Dozens of Argentinian fans celebrate World Cup victory at Gaucho Grill

 

BROOKFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Billions of people all across the world today tuned in for the World Cup final where Argentina won it all for the first time since 1986!

The Argentinian restaurant Gaucho Grill in Brookfield was the hotspot for many Argentinians cheering on their home country in what’s being called one of the greatest games ever played.

While Argentina was the favorite to win the World Cup, they didn't do it without putting their fans on an emotional rollercoaster. At Gaucho Grill, who opened their doors early just for this game, fans were taken on quite the ride.

Fans could be heard singing chants of all kinds, cheering on their team, “vamos a la selección.. Voy a ser campeon” (we’re going to the finals, I’m going to be a champion) could be heard throughout the packed restaurant, which took reservations days in advance for this much anticipated game.

Argentina led the first half two-nil, leaving fans feeling confident... But that didn't last long. France scored two goals within two minutes at the 80-minute mark. Everyone at the restaurant, from customers to servers, were feeling dismayed at that moment.

Then, Lionel Messi finds the back of the net for Argentina, achieving his second goal of the match. The restaurant erupted in cheers and “gooooolll” all around. That’s when hope returned to the albicelestes.

After some nail-biting moments and eventually penalty kicks, Argentina won the World Cup!

“In the first half we were so relaxed because it was 2-0 we got it we got it, the other two goals in the middle, what are we doing? It’s like Argentina, we are meant to suffer, we are meant to suffer! But we did it, we did it!” said Suzy Azcueta, an Argentinian fan who lives in Milwaukee. She was oftentimes heard screaming the loudest at the game, feeling frustrated through what she called a “rollercoaster”.

Another very vocal fan was Emiliano, who at one point was seen tearing up: “it’s great, an awesome feeling, we waited eight years and we finally got this. And Messi deserves every second of this!” In 2014, Argentina lost to Germany during the final game of the World Cup.

At one point once the game ended, the restaurant erupted in cheers for Tony Paez, the owner of Gaucho Grill. He says the Argentinian restaurant opened in June, with hopes to bring Argentinians together - especially during the World Cup. “This is like a cherry on the cake, complete my dream, now we keep going!” exclaimed Paez.

It wasn’t just Argentinians cheering on the blue and white - fans from Mexico, Venezuela, Panama and the United States were all there in support. Paez says, “that's not just people, that’s family.”

Families from as far as Madison drove to Gaucho Grill to celebrate with their fellow Argentinians. Some described the win as an early Christmas gift, and certainly a day they won't forget.