Czech Countryside Home to Passionate ‘In Messi We Trust’ Argentina Fan

Bangla Press Desk:  If you didn't know that Czech soccer fan Miloslav "Curby" Urbanec was fascinated by the Argentine national team, ​you might have guessed from the house painted in the ‌sky-blue and white of the team strip and flag. Or the life-size statue of Diego Maradona. Or the Lionel Messi mural.

The music promoter's three-storey house in Bukovka, 90 ​km (56 miles) east of Prague, even boasts a huge sun emblem, ​the central motif of the Argentine flag, high on the ⁠wall.

A larger-than-life Messi mural adorns the back of the house, and ​a statue of the late Diego Maradona guards the courtyard. An all-weather football ​pitch behind the house is surrounded by placards bearing images of the stars of Buenos Aires side Boca Juniors, one of Maradona's teams.

"As a four-year old kid I watched ​the 1978 World Cup in Argentina with my father, and I ​completely loved the long hair of the Argentine players like (Mario) Kempes," said Urbanec, 51.

"They won ‌the ⁠World Cup, that was the start of my passion for Argentina, Boca Juniors, for everything about football."
Urbanec's van is painted sky-blue and white, and bears images of Maradona holding the World Cup and of Messi, with the slogan "In ​Messi we trust", ​and a custom ⁠number plate reading "MARADONA".

Urbanec named his second son, now 7, Lionel because, he said, it was clear seven years ​ago that "this guy is absolutely special".

Urbanec is sure his side ​are ⁠on course for another victory.

"La Seleccion this time is absolutely amazing," he said.

“I believe 100% we will win again and it will be a beautiful party, ⁠not ​only in Bukovka - around the world, because Argentina ​play the most beautiful football.”

Argentina meet Cape Verde in the round of 32 on 3 July. Source: daily Sun
BP/TD