Blue, white… that’s all. This Sunday, Matias Bracero’s heart will only beat with two colors of the Argentine flag. An 18-year-old boy may well be born in France, love his country and Paris, but here he is, he has an Argentinean soul. And for the sixth Albiceleste final, a young student from Poissy (Yvelines) will put on his two-tone jersey and join a Parisian bar to follow the meeting with other members of the Hispanic community.
“I will be there early in the afternoon. I watched all the matches there in a crazy atmosphere,” he admits. I support Argentina, and this is not negotiable. I have been with my team since childhood, I discovered football thanks to Messi’s Barca. »
Speaking about the selection, first of all, we are talking about the exploits of Lionel Messi and Leandro Paredes, perfected game, grind, “Maradona” heritage. But for Matias, this is more than football.
His entire family is from Buenos Aires, and his parents own an Argentine grocery store in Poissy and Longnes near Mantes la Joly. The business they dubbed “La Boca del Riachuelo”*, named after the picturesque area of the capital…
“We can be French and support Argentina”
It is there that the young man has his habits, where Matthias tries to go every year, even if Covid slowed down his crossing of the Atlantic. He appreciates the “way of life” of the inhabitants, their calmer attitude than in France. “People are more open, more relaxed. We can talk about anything, argue without taboos, we can laugh at anything without fear of shock. I feel that in France we are stuck and people are more receptive. »
He says “we” when he talks about Argentina and France. Two countries, two hearts, two passions. And stubborn misunderstanding: why ask to choose? “I don’t understand all this controversy. You can be French and support Argentina, French and support Morocco. This is not an insult to France! The country of origin is the country of the heart, family, ancestors. There is another affection, and this in no way detracts from our love for France. »
*Information on the Facebook page of the same name or on labocadelriachuelo.wordpress.com
Source: Le Parisien
I have worked in the news industry for over 10 years. I have a keen interest in sports and have written for many different publications. I am currently working as an author at 24 News Recorder. I cover mostly sports news but also write about other topics such as current affairs and politics. I have a strong interest in social media and how it can be used to engage with audiences.
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