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Argentine fans' salute despite the narrow loss

Buenos Aires: Don't cry for Argentina. Or so it seems, judging by the fan reaction in Buenos Aires to the penalty shootout loss to Germany at the World Cup.

Argentina's 4-2 defeat on penalties did not deter some 2,000 fans from gathering in the capital to shout soccer chants, beat drums and dance a samba to salute their team's hard-fought "Battle in Berlin."

The fans shot bottle rockets into the air. They tossed confetti. They also honked horns and even created a small traffic jam. Never mind that this South America country's dream of picking up a third World Cup title were dashed again.

On Friday, frenzied Argentine fans jumped up and down in unison to a drumbeat as they massed at the towering stone spire known as the Obelisk, normally a rallying point for soccer victories.

Even in defeat, their tribute to their team went on. Cars fluttered Argentine flags. Some confetti rained down from office towers— but not nearly the blizzard forecast if Argentina had clinched a semifinal berth. — AP

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