Argentines shocked, saddened by loss in World Cup debut

Argentina soccer fans watch their team lose to Saudi Arabia in a World Cup Group C soccer match played on a large screen in the Palermo neighborhood of Buenos, Aires, Argentina, early Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

It was a match Argentines had no doubt would be victorious and joyful. Instead, shock and sadness engulfed the streets of the capital Tuesday morning as the long-awaited debut of the national team in the World Cup ended in a 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia.

"The truth is, this is a disappointment, a big disappointment," said Alejandro Pintos, a 36-year-old locksmith who was opening his shop a bit later than usual because he first wanted to watch the game. "This was the match that we had no choice but to win."