Lucas Romano and his father made the decision on a phone call: Grab three friends
and chase Argentina across the United States.
There was just one slight issue: All five live in Buenos Aires.
For Romano and the group, that wasn’t a problem. They refused to let geography, the
storms that wrecked the Northeast on Saturday — or money — get in the way.
“I don’t think it’s a decision where the money is before passion or before the heart,” he
said. “The game lasts 90 minutes, but the trip lasts a lifetime. It’s more than just one
week.”
And what a week it was.
The group landed in Miami on Tuesday, rented a car, and drove 10 hours to Atlanta —
without tickets to Argentina’s semifinal against England.
No problem.
They bought them — at $3,000 a pop — hours before kickoff.
When Argentina rallied for a 2-1 victory, they made the next decision: New Jersey for
the final.
Then they checked the weather.
Seeing a storm in the forecast, they rented another car and hit the road again.
And bought more tickets. For more than $3,000.
“More than five but less than 10,” Romano said.
At this point, the cost didn’t really matter.
“The money, of course, is something important, but it’s a privilege to be here for us,” he said.
Romano was speaking for the group inside American Dream, hours before what would
be a disappointing outcome. Argentina lost to Spain, 1-0.
They knew it was possible. They said they were OK with any result.
“How many chances will we have to do this?” he said.
They had post-match plans.
“We’re going to spend Monday in New York then fly home on Tuesday,” he said.
What’s another day on a road trip of a lifetime?
“We are so grateful for the opportunity to follow this team,” he said. “They have given us
so much.”
