Less than 10 hours after arriving in Atlanta from Buenos Aires, Facundo Mey and Malena Riesgo were pounding the streets sporting their Argentina shirts on a quest for tickets for Wednesday's World Cup semi-final between their home country and England.
"We think it's a once in a lifetime chance to see Lionel Messi in the World Cup," said Riesgo.
The 21-year-old pair said they were willing to pay up to $2,000 each for a ticket for the match at the Atlanta Stadium. If unsuccessful, they conceded they would watch the game at a bar in the city.
Progress through knockout rounds
Argentina, who beat France on penalties in the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, go into the semi-final in shaky form.
They needed extra-time to see off World Cup debutantes Cape Verde 3-2 in the last 32.
Egypt led them 2-0 up until the 79th minute before Argentina came back to win 3-2. And in the quarter-final, Switzerland appeared to have their number.
But Argentina's array of stars found moments of magic to win 3-1.
England have also laboured through the knockout rounds.
In the last 32, they came from behind to beat Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1. They erected a 10-man defensive wall in the 3-2 last-16 victory over Mexico and they profited from sheer good luck to dispatch Norway 2-1.
'Egypt was the worst'
"Egypt was definitely the worst," said Mey. "It looked like we were going out."
Riesgo nodded. "There was a lot of crying," she said. "But when we won, it was amazing."
Mey added: "We're just not used to seeing Argentina in the early stages of the knockout rounds."
Neither are the two used to seeing England play Argentina. They were babes in arms when the sides last met on 12 November 2005 – a friendly played in Geneva which ended in a 3-2 win for England.
There has been hostility between the two sides since the war between the United Kingdom and Argentina in 1982 over the Falkland Islands.
Tensions were high when they met in the quarter-finals at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico in 1986.
These were ignited when Argentina skipper Diego Maradona used his hand to guide the ball past the England goalkeeper Peter Shilton and match officials allowed the goal.
Fear of Kane
Back in the present day, Mey and Riesgo's chief concern ahead of the game is England captain Harry Kane.
Kane has scored six goals during the tournament, to sit two behind his Argentine counterpart Messi.
"Kane is a very good striker," said Mey. "He's been very efficient when scoring his goals but I think we have a great defence and we can win."
While there might be rivalry at home, with Mey a River Plate fan and Riesgo a Boca Juniors supporter, "when it comes to the national team of our country, it's love," says Mey.
"I think [Messi is] the best in the world," he said. "And he will do something magical in the game against England."
Riesgo added: "He's the most intelligent. He's always one step ahead. He watches what is going on all the game and looks for the spaces. I don't know what else to say about him ... he's the best."
