Messi hat-trick silences late-night Algerian crowd at packed Saint-Denis fan zone | OneFootball

In the small hours in Plaine Saint-Denis, a packed Adidas fan zone watched Algeria beaten 3-0 by Argentina, Lionel Messi’s hat-trick quelling an initially buoyant mood.

According to L'Équipe, roughly 1,500 Algeria supporters gathered at the ZZ playground, inaugurated in 2018 to mark 20 years since Zinédine Zidane’s 1998 World Cup final double against Brazil, with the City fan zone open through to Sunday.

Queues snaked along avenue du Président Wilson, and those arriving late feared missing kick-off. The night featured activations, a rap set by L2B, then screenings of France 3-1 Senegal and Iraq 1-4 Norway before the Group J opener kicked off at three am.

Early on, Farès Chaïbi thought he had put Algeria ahead, only for VAR to rule a marginal offside in the eighth minute. Messi struck on 17 minutes and later completed his treble on his 200th cap, the eight-time Ballon d’Or drawing applause when substituted.

Supporters said social media had drawn them in and that the venue solved a late-night broadcast dilemma, with constant chants rolling across the stands and turf. As hopes faded, some rued Vladimir Petkovic’s bold calls, including Riyad Mahrez and Mohamed Amoura on the bench, arguing Algeria showed Argentina too much respect.

Kansas City, nearly 8,000 kilometres away, staged the match, yet the fans’ energy in Saint-Denis barely waned, even at dawn. Many expected similar turnouts for Jordan at five am on 22-23 June and Austria at four am on 27-28 June.

Source: L'Équipe