Queens is Argentina! (and more)
Three months ago today the World Cup Round of 16 wrapped up. Portugal demolished Switzerland 6-1 and Morocco stunned Spain beating them on penalties. It feels like yesterday, or eons ago, you decide. The North African community poured into the streets of Astoria to celebrate Morocco’s stunning run all the way to the Semi-finals. Meanwhile, at Centro Recreativo Portugues in Jamaica, Queens, the mood was more somber following their next-round loss to the unstoppable Atlas Lions.
Croatian fans young and old came out in numbers too, celebrating their team’s second incredible World Cup run in a row. After knocking out tournament favorites Brazil, celebrations exploded at Rudar Club, a Croatian restaurant in Astoria that began as a local soccer team’s clubhouse over 50 years ago. Though Croatia fell to the eventual champions, you should absolutely visit Rudar Club for the authentic Croatian menu.
Was the 2022 World Cup the best ever, or was it simply the best World Cup Final? Argentinian restaurant-named-after-a-fútbol-team Boca Juniors Steakhouse normally opens at 2pm every day. For the Final, they opened their doors at 7am, and by 7:30 there was standing room only. A band took up an entire corner of the restaurant. Coffee and breakfast food? Not a chance, just Quilmes, empanadas and asado while waiting for the 10am kickoff.
Celebrations tinged with anxiety flipped into anxiety with a hint of hope after France tied it 2-2 in the 81st minute. Messi put Argentina in the lead in extra time only for Mbappe to tie it again, completing only the second hat-trick ever scored in a World Cup Final. Then, in the dying seconds, Emi Martinez saved not only Kolo Muani’s shot but Argentina’s hopes, forcing the game to penalties.
“No podía ser de otra manera sino con sufrir,” proclaimed famed Argentinian fútbol announcer Andrés Cantor moments after Montiel scored the winning penalty. Whether you’re an Argentina fan or not, take a minute to watch Cantor announce the win, pushing through the waves of emotion that every Argentinian felt in that moment. Only the beautiful game can inspire our hearts así.
Celebrations closed Corona Ave near Junction Blvd as hundreds of Argentinian fans sang and danced well past sunset. Flags, drums, face paint, Messi & Maradona jerseys. One person came with a yerba mate shaped like the World Cup trophy. The festivities poured into El Gauchito and La Esquina Criolla, the entire restaurants repeatedly bursting into song mid-meal, patrons stuffed to the brim with costilla, vacío and alegría.
Millions of Argentinians flooded the streets of Buenos Aires to celebrate their team, taking over highways and surrounding el Obelisco for days. In an interview over a month later Messi was asked what he would say to his teenage self. “I would tell him that something extraordinary is on the way, something he can’t imagine. I’d tell him that his career will have a beautiful path, with hard moments he will have to overcome, but he should never quit, because he will be rewarded, and in the end, it will be just like a movie with a happy ending.” Though he claimed the 2022 tournament would be his last with the national team, it appears his win has inspired him to stay on at least a bit longer.
Meanwhile in Pro Soccer
Keep riding your Mundial fever with the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023! It kicks off this July in Australia & New Zealand. Check out the groups and more details here!
Meanwhile preparations for the 2026 World Cup march on. The host cities across Mexico, the US and Canada have already been announced, and the tournament will be expanded from 32 to 48 teams! FIFA continues to debate however if they will maintain the nail biting 4-teams-per-group format—fingers crossed that the March 16th announcement will be good news.
The Champions League last 16 continues tomorrow with a struggling Chelsea looking to get a comeback win against Dortmund to advance. Wednesday Messi & Mbappe travel with PSG to Germany to face Bayern Munich. The superstars have to overcome a 1-0 first game loss, hoping to finally bring the trophy back to Paris.
Lots of records were broken this past weekend across Europe’s top leagues. Manchester United lost 7-0 to Liverpool, the worst loss in the history of their club. Mbappe became PSG’s all-time leading scorer at just the age of 24, echoing Messi’s achievement at the same age for Barcelona. Read the full list of achievements and woes here.