The match had not yet started and already the Conca d’Oro café, on rue Dante, in Little Italy, was sold out. One hundred and twenty minutes and a penalty shootout later, crowds of cheering fans spilled out onto the streets, celebrating Argentina’s World Cup victory.
“It wasn’t a game for people with heart problems,” summarizes Mario, the bistro’s cook, visibly emotional. “But I said it, our keeper [Emiliano] Martinez, he likes penalties, he will block two balls, ”he exclaims.
The duel between Argentina and France has, in fact, reserved its share of surprises for Montreal fans massed around a television hung outside, despite the temperature of -1 degree Celsius and the impressive snowbanks left by yesterday’s storm.
The drums are heard inside and at the 24e minute, on a penalty shot, Lionel Messi’s goal unleashes the crowd. “Vamos Argentina”, intone the supporters, packed like sardines, outside and inside.
“It’s the reward, it’s the justice of football”, exclaims a Tunisian supporter who came to encourage the Argentines after having himself gone to Qatar to support his national team.
Then it’s 2-0. Mexicans, Uruguayans, Chileans, all the South American nations seem gathered in Little Italy to encourage the Albiceleste. “We feel like home,” rejoices an Argentinian, Rocio Diaz, who has come to watch all the matches of his national team at the café on rue Dante since the start of the World Cup.
Then the French equalized the score in less than a minute. The crowd parked outside the Conca d’Oro cafe is stunned. “It’s the stress,” testifies a supporter.
After an incredible extension, it was finally at the end of a penalty shootout, won by Argentina, that the outcome of the match was sealed.
“We needed to suffer to win,” summarizes a supporter, Manuel, when the supporters invade the street, forcing the closure of rue Dante, between avenues de Gaspé and Casgrain.
“It’s always difficult for us, but in the end, it works out! And there, we have it”, exults at his side Ivan.
A heartbreaking defeat for France
On the French side, the faces were long at the bar, Monsieur Ricard, on the avenue du Parc at the passage de The Press, at halftime. Even though the place was crowded, the atmosphere had gone down a notch.
“It’s not too late, we can still come back,” insists Rayan Gandjy, a visibly unconvinced French supporter.
“We hope so, but it won’t be easy. The Argentinians dominate, but play a bit like bonuses, ”said Michel Borys while expressing his remonstrances against the refereeing of the match. “The first penalty was a bit far-fetched. »
Even if there is still half the match to play, some are already taking stock. “At least you’ve had seven games,” sighs one of them to the owner of the square, Rocco, who is watching the customers who have gone out to smoke.
Then a few tens of minutes later, following another goal from Kylian Mbappé, the second in a minute, the atmosphere returns. “It’s incredible, we thought it was over. [Maintenant] the Argentinians are afraid of losing”, breathes Martin Fink, carried away by the momentum of his team.
Then the misunderstanding is total when Lionel Messi scores his second goal, this time in extra time. It’s 3-2 with minutes remaining. Despite a third goal scored by Kyliam Mbappé, France will miss, a few minutes later, the chance to win a second title in as many editions of the World Cup.