The party took hold of Argentina from the final whistle.

Millions of people invaded, Sunday, December 18, the squares and streets of the country to celebrate the victory of Argentina against France in the final of the World Cup. 

The arteries of Buenos Aires, the capital, welcomed an immense and compact crowd, drunk with happiness.

All the supporters wanted to be there to experience this moment so dreamed of and awaited for 36 years, which will remain unforgettable.

Of all ages, from children to ancestors, they shout, jump, dance endlessly and forge memories in unison. 

“I waited 35 years to live this moment”

"I'm 35 years old. I've waited 35 years to live this moment. I can't believe it. 35 years waiting for this dream of a lifetime", shouts Soledad Palacios, the Argentinian flag tied around by the neck. 

"We love football, we love Argentina. I'm happy, and happy to know that people are happy. Happy that this country is moving forward, that despite everything, despite the economy, everything, we can move forward “, she adds transported with emotion. 

Since Gonzalo Montiel's last victorious penalty, an escalation of songs, firecrackers, drums, fog horns, horns, endlessly dispute the sound space of the capital.         

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Argentina fans celebrate the World Cup victory over France at the Obelisk in Buenos Aires on December 18, 2022. © Tomas Cuesta, AFP

"Gracias Selection" 

And without even waiting for Lionel Messi to lift the Cup in Doha, by the thousands, tens of thousands, very quickly more, an entire metropolis converged on the Obelisk, an emblematic monument in the center of the capital and a traditional place for sports celebrations. 

They were still more than a million at the start of the night, according to several Argentine media, while the 67.5 meter high obelisk served as a giant screen for projections, between "Gracias Seleccion" (Thanks to the selection) , images of players, especially the idol Lionel Messi, match actions, and the national flag. 

The city center, on a huge square of 2 kilometers on each side, was closed to traffic while fireworks lit up the sky in a continuous bronca.

The party has only just begun and will reach its climax with the return of the heroes to Buenos Aires, scheduled for Monday at the very end of the day. 

A joy "good to take, to breathe a little" 

"It's a lot of joy for the whole country. We deserved it," repeated Gustavo Barreiro, 29.

"We are a country that has suffered, so this joy is good to take, to breathe a little," he adds, referring to the thousand and one ills of Argentina, from chronic inflation to a tense political polarization. 

"It is our destiny to suffer! A sine qua non condition to be Argentinian!", Joel Ciarallo told AFP, between hilarity and emotion, still incredulous. 

"We were born to suffer. We are like that, we Argentines. But we keep moving forward. It's like that, this country!", exults Manuel Erazo, seller of beers on the sly transported in a cooler. 

Like him, many had anticipated, hoped for, a big party, to improve the ordinary, in a country where inflation will be close to 100% in 2022. Hundreds offered beers, burgers, grilled sausages on parillas (barbecues) installed at even the sidewalk. 

A "dream fulfilled" 

President Alberto Fernandez congratulated the team in a tweet as soon as the game was over "Always together, always united. WE ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS. Nothing more to say".

The television banners, they competed in superlatives: "historic", "endless party", "eternal glory", "dream accomplished". 

Siempre juntos, siempre unidos.

SOMOS CAMPEONES DEL MUNDO ❤️ No hay más palabras.

GRACIAS @Argentina.

pic.twitter.com/buJir0MZTR

— Alberto Fernández (@alferdez) December 18, 2022

On the 9 de Julio Avenue, one of the widest in the world (140 m) where the Obelisk is planted, the arms whip the sky to accompany the songs intimately linked to football in Argentina, and which everyone knows by heart. 

"Somos campeones!"

now invites itself into the supporter's playlist alongside the classic "Soooy Argentino, es un sentimiento, no puedo paraaar!"

("I'm Argentinian, it's a feeling, I can't stop!") chanted loudly during the match around giant screens in a park, a stadium, on a seafront, in Mar del Plata, on the Atlantic, in Jujuy at the foot of the Andes, and in the Argentine Pampas. 

Also resounded in a loop the very last, "Muchaaachos", the song of the year and became the unofficial anthem of the Argentinian supporters in this World Cup.

Invoking both Albiceleste, Maradona, Messi and the Falklands, she was shouted at the top of her lungs, at the start of the match, to cover the Marseillaise. 

After the victory, a verse was changed and now states "Now we win the third, again world champion", replacing the "I want to win the third, I want to be world champion".  

Shortly before midnight, the crowd thinned out a bit, and the families with the youngest returned.

The return to Buenos Aires of the world champions is expected early Monday evening, probably the "biggest celebration to come", predicts Adriana Nuñez, 57.

"We are waiting for them, and surely them too". 

With AFP 

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