WATCHING GAME VARIOUS OF FANS CELEBRATING THE GOAL BY GONZALO HIGUAIN CELEBRATING FAN WEARING JERSEY AND HOLDING ARGENTINE FLAG VARIOUS OF FANS GETTING UPSET OVER PLAYS VARIOUS OF FANS CELEBRATING IN THE RAIN AFTER MATCH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ALEJANDRO CHASAMPI, ARGENTINA FAN, SAYING: "Exciting. I thought it was very exciting, very good, excellent. We were hoping that Messi would score two goals but nothing happened. What a shame. But Argentina, you are still great!" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CRISTIAN CALIGARES, ARGENTINA FAN, SAYING: "I have been awaiting this moment for 24 years. And it almost killed me when the Germans beat us 4-0 (during the last World Cup). The truth is I am happy. I don't feel the cold, I don't feel anything. I am sincerely happy. I thank the players for everything they sacrificed. Thank you, thank you, thank you." VARIOUS OF FANS CELEBRATING AND SINGING AT THE OBELISK WITH AN INFLATABLE DOLL OF THE CHRIST THE REDEEMER STATUE HOLDING A SIGN THAT SAYS "LET'S GO ARGENTINA"
  • Embargoed: 20th July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Argentina
  • Country: Argentina
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA2R1VDS3YUPGBBI9B8IWRMA8PQ
  • Story Text: A handful of faithful Argentina fans gathered beneath the cold winter rain in Buenos Aires on Saturday (July 5) to cheer the team on to a 1-0 victory against Belgium, and the team will now join Brazil and Germany in the World Cup semi-finals.
    Argentina reached the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in 24 years after a brilliant eighth-minute goal by striker Gonzalo Higuain at the Brasilia national stadium.
    Higuain instinctively fired the ball into the Belgian net after it was deflected towards him off Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen in what proved to be the only goal of a match dominated by defence.
    Fans fighting off the rain and cold exploded into cheers after the Higuain tally.

    "Exciting. I thought it was very exciting, very good, excellent. We were hoping that Messi would score two goals but nothing happened. What a shame. But Argentina, you are still great!" said fan Alejandro Chasampi.
    Higuain grazed the crossbar with another powerful strike in the second half while Lionel Messi, who teased and tormented the Belgians all match, blasted the ball straight at Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois when he broke free in stoppage time.

    "I have been awaiting this moment for 24 years. And it almost killed me when the Germans beat us 4-0 (during the last World Cup). The truth is I am happy. I don't feel the cold, I don't feel anything. I am sincerely happy. I thank the players for everything they sacrificed. Thank you, thank you, thank you," said fan Cristian Caligare.
    Some 200 fans headed to the capital city's central obelisk to celebrate the win. An inflatable Christ the Redeemer statue, like the one in Rio de Janeiro, stood tall next to the obelisk, holding a banner reading "Let's go Argentina."
    Argentina will play Costa Rica or the Netherlands, who meet in the last quarter-final in Salvador later on Saturday, while Brazil and Germany meet in the other semi after winning their matches on Friday.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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