In pictures: Argentina mourns World Cup exit

World Cup favourites Argentina crash out of the tournament, leaving a football-mad nation desolate.

Fans pray for a last-minute goal in Buenos Aires' Locos por el futbol (Crazy for Football) bar

But the whistle blows and reality sinks in: Argentina are out of the World Cup

For the first time in decades their team do not make the last 16

Gabriel Batistuta leaves the pitch in tears, after what he said was his last match playing for the national squad

His sadness is shared by the Argentine fans who made it to the stadium in Miyagi

And there are tears across Buenos Aires and the whole country

After four years of economic recession, fans are denied a reason to cheer