Dont cry for me Argentina : Brazil mock rivals’ World Cup upset, There are few things that can match to watching the World Cup in Brazil: the borderline obsession with football; the avalanche of national pride. And the joy when Argentina, a competitor, loses. The latter was on full display on Tuesday when Brazil’s bitter rivals Argentina lost 2-1 to 51st-ranked Saudi Arabia to begin their eagerly-awaited World Cup campaign in Qatar. This was one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. Brazil, whose beloved “Selecao” lost the 2021 Copa America final at home to their continental rivals, received the outcome with amusement.
Dont cry for me Argentina : Brazil mock rivals’ World Cup upset
“Argentina” soon became the top trending topic on Twitter in Brazil — largely driven by mockery from the sort of fans who openly admit their second-favorite World Cup pleasure is seeing Lionel Messi and his team lose. “There are three things that bring joy to any Brazilian,” tweeted one wag. “1. Barbecue 2. Holidays 3. Argentine crying.”
Another tweeted a picture of himself grinning happily in a yellow-and-green Brazil jersey, with the words: “Don’t cry for me Argentina.” Some Brazilians reinvented the Argentine flag, replacing the sun in the center with a yellow “sobbing” emoji. Others were inspired to hatch new definitions of “schadenfreude,” the German word often translated as the pleasure derived from another person’s misfortune. “Does SCHADENFREUDE mean ‘Argentina got screwed’ in German?” wrote one social media wit.
Another strand of mockery employed Brazilians’ own lingo — the word “zebra,” which means upset. “A ‘zebra’ at the World Cup is great, but a ‘zebra’ with Argentina IS SO INCREDIBLY GREAT,” said one tweet. “Argentina lost their invincibility in their World Cup opener in a ‘zebra.’ If that’s not an excellent morning for any Brazilian football fan, I don’t know what is!” said another.
But others in Brazil — arguably the only country more often cited as tournament favorites than Argentina — were all too aware that what goes around comes around. “Let’s calm down. Brazil play tomorrow, and they’re favorites!” said one, as Neymar and team prepared to make their debut Thursday against Serbia.
Then, there was the unmentionable memory of the Brazilians’ own not-so-long-ago humiliation: the five-time champions’ 7-1 loss to Germany at home in the 2014 World Cup semi-finals. “Argentina’s loss may have been a big ‘zebra,’ but unfortunately for us, better not to even remember our greatest shame, right?” tweeted one.
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