An Argentinian pop song has become the unofficial World Cup anthem for Lionel Messi and company.
“Muchachos, ahora nos volvimo’ a ilusionar” – a song by Argentine nine-piece band La Moscas – rang out in Qatar’s stadiums during the tournament and also caught fire in dressing rooms.
The band’s signature sound is a heady mix of ska, rock and pop and the title of their hit roughly translates to “Boys, We Have Our Hopes Up Again”.
It has become a rallying cry for the two-time World Cup-winning nation and their 40,000 faithful in Qatar.
According to the AFP news agency, the Argentine embassy in Doha reported that between 35,000 and 40,000 Argentines have traveled to Qatar in the hope of seeing their team lift the World Cup for the first time in 36 years old, in what could also be 35 years old. Messi’s last tournament.
Alongside South American rivals Brazil and fellow semi-finalists Morocco, Argentinian fans helped create a carnival atmosphere throughout the tournament.
The anthem that has become their rallying cry is actually a cover of a 2003 song that was originally titled “Muchachos, Esta Noche Me Emborracho” (“Boys, Tonight I’ll Get Drunk”). This version was all about heartbreak. Not so exciting.
However, the singer of the group, Guillermo Novellis, has Explain that a fan called Fernando Romero wrote new lyrics celebrating Argentina’s road to the 2021 Copa America final. Novellis and his band then recorded this version and released it ahead of the World Cup.
The first line of the new edition makes explicit reference to the two greatest icons of Argentine football: “I was born in Argentina, land of Diego and Lionel, children of the Falkland Islands, whom I will never forget.”
So it’s no wonder that Messi and his teammates are fans. Messi himself claimed earlier this year on Argentinian TV that it was his favorite football chant.
Following Argentina’s victory over Mexico in Group C, the team were captured dancing around the locker room, chanting the La Moscas anthem at the top of their voices.
When Argentina then overtook Australia in the round of 16, La Moscas posted a video on their own Instagram account, showing fans at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium screaming their song.
And these are the scenes in the Argentinian dressing room after this game.
It’s a show of good faith.
Argentina will face Croatia on Tuesday for a semi-final at the Lusail Iconic Stadium. They haven’t won a World Cup since Maradona inspired his nation to victory in 1986.
If they manage to go all the way this time, we already know what the soundtrack will be.
