Argentina supporter skips church to see World Cup final But it’s Spain’s prayers that are answered

The loudest roar of the afternoon came not during the match, but after the referee’s final whistle echoed across a packed Caymanas Park, sending scattered Spain supporters into celebration while the sea of blue-and-white Argentina jerseys fell silent.

Families filled the Mayberry Investments Goal Rush Tailgate on Sunday to watch Spain edge Argentina 1-0 in the FIFA World Cup final, with the overwhelming majority of supporters backing the South American side. Children, parents and grandparents, many dressed in Argentina’s iconic colours, reacted to every save and missed opportunity throughout the contest, but it was the final whistle that sparked the biggest response of the day.

Among the disappointed supporters was 64-year-old Caroline Bolton, who had spent days preparing for the occasion. The lifelong Argentina supporter arrived with her daughter and grandson after making sure everything at home had already been taken care of.

“I make sure go meat shop from yesterday (Saturday), season up meat from yesterday, make juice from yesterday, because I made up my mind from before say I’m going to come here,” she told THE STAR.

Bolton, an elder in her church, said she had even informed her bishop that football would take priority over Sunday service.

“Mi done tell mi bishop from morning say I will not be in church,” she said. According to Bolton, her bishop had no issue with her decision.

“He said, ‘Okay Sister Bolton’. Champs, football match, the game must go on. We are not one of the stuck-up ones.”

Despite watching her team fall short, Bolton readily admitted Spain deserved the victory.

“To tell you the truth, Spain play good ball today,” she said. “Mi die-hearted Argentina, but you have to give justice where justice is due. Spain play good defence ball today.”

She said she has remained loyal to Argentina for as long as she can remember and has no intention of changing now.

“I’ve been supporting Argentina for as long as I know myself. I have been watching them play,” she said. “If Argentina lose, mi lose wid them.”

Already thinking about the team’s next outing, Bolton laughed as she said she would be preparing her lucky outfit again.

“Mi ago try go home go wash mi shorts make it dry fi wear tomorrow (today),” she said. “Win, lose or draw, Argentina.”

While disappointed with the result, Bolton believed Argentina’s goalkeeper spared the team an even heavier defeat.

“They would’ve scored round eight goals,” she said. She was, however, critical of Argentina’s inability to seriously threaten Spain’s goal.

“Argentina never shot anything at the goalie. That was their biggest downfall this time. They didn’t get the chance to go in the box to shoot again.”

Bolton also dismissed the idea that watching football conflicted with her Christian faith.

“I don’t see anything wrong with watching the game. It’s a simple football. I come here now, it’s not like I’m smoking and drinking. I know what to participate in. I come and I sit down and I enjoy the match,” she reasoned. “I too was like them. I still have family members that was out in the world same way. This is a clean thing. It’s not doing any harm. Religion or not, it’s a game.”

Just a short distance away stood Betty McNaughton, one of the few Spain supporters among the packed crowd of Argentina fans. Dressed in her Spain jersey, she had attended with family members, but found herself separated from them after they chose to cheer for Argentina.

“Right now mi daughter dem over deh say dem say Argentina and mi grandpickney dem, so mi leave from which part dem deh and go by miself,” she said.

McNaughton explained that her loyalty to Spain dates back decades and was inspired by her Cuban father. “From mi know miself mi a watch football in and out. The love for the Spanish side is because my father is Cuban.”