Going into their game against Denmark, the nation of Peru had waited no less than 36 years to belt their national anthem out at a World Cup.
When the time came, they did not disappoint as the Himno Nacional reverberated around the Mordovia Arena in Saransk…
Peru national anthem (the Peruvians own this place tonight) pic.twitter.com/03kp50pvUY
— Brett Martel (@brettmartel) June 16, 2018
Alas, it was all too much for at least one Peruvian in the stands.
Indeed, Latina television commentator Coki Gonzales had a bit of a ‘moment’ while watching Los Incas perform an ode to their eternal homeland…
Commentator from Peruvian TV telling his co-commentator to take deep breathes and drink water after he broke down during the national anthem #emoción #PER pic.twitter.com/d44jGm59XS
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) June 16, 2018
Granted, the video doesn’t show much beyond Gonzales forcing down a few gulps of water and giving the thumbs-up, but the accompanying quote sheds a little light on what came before.
Coki Gonzales of Latina Television on being overcome during the #PER national anthem: “I broke down… I’m 39 years old now, and never seen Peru at the World Cup. It has been my life’s dream, the most important moment in my life.”
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) June 16, 2018
Unfortunately, try as they might, Peru ended up losing 1-0 to Denmark in their opening Group C encounter despite fighting tooth and nail.
The final whistle brought with it similar scenes of ecstasy, though among the throngs of Danish fans watching the game live on the pitch at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen…
STEMNING i Parken da Danmark satte inn 1-0 🔈#2vm pic.twitter.com/kKXpd2a5TG
— TV 2 Sporten (@2sporten) June 16, 2018
Football, eh? What a game.