BUENOS AIRES: The Argentines feverishly prepared for Sunday’s World Cup final against France, convinced that their country, their team and above all their star player Leo Messi “deserved” the prestigious trophy thirty-six years after winning theirs to raise second stars.

Flags, songs to send ultimate positive “ondas” to the “Muchachos” by Lionel Scaloni, who will play 13,000 km from Buenos Aires. Hundreds of Porteños gathered in fifteen districts of the capital on Saturday evening for “banderazos”, a kind of “flag festival”.

Albiceleste jerseys almost all with flocked “Messi”, wigs, painted faces, trumpets, drums, of course songs and especially flags. Happy crowds resembling a victory celebration.

Even the obelisk, an emblematic monument in the heart of Buenos Aires, witnessed a spontaneous repetition on Saturday – and on a small scale at that – of the flood of tens, probably even hundreds of thousands of people who were supposed to flock to the capital for the event of victory.

Franco Llanos, adorned with the Albiceleste cap, flag and jersey, held a plastic replica of the gold cup in his hands.

Celebrate no matter what

“I’m very proud to be Argentinian. I know that Messi will bring back the trophy,” he said, before jumping with both feet and in song, whipping the sky with his outstretched arm, towards these strangers who, like him, had come to receive Communion already celebrate .

From Jujuy (North) to Chubut (South) 2,800 km away, from Mendoza at the foot of the Andes to Mar del Plata on the Atlantic, a whole country was preparing to vibrate giant screens in parks, stadiums, on a seafront promenade.

In the Boca district, a “Maradonesque” stronghold in the yellow and blue colors of local club Boca Juniors, Carina Disanzo, 44, in the national team jersey, is convinced of one thing: she will “celebrate” on Sunday, regardless of the result of the game.

“If something has to happen, which we all want, it will be a big party. Even if we lose because we went to the final.” But “it would be a great pleasure to be a world champion in whatever happens to us,” she notes, pointing to the country’s chronically ailing economy, which has one of the highest inflation rates in the world.

Yes, “we deserve it,” she assures.

And then Argentina is “a very footballing country,” she recalls. What happens here, on the pitch, the atmosphere in the stands, that doesn’t exist in other countries (…) Except maybe in Brazil.”

And towards France’s “title champion”, who stands up, “don’t be afraid, but respect, yes”.

Tourists, one night stands

Unexpected reinforcement, the flood of supporters has been enriched by tourists who have come especially to vibrate for a moment that they hope will be “historic”.

Lilly Oronoz and Antonio Secola, two 51-year-old Puerto Ricans, crossed South America “out of Argentine passion” for football, “out of South American solidarity” and “for ‘Messi’.

English friends on holiday in Brazil decided on Buenos Aires “on a whim”: “When do we have another chance to experience a World Cup final in Argentina, in Argentina?” says Josh Gwilt, 27, in the jersey of Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Greg Layhe, 28, wore those of his idol Leo Messi.

“We all hope he wins a World Cup. I think he’s the greatest player of all time and he deserves it,” he says.

On the eve of this historic event, vendors waved sales flags on many street corners and loudly blew plastic trumpets (vuvuzela).

In Barrio 11, a neighborhood where wholesale shops are concentrated, the holiday decorations have given way this year to supporters’ full paraphernalia – including cloche hats and sky-blue-and-white vuvuzelas – spilling out onto the sidewalks.

Raul Machuca, a 22-year-old salesman, says business is going well as the Australian summer begins, “especially makeup and flags”.

TV stations continuously delivered the expectation and raised hopes.

“One step from the dream,” proclaimed TN channel’s near-constant banner, recalling when Argentina’s last World Cup title was in Mexico 1986: “Two generations of tears.”

The major TV channels, which are normally obliged to broadcast the national anthem at the end of the programme, introduced a special version recorded by the players in Qatar at midnight. Initiative of the Argentine FA (AFA) to start the countdown to 12 hours after kick-off with guaranteed thrills.