When Argentina were gearing up for their do-or-die game against Nigeria, their fans were seen busy at the counters of Saint Petersburg's central rail station.
The counter number 20 and 21 are allocated for the travelling fans to buy advance ticket for any destination in Russia. The long queue in those two counters were actually dominated by the Argentina fans, who were seeking tickets to Kazan, which will host one of the eight Round of 16 games. It will actually host the match between Group C winners and Group D runners-up on June 30, which means if Argentina won the game against Nigeria and made it to the last sixteen, they will play France in Kazan.
This was a morning rush in the Mayakovskya station, where fans turn up when they fail to get a ticket on-line or want ticket at the last moment. There were about fifty Argentina fans desperately looking for a ticket to Kazan, anticipating their beloved team would beat Nigeria and make it to the last 16.
There were also a few Nigerian fans in the mix looking for the ticket to the same destination, which is 815 miles from Moscow – an 11.5-hour-ride if it is not a high-speed train. It was interesting to see the Argentine fans taking a gamble despite the fact that their team's fate lay on them beating Nigeria and the other group game ending in their favour.
But when asked they looked confident and said 'nothing can stop the Albiceleste' from heading to Kazan.
Argentina are just not another team in the World Cup. They have got obsessed followers at home and an equally strong following across the world, Asia in particular. An early exit for Argentina is also disaster as far as business is concerned. The World Cup will lose the glamour that Messi and his men bring. Let's hope Argentina get hold of a ticket from Saint Petersburgh to Kazan like their ever-trusted loyals.
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