Argentines were counting on a World Cup win to bring a glimmer of a hope to a country that has been economically stagnant for years, is suffering a nearly 100% inflation rate, and where close to 4 in 10 people are living in poverty.
Oscar Lopez, 67, was visibly upset as he reflected on the team's unexpected defeat while wiping down windows outside the building where he is the superintendent.
"If they're in the World Cup, no team is easy," Lopez said, his eyes watering. "You always have to be careful."
But Santiago Babarro, 40, said he wasn't all that shocked by the result.
"The same thing always happens to Argentina," the retail worker said. "We say, 'This is an easy match, we can win it easily,' and then, bam! They put us in our place. We always believe we're more than what we are."Sebastian Fabre, 48, woke up with an uneasy feeling Tuesday, worried about what he said was overconfidence on the side of Argentina fans.
"There was way too much unfounded optimism. I didn't want to say anything but I think we were all way too overconfident," Fabre said.
Leguizamon, who walked to her job at a restaurant still wearing her Argentina jersey, said she could feel those around her were also suffering the loss.
"Everyone is very sad, very sad," she said. "We all woke up with lots of hope."
Still, the fans said they could see a silver lining.
"Really, it's better that this happened in the first match and not in the quarter finals," Fabre said. "That's the positive side to this."
Leuizamon agreed.
"A trip is not a fall, as we say here," she said, using a common Argentine expression. "I'm a big fan of the national team and I get in a really bad mood when it loses but my hope is intact."
Argentina plays Mexico on Saturday in their second match in Group C.