Beleghata: If the World Cup were a toy store, Calcutta would be the kid whose stock never runs out.

Barely had Brazil exited on Friday and memories of Leo Messi’s forlorn face faded, fans in a Beleghata neighbourhood found a new team to support and flaunted their loyalty in the form of a giant flag purporting to be of Belgium.

The Belgian flag, around 20ft high and 10ft wide, hangs from a green nylon rope with one end tied to a tree behind Beleghata Balaka Club and the other to a bamboo pole atop the roof of a two-storey house.

The club, a long goal kick away from Joramandir on Chowlpatty Road, is the hotbed of Argentina supporters. The familiar blue-and-white Argentina flag had been hanging at the same spot where the Belgian one was on Saturday when the World Cup had started last month. Nobody would have imagined then that Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne would keep the spirits up at the business end of the tournament rather than Messi and Angel de Maria.

Although few would publicly admit it, support for Belgium grew since the knockout draw hinted at a possible Brazil-Belgium clash in the quarter-final.

Gopal Bal, 24, a die-hard Argentina fan, was instrumental in getting the Belgian flag. "We wanted a giant one of Belgium. We scoured the entire Maidan market but did not get the size that we were looking for," said Gopal, who works in the canteen of an office building in Sector V.

He and a few other club members then purchased red, yellow and black fabric separately and got them stitched at a local tailoring shop. "The flag cost us around Rs 1,200," said Sanjit Das, the secretary of Balaka Club.

Sanjit, 35, and Gopal follow the English Premier League and are familiar with the top players, although they don't have a favourite club. Since Most Belgian players play for the top clubs, names like Eden Hazard, Lukaku and Bruyne are not just World Cup pop-ups.

Lukaku's solo runs and De Bruyne's precision passing have become hot topics of discussions everywhere - from households to several para clubs like the one in Beleghata.

"The way Belgium came from behind against Japan showed their mettle. I wish Argentina had some of their steel," said Sanjit.

Members of Beleghata Balaka Club had watched the quarter-finals together and there were several heart-in-the-mouth moments when Brazil came close to equalising. "The goalkeeper with a tough name (Thibaut Courtois) was the man of the match for me," said Gopal.

The Chelsea keeper, one of the stars for Belgium, thwarted Neymar and Co at least three times.

Surajit Das, 31, remains one of the few loyal Brazil supporters in the club. "I did not want the Belgium flag to be flaunted. It hurts more after Friday's loss. But I am thoroughly outnumbered now," he said.

A correction. July 8, 2018.
An earlier version of this report had identified the flag in the accompanying picture erroneously as that of Belgium. The second paragraph has also been modified accordingly.