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A feeling of destiny surrounded Argentina heading into Tuesday's World Cup semifinal clash with England. It permeated the sweltering Atlanta atmosphere well before the opening whistle and had little to do with Lionel Messi himself.
Thousands of Argentine supporters flooded the city's streets, singing along passionately to "Vamos Argentina." They dominated the scene so thoroughly that the handful of English fans attempting to pass through were pushed to the edges, pressed up against the buildings lining the pavement.
That atmosphere had intensified dramatically by the time fans made their way inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where Argentine supporters outnumbered England's by at least five to one. They repeatedly performed a hand gesture known as "alentar," meaning "to encourage" or "to support." It is a rhythmic flicking motion originating from the elbow, said to have emerged in Argentina during the 1970s. Unlike clapping, the gesture is intended to physically—and rather bluntly—drive the team toward victory.
Tens of thousands of Argentine fans performed the "alentar" gesture in perfect unison, their presence made all the more formidable by their relentless chanting, which echoed off the walls and ceiling of the enclosed venue. They then launched into a chant aimed squarely at their fierce rivals: "El que no salta es un inglés," translating to "Whoever does not jump is English," accompanied by energetic jumping that shook the stadium floor. It was even deployed to drown out England's pre-match national anthem.
Argentina fans are DROWNING OUT the England National Anthem ahead of kickoff in Atlanta
I've never seen anything like this in my life pic.twitter.com/hablYRRS8L
All of this, combined with enormous painted banners of Diego Maradona and Messi hanging from the upper tiers, made it abundantly clear that England felt like the visiting side — a feeling England manager Thomas Tuchel himself acknowledged.
But it was more than just a typical home-crowd atmosphere that propelled Argentina to a dramatic 2–1 comeback victory in the final moments. It was an energy that seemed to challenge anyone who doubted Argentina's ability to claim global glory. It transcended tactical considerations and any notion that the team had stumbled into the knockout rounds by fortune alone. Instead, it fostered a sense of destiny around Argentina, as though this squad was meant to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to lift back-to-back World Cup trophies.
Can Argentina Actually Beat Spain?
If Argentina hopes to topple the formidable Spanish side in Sunday's World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, it will require not only the brilliance of Messi — who already has 12 goal contributions this summer — but the sustained passion of its supporters.
While Spain has been a composed and dominant force throughout the tournament, methodically eliminating opponents while conceding just one goal in total, Argentina has by contrast endured four consecutive near-elimination scares on the road to the final, only adding to the narrative of "fate" surrounding the South Americans.
Spain, the reigning 2024 European Champions, enters the title match in East Rutherford, N.J. as the frontrunner; however, Lionel Scaloni's side has demonstrated throughout this summer that steep odds hold no fear for them. According to Opta, they had just a 1.3% chance of beating England within 90 minutes when the 84th minute arrived. Enzo Fernández's strike in the 85th minute, swiftly followed by Lautaro Martínez's stoppage-time goal, quickly altered that picture.
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Argentina faced even steeper odds in the round of 16 against Egypt. Trailing 2–0, Opta placed their probability of winning at a mere 0.6% after the 78th minute; yet Argentina responded with three goals before the final whistle to claim a stunning victory. It marked the latest any team had ever been down by two goals and still managed to turn the result around in World Cup history.
Argentina will have no concerns about the odds come Sunday, particularly with its fervent and determined fanbase firmly behind them.