Jon Nelson's World Cup Musings: Do call it an absolute comeback

You can ask the question now: “Where were you when Argentina had a comeback for the ages?” 

Well, the short answer hopefully is somewhere along the lines of: “I wasn’t in Atlanta Stadium, but I watched on TV. And, even if I wasn’t a fan of either team, it was a really cool moment for the sport and for Atlanta to be able to have it.” 

I’m fairly sure we all have our favorite comeback moments attached to our favorite teams. My wife will tell you a few Auburn football moments that she was able to watch in person and it’s still something that will give her goosebumps when you bring up that time of year. 

The atmosphere in town yesterday was a personification of what the World Cup can bring to a particular market. Argentina fans, ticket or not, were in downtown to prepare for the Round of 16 match with African power Egypt. The FIFA FanFest downtown made an excellent snap planning decision bringing in legendary musical act Las Palmeras for a few numbers on the morning of before the match itself. 

So, the vibe was already close to an 11 on the noise meter. Coming into the building, I think it was easy to see that the Argentine fan percentage was 90% to 10% Egyptian fans in attendance for a building that, for the sixth time in seven matches, was at 68,239. The noise was off the charts and when Egypt punctured the Argentine defense for a 1-0 lead, what was the South American team's fans' response?

“Okay, we’re trailing? Let’s sing louder.” 

This wasn’t La Bombonera or The Monumental — the homes of Boca Juniors and River Plate, respectively, in Argentine football — it was Atlanta Stadium. And the joyful — or encouraging noise depending on the moment — carried anyone attached for a roller-coaster ride.  

Argentina went down a second goal after Egypt had its “original” second goal wiped off the board by Video Assistant Review. That’s when the fans of “La Albiceleste” got nervous. Instead of singing, it was trying to exhort and push the team back into the match for a chance to take on the winner in Vancouver later on in the afternoon. 

It wouldn’t be until the 75th minute that things started for Lionel Andres Messi and company. Egypt made the fateful decision to just sit back and let Argentina do all the work. 

You simply cannot do that and expect to succeed. 

Goal No. 1, a header by “Cuti” Romero with 15 to go, brought the noise to a plateau. 

All highlights, brought to us by our friends at Telemundo: 

Then, the second goal was off a recycled chance where they were trying to keep every Egyptian player from touching the ball to keep possession inside 18-yard box. And it fell to Messi. You may have to watch the highlight more than once, but watch where contact is made in the chaos. 

It wasn’t a natural strike. The ball made contact just below the knee and still had the force to erase Egypt's lead. 

Then, with the field surely tilted, north of 90 minutes on the clock, they got the lead on another entry pass to the top of the six, and Argentina gets to the ball first.

Three goals in just 13:15 and you go from 2-0 down to winning 3-2. 

When you have a moment, like over lunch or something, go find the scenes from inside Atlanta Stadium after the match and into the night. Having moments like this are what makes the World Cup special — and, remember, it was here in this hemisphere for the first time on the men’s side since 1994. 

The match to determine who goes to Kansas City to take on Argentina didn’t match the spectacle and the energy in Atlanta. But it went for longer than 120 minutes before it was decided. Switzerland won in penalty kicks to face Argentina this Saturday night. 

Today is the rarest of species in the World Cup: the “off day.” Everyone, fans and participants alike, gets to rest and recuperate before it starts again tomorrow afternoon when France and Morocco start the quarterfinals halfway between Boston and Providence. 

Catch your breath, folks... it only ramps up more from here. 

Play it safe, everyone... I’ll talk to you soon. (Well, and if news breaks and we need to discuss.)