Argentinians in South East expect close semi-final

Argentinians living in the South East are predicting penalties in a nailbiter of a World Cup semi-final.

Despite hailing from the country that has nurtured footballing legends Maradona and Messi, some fans who have made their home in Kent, Sussex and Surrey said they felt conflicted about seeing the two sides face each other.

Speaking to BBC South East, Linda Pontoriero, who owns Buenos Aires Steakhouse restaurants in Maidstone, Ashford and Canterbury, said she thought it would be a close match.

"Even in Argentina they are saying the same," she said. "I think it is going to be probably 1-1, with extra time, penalties."

Her restaurants won't be showing the match, but football fan Linda, who saw her home nation play in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, will be watching in Cardiff.

She said both teams have delivered strong performances throughout the tournament.

"I think both of them are really good, playing as a team. I think both teams have been very strategic as well," she said.

As a British citizen, she said there was a "conflict of interests" when watching her two national teams play each other.

"I became British in 2017 and have both passports - even my son was asking me who I will be supporting because I support both teams. I've got the two t-shirts," she said.

"But in this case I have to choose Argentina."

She said if Argentina win, she'll probably have a few drinks, but in Argentina it would be "like a big party... dancing in the streets... normally that's how we celebrate in Argentina".

In Brighton, mother and daughter Adriana Torrembo and Mariel Pautasso run the Baqueano Argentine Restaurant and Grill, and the Malo chain of empanada shops, in The Lanes, Kemptown and Hove.

Mariel said, as Argentinians, football "is part of our culture".

"Everyone celebrates football, but even more so in the World Cup," she said.

"We have watched all of the games so far. I think it has been going quite well. England and Argentina have both had some luck."

Like Linda, the pair do not expect an easy win.

"England is our home, so it would be nice if they win, but we are a bit more Argentinian for sure," said Mariel.

"There's a bit of rivalry – my partner is English, and we will be watching with him from home.

"We are hoping we win, but maybe only by one goal."

Adriana said: "We have all the confidence in Messi, but we know that Harry Kane is strong too."

On merging both cultures when celebrating football, she said: "It's positive to be with family and to share food and traditions together with the new side of our family."

Argentine Noelia Noel, from Godalming, Surrey, will be watching with her 13-year-old son Noam.

While she will be cheering on Argentina he will be shouting for England.

Her husband, she said, was "conveniently" away in Southampton.

Noelia, a University of Surrey astrophysicist, thinks Argentina will win by a bigger margin.

"I think Argentina will win 2-1," she said.

"I think it's going to be fun and it's the first time Messi will face England in a semi-final.

"I think it will be quite emotional in the sense that I was 10 in 1986 when there was the match between Argentina and England."

While her husband and son would be OK if England lost, Noelia said she would be "devastated" if Argentina did not win.

The 49-year-old added: "I will be crying, really sad. But I will recover the next day when we'll have a barbecue."

Whichever team wins, the meal will be Argentine.

"A friend of mine has some connections and gets me good Argentine beef," Noelia added.

The England v Argentina semi-final match is due to kick off at 20:00 BST on Wednesday.

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