Canadian soccer fans stood in chilly pre-dawn lineups, painted their faces and ultimately wound up on a wild ride on Sunday as they packed bars to take in a particularly tense World Cup final.

But it was Team ArgentinaB次元官网网址檚 fans who ultimately got to celebrate after the squad headed by superstar Lionel Messi secured the win in penalty shots.

At Cafe Diplomatico in TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Little Italy neighbourhood, fans in a packed tent screamed and jumped up when Argentina took the title, hugging each other and waving flags. Music filled the tent and fans danced in celebration, with many screaming MessiB次元官网网址檚 name.

B次元官网网址淭hat is a perfect representation of what this beautiful game is,B次元官网网址� Argentina fan Ian Saya said as he celebrated the win.

B次元官网网址淚t makes you smile, it makes you cry, it makes you laugh, it makes you lose your voice.B次元官网网址�

ArgentinaB次元官网网址檚 victory in soccerB次元官网网址檚 marquee matchup was particularly hard-fought.

Jubilant Argentina fans, buoyed by their teamB次元官网网址檚 two goals in the first half of regulation play, watched in chagrin as defending World Cup champion France struck back to tie the match 2-2 in the second half.

After one goal by each side in extra time, Argentina ultimately won in a penalty shootout.

Saya, who was front and centre watching the game wearing blue-and-white face paint, said he experienced many emotions during the gameB次元官网网址檚 final half-hour.

Longtime Argentina fans Shehzad Merali and Harneet Brar said just before the second half that a World Cup win would secure an important career milestone for Messi, 35, who had never won a World Cup before and scored twice on Sunday.

After the game, Merali said the win cements MessiB次元官网网址檚 legacy.

B次元官网网址淓veryone was saying that heB次元官网网址檚 not the greatest of all time because he never won the World Cup,B次元官网网址� said Merali.

B次元官网网址淲hat are they going to say now?B次元官网网址�

Camila Schiappacasse, who arrived in Canada two weeks ago from Argentina, was waiting outside the bar as the game began. She said she cried at MessiB次元官网网址檚 first goal and was hopeful about the final results.

Afterward, with an Argentina flag wrapped around her shoulders, she described the game as B次元官网网址渋ntense.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚n Argentina, you suffer to win,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 win easily.B次元官网网址�

The largely pro-France crowd at bar LB次元官网网址檅arouf in downtown Montreal, on the other hand, was left disappointed.

Some fans had tears in their eyes as they filed out of the venue.

B次元官网网址淗onestly, IB次元官网网址檓 so sad,B次元官网网址� said Alexis Krass of FranceB次元官网网址檚 loss.

B次元官网网址淢y heart hurts. The last 15 minutes I had hope. But it was not meant to be.B次元官网网址�

France supporters B次元官网网址� subdued after their side was blanked in the first half B次元官网网址� expressed optimism the team could bounce back.

That optimism appeared to pay off in the second half of regulation play when France scored twice in quick succession. Assembled fans exploded in cheers and some even wept when the team pulled even.

B次元官网网址淭his is so incredible! We are going to win,B次元官网网址� predicted Thibault Herbert.

But it was not to be. The extra time saw France once again meet Argentina goal for goal until the decisive penalty shots.

Kylian Mbapp茅 scored a hat trick for France and was ultimately named the top scorer at the tournament in Qatar, but wounded up being consoled on the field by French President Emmanuel Macron after the final.

B次元官网网址� With files from Marisela Amador in Montreal and The Associated Press

Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press

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