Throughout the penalty shootout, there was a wave of cheers and groans. In the end, everyone went home quiet, very quiet.

Argentina had exited World Cup 2006, making it also the end of the road for the millions die-hard Bangladeshi supporters.

It was all so different when the first quarterfinal between Bangladesh's favourite team Argentina and hosts Germany began at Berlin and was telecast on big-screens throughout Dhaka, including the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.

The lines of rickshaws near the small gate were proof enough for yours truly that he would have to jostle his way through, inside the otherwise cricket hotbed of Dhanmondi.

Hundreds of students from the nearby coaching centres and private universities congregated with drums and whistles, which were played with glee as the South Americans dominated the first-half.

It was a stark contrast with the atmosphere that prevailed at the Olympiastadion. Surely, this had to be similar to Buenos Aires or any other Argentine city.

The atmosphere was brilliant and rather expectant. There were a few nervous moments, but loud cheers went up everytime the Argentines won the ball back.

The cross-section of people -- service holders, students, retired persons as well as workers and rickshawpullers from Dhanmondi and nearby Jigatola, Rayer Bazar, Mohammadpur, etc -- were rewarded with a goal, thanks to a Roberto Ayala header and the small corner at the ground went berserk.

Hysterical hugs followed by deafening roar broke the night's silence. The hundreds who braved the rain hoped that there would be more goals. There was one more but that came from the Germans.

Miroslav Klose headed home the equaliser just ten minutes before full-time in normal period, and the first signs of quietness came over. Criticism of the coach, referee (!) flew left and right. Nobody wanted to leave at that stage even though it was getting late for most of the students, who came to the area to do classes in the early evening.

There were several heart-stopping moments during extra-time -- some because of phone calls from wives and parents back home as it was actually getting very late.

Realisation also struck that their hero -- the wonder boy Lionel Messi -- would not play the quarterfinal.

"(Jose) Pekerman was supposed to be a coach of the youth, but he seems to be more defensive than I thought," said a concerned Sohel, a resident of Mohammadpur.

The few muted German fans suddenly started to voice their excitement as the game inevitably drew towards tie-breaker, which the Germans are famous for.

Then a sequence of emotions went through the Argentina fans. Some could not even dare to watch. Ayala was cursed after his miss, proving how fickle supporters can be. And then as every German penalty went in, the minority seemed to grow in numbers, but were largely quiet too, a bit of sympathy it seemed.

The end neared with Tim Borowski's successful kick but some still hoped against hope.

"Score and save, and they miss," screamed a visibly anxious Hasan, a student.

But his hopes were dashed as Cambiasso missed. Hands in heads, hips and then wiping off the tears.

They sat motionless for a while before hurtling home inconsolable.