Argentina rocked by World Cup loss to England

June 8, 2002

BUENOS AIRES, June 7 (AFP) -- The streets of the Argentinian capital were deserted after the nation's football team were beaten 1-0 by arch rivals England in a crucial World Cup game on Friday.

In what should have been a celebration of Argentina's qualification for the second round after their opening-match victory over Nigeria, the football-mad country was instead left to ponder the possibility of not going through to the last 16 of the tournament.

The streets of Buenos Aires were, much like most of the streets in the country's other main cities, quiet from the start of the match as people stayed at home to watch the game on television, despite a kickoff time in Japan which fell around breakfast time in South America.

Only a small group of youths met in downtown Buenos Aires to shout their continued support for their battered team and honk horns in defiance, not willing to believe that the two-time world champions may be on the brink of elimination.

England won with a David Beckham penalty and left Argentina, winners in 1978 and 1986, almost certainly having to beat Sweden next Wednesday to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

"The unthinkable has happened," said the website edition of the Clarin newspaper.

Argentina, coming to terms with economic crises which have left savings almost worthless and the economy in a dire state, is looking to the football team as an escape from their daily problems.

President Eduardo Duhalde watched the match at his official residence in the north of the city. And afterwards, those who had watched in bars and streetside cafes streamed out, for the most part without a word.