NEW DELHI (AP) — Soccer fan Gazi Jahidul Haque was struggling to cover his concern earlier than the Argentina and Croatia World Cup semifinal at Qatar’s Lusail Stadium.Haque was watching the sport in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. “This World Cup will not be solely vital for Argentina, but in addition for Messi,” 35-year-old lawyer Haque mentioned earlier than the sport, his voice barely audible as 1000’s behind him thronged to observe the match in entrance of an enormous tv display screen on the College of Dhaka within the capital’s middle.It was midnight Wednesday in Dhaka and by the point the ultimate whistle blew with Argentina beating Croatia 3-0, Haque’s worries had lengthy dissipated. Argentina was within the World Cup remaining, one win away from capturing the sport’s biggest prize. The win meant Haque would get to see Messi — a participant extensively thought to be one of many sport’s finest – yet one more time on the World Cup. The celebrations started.Followers poured onto the streets in Dhaka waving Argentina flags and sporting the workforce’s sky blue and white jersey. Amid blaring trumpets, they chanted Messi’s title and hugged one another. Some held motorcycle rallies. Others broke into track and dance. A younger man rode on a rikshaw, his physique painted in Argentinian colours.Argentina’s win was additionally celebrated in neighboring India, the place it’s cricket that’s sometimes worshipped with near-religious fervor.In Kolkata metropolis, the place kids are additionally named after soccer gamers from earlier generations, Argentina followers marched in streets chanting songs for Messi’s workforce. It’s a metropolis the place murals of Messi adorn the partitions and Argentinian flags peek out of balconies with houses promoting their help.Argentina has a legion of passionate tremendous followers in Bangladesh and India because the days of Maradona, one of many biggest to play the sport and an icon to followers all over the world. Already, 1000’s of them have traveled to Qatar to see Messi and his workforce play. Seeing its workforce getting large help from the south Asian nation, Argentina’s soccer federation earlier this month praised Bangladeshis on social media.“Thanks for supporting our workforce. You’re as loopy as we’re!” the federation mentioned in a Twitter publish with photographs exhibiting Bangladeshi followers sporting Argentina’s jersey.Those that aren’t in Qatar are displaying their allegiance by following the video games with utmost devotion at house.In southern Kerala’s coastal cities and villages, the place flags of Argentina and Brazil are strung throughout outlets, buildings and flagpoles, individuals have erected large foam-board cutouts of their favourite gamers. Messi — and Brazil’s Neymar — are the favorites. In villages, open areas have been used for match screenings, with 1000’s flocking to observe the video games on large screens.On Sunday, Argentina will meet with both France or Morocco within the remaining. The fervor would attain its peak in India, and Aditya Shriram is ready for a fairytale swan track for Messi.Shriram, a 33-year-old digital marketer in New Delhi, has been supporting Argentina because the 1998 World Cup. On Sunday, he might be watching the ultimate with a gaggle of practically two dozen associates he grew up with enjoying soccer within the Indian capital. Shriram mentioned Sunday’s sport can have Messi play to seal his legacy, contemplating the best of all time — Pele and Maradona — have each received the World Cup, an accolade that had thus far evaded the Argentinian celebrity.“It’ll full him,” Shriram mentioned. “Except you win the World Cup, you possibly can’t be counted among the many absolute biggest of all time.”___Associated Press author AL-Emrun Garjon contributed from Dhaka, Bangladesh.___AP World Cup protection: https://Fifanews.com/hub/world-cup
Messi followers overjoyed in south Asia after Argentina semi win
![Messi followers overjoyed in south Asia after Argentina semi win 6 Messi fans overjoyed in south Asia after Argentina semi win](https://i0.wp.com/fifanews.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Messi-fans-overjoyed-in-south-Asia-after-Argentina-semi-win-scaled.jpeg?resize=860%2C573&ssl=1)