Kolkata: Loyalties changed, colours were switched and heroes altered as some of the big teams tumbled in the run-up to the World Cup final, swelling support for Argentina’s relatively less fancied opponent on Sunday. Fluid loyalty shored up Spain’s support base even as Argentina retained its stranglehold over Kolkata football fans, with lakhs rooting for them on the big night. Argentina fan clubs that spring back to life every four years at every corner of the city prayed, cheered and pleaded for a win for Messi & Co. They found a worthy adversary in Spain supporters, mostly Brazil, France and Germany supporters who switched camps and metamorphosed into La Roja fans to resist another Argentina win.Take Howrah student Disha Ghoshal, for instance. The youngster said she can’t accept the fact that Argentina will stagger to another World Cup win. “Argentina have won multiple matches by God’s grace, and I think they don’t deserve their place in the finals. It is sheer luck that they have survived, though Messi was brilliant. So, I will be supporting Spain with my friends at a sports bar,” she said.Anushka Singha, a Salt Lake resident and an IT employee, felt people often get carried away by big names and emotions during finals. “I support Spain because they have been the better footballing side for most of the tournament. They deserve recognition beyond the headlines and more than Argentina.”Techie Souvik De, originally a Brazil fan, always had Spain as his second favourite. After Brazil’s exit, which he had foreseen, De rooted for Yamal & Co. “But I had not expected them to raise their game as much as they did against France. The tactical brilliance — the way they secured a numerical advantage, outnumbering France attackers throughout the match — was just unbeatable. Also, they have a skilled genius like Yamal, who could be the next Messi. Rodri, Pedri and Marc Cucurella are his able allies. They have the brilliance to match Argentina’s key players like Lautaro Martinez, Julian Alvarez, Enzo Fernandez and Emiliano Martinez. And there’s, of course, Messi, who has been making a difference with one brilliant assist or a genius of a goal. But they are up against a spirited Spain, who have the right strategy and tactical acumen to block the Argentinian juggernaut and the skill to slip goals through their defence,” said De.Kolkata’s ‘Brazil para’ — Fakir Chakrabarty Lane in Girish Park — that has been decked up in Brazil colours for the last six weeks has remained in gloom since the exit of Vini Junior & Co. Their supporters defected to France, England and then Spain over the last one week. “In the last two matches, Spain have been brilliant and showed glimpses of Brazil’s brilliance. While we respect Argentina and celebrate Messi, we can’t get ourselves to support them. So, we will be cheering for Spain. They seem to be a good match for Argentina and have the firepower to get past them. Argentina have been brilliant in the last 20 minutes, so if Spain can keep the momentum going till the end, they can upstage Messi’s apple cart. And that will lead to some cheer in our neighbourhood,” said Joydeep Pal, a member of Uttar Kolkata Dishari Club in Girish Park.(Inputs from Rajib Ranjan Thakur)
