BUENOS AIRES – Just hours before Lionel Messi and his teammates face France in the World Cup final, Argentina had reached a fever pitch, and football fans all over the country saw destiny brewing.
The nation was set to celebrate a much-desired third world title — 36 years after their last one — from Jujuy in the north to Chubut, some 2,800 kilometers to the south, from Mendoza at the foot of the Andes mountain range in the west to Mar del Plata on the Atlantic coast.
The Argentine capital was covered in a sea of blue and white jerseys, the majority of which had Messi’s number 10, as well as flags, face paint, hats, and other souvenirs.
Vendors were making a killing, according to Raul Machuca, 22, who works at the Melu store in the heart of Buenos Aires where face paint and flags are selling like hotcakes.
He claimed it was a double win for the store with Christmas just around the way.
The city council painted pedestrian crossings in the blue and white stripes of the national team on a few significant routes.
Foreign football supporters joined in the fun as well.
With the final only a few hours away, scores of fans leaped up and down chanting songs near the Obelisk monument in central Buenos Aires, where crowds regularly gather to celebrate the team’s successes.
Argentina are the favourites to win the trophy having survived a first game scare against Saudi Arabia during the group to win all their games to the final but on Sunday they face a dangerous France team.
France hopes to successfully defend the World Cup for the first time since Brazil in 1962.
In what is expected to be Lionel Messi’s final encounter at the tournament, they will compete against an Argentina team that is focused on capturing the championship.
Ahead of the clash, Les Blues have been hit by concerns of sickness or strange virus to some of their star players but captain Hugo Lloris remained confident they will overcome the mountain before them.
Regarding the concerns of illness, Lloris said, “We are never really prepared for this type of scenario, but we are trying to prepare in the best way possible.”
“We are pleased to be playing in a World Cup final, but we remain focused.”
France will bank on a sharp attack which has key stars Kylian Mbappe and record scorer Olivier Giruod.
- Editor/ extra report via AFP
