'A bucket of ice water': Argentina cries after World Cup walloping

Gasps gave way to stony expressions of disbelief and then tears as Argentina fans gathered in Buenos Aires watched the humiliation of their football team unfold at the World Cup in Qatar. 

"It was a walloping, a bucket of ice-cold water," Carlos Cuera, 26, said of the 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia. He was still seated in front of a cafe television where fans decked out in their team's white and blue colours gathered from before 7:00 am for the breakfast match in the Argentine capital. 

"Nobody expected this. We thought the first three matches would be an easy victory, and now it has become more complicated," he said, adding the loss had ramped up pressure ahead of Saturday's duel with Mexico. 

Lionel Messi's Argentina side suffered one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history, ending a winning streak that included the Copa America championship. 

The proud, football-crazed nation entered the World Cup among the favourites eight years after they last won the tournament. 

Buenos Aires quickly resumed its normal hustle and bustle as desolate fans headed into the office. 

In central Corrientes street, not far from the city's towering Obelisk, one cafe had set up a screen on the sidewalk, prompting delivery men, taxis, and even bus drivers to slow as they passed -- hoping for another goal. 

The day started better than it ended. Fans leapt from their chairs, screaming with joy when Messi scored a goal off a penalty 10 minutes into the game. 

"I feel very sad, really. The game started so euphoric with so much desire to win, and suddenly the game turned around," said Pilates instructor Lena Widgren, 50, who said she didn't know much about football, but it was about "the emotion of being Argentine, of going out to celebrate." 

Then fans