#ElijoCreer: the coincidences by which some believe that Argentina will win the World Cup
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Argentines are not only —perhaps— the most passionate soccer fans on the entire planet, but they live their passion with a lot of superstition. And when it comes to selection, much more. They keep their cabals for the team to win, some wear the same clothes or do not wash the shirt, others watch the games alone. And in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, superstitions have revolved around the coincidences with the 1986 World Cup that Argentina won in the final against West Germany.
It was the consecration of Diego Maradona at that time. And now, when Lionel Messi is one step away from winning a World Cup to be considered the best footballer in history, the coincidences and curious facts that are repeated between 2022 and 1986 are not few. The similarities have been fed and exposed by campaigns and the media, and multiplied in networks by users.
The phrase that became a mantra for Argentines in this cup is “I choose to believe.” And in the midst of a sea of predictions, the phrase “cancel mufa” is repeated, a kind of conspiracy against bad luck due to the predictions of Argentine victory.
There are ridiculous, unverifiable coincidences. Others very obvious and little random. But it can be said that there are some striking coincidences. Below we list some of the most prominent (and verifiable).
Those who were in 1986 and were in 2022
There is a team that was in the Maradona World Cup and returned to its second cup in Qatar: Canada. The presence of the North American team is for many one of the reasons to believe that Argentina will be champion again.
In 1986 Morocco also played, although it is worth saying that this team also played in the 1994, 1998 and 2018 World Cups, in which Argentina did not even reach the semifinal, and in 1970, when Argentina did not qualify.