The celebration of the Argentina team's passage to the semifinals of the Soccer World Cup had a bittersweet taste for Ángel Souka, an investor who lives in the city of La Puente, since, despite the fact that the albiceleste defeated Switzerland, he criticized the fact that many Latin American fans gathered in Whittier Narrows Park celebrated the Swiss goal.

“It hurt me that many who have come from our countries have shouted for Switzerland's tying goal,” Souka said. “But since we are Argentina, we are playing well and we are the only Latin American country left in the competition, that shows anti-Argentism and anti-Messi.”

"Argentina fell a little behind at one point, but they had a great performance; they controlled the ball and scored the goals when they wanted," he said. “Argentina also stands out for the solidity of the team and the intelligence of coach Lionel Scaloni.”

Hundreds of fans from different countries in Latin America, Asia and the Middle East took over the green grasses of Whittier Narrows Park where the last day of the Soccer Fan Festival took place.

Kenny Batalla, son of Argentine parents from Buenos Aires, jumped out of his chair when Alexis Mac Allister scored Argentina's goal in the 10th minute of the match and ruffled his long hair when Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez scored in extra time.

"We don't want to be champions. We are already champions," said the young musician born in Los Angeles, regarding the albiceleste's next duel against England.

Batalla rejected the adverse comments that have arisen since Argentina rose as true champions and eliminated Egypt (3-2) in the round of 16.

“Let them say what they want,” he said. “Argentina wins and wins, and no one can deny that.”

His father, Fernando Batalla, clung to an old albiceleste flag that, he said, he has had since Argentina was world champion for the first time, in 1978, under the leadership of Mario Alberto “El Matador” Kempes.

“I have had my blessed flag since I was 11 years old,” said the 59-year-old man, an Uber driver who was born in Buenos Aires. “I took it out to celebrate during the Mexico-86 World Cup, when I lived in Córdoba, and in the United States, when we won in Qatar 2022.”

Fernando Batalla analyzed that he suffered “another type of suffering” due to the 1-1 Swiss draw, a team that has not been able to beat the Albiceleste in more than 60 years.

"It was an ordeal that does not make you nervous. You are confident, you still know that your team is going to win. You know that they are good, you love them and respect them and you bench them until the last moment and you give them time to recover."

Among the hundreds of fans, Mexican Félix González, an employee of an auto parts business, with his face and head painted with the colors of the official World Cup ball, said that he supported Argentina, “a little bit, but not that much.”

Why's that?

“They have spoken very badly about us Mexicans and the sport of soccer is supposed to unite families, not for them to hurl insults that we want to look like them,” said the man born in Michoacán. “Personally, I have nothing to envy of anyone, least of all them.”

His reference was the Argentine journalist Eduardo Feinman, who said: “I hate Mexicans with all my soul.”

Next to Félix González was his grandson Mateo, seven years old, who admires his grandfather because he always paints his face when there are matches of the Mexican national team or any other sporting event that attracts him.

“He's crazy, but I love him,” the boy said about his grandfather, who resides in the city of Azusa.

And, sheltered by the shade of a tree to mitigate the afternoon heat, in a corner of the park were Romina Gordizo and her son Valentín Humarán, both from the province of Tucumán, Argentina.

“We had no choice but to come here,” the woman said. “I was wrong in my reservation because I thought that the round to advance to the semifinals would be played in Los Angeles, not in Kansas City, but the vacation in Los Angeles was worth it, a very nice city, very beautiful and the people very kind and I think Argentina will win the fourth star.”

Among the large crowd, there were a few fans who favored Switzerland, among them Ibrahim Badawiya, born in Zurich, who was accompanied by his friends Ameer Khaled and Mohammed Bahbour.

“I think the referee was wrong in favor of Argentina when he sent off Breel Emboló,” complained the Swiss fan. “What the referee did is a disgrace.”

What Badawiya, a law student at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), did not expect was that his friends would leave him alone when they went to celebrate Argentina's victory.

“Don't worry, we support you,” said Ameer, a Lebanese citizen.

"But what happened? Argentina scored and they didn't support me. I need to look for new friends. No, no, I understand. It's a game. In my opinion it was a great game, but yes, staying so close hurts."

At the same time that he congratulated Argentina for the 3-1 victory, he predicted: “England will beat Argentina.”

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