BUENOS AIRES, Argentina -- Argentina's upset of the United States at the World Championships of basketball dominated headlines here Thursday, giving Argentines a joyful respite from lingering economic and political crises.

"They changed history!'' blared a front-page headline in Argentina's most prominent daily, La Nacion, which praised the Argentine players as "Giants!'' A headline in Ole, a sports daily in Buenos Aires, read: "We humiliated the Dream Team.''

Argentina defeated the United States 87-80 in the World Basketball Championships, ending the Americans' 10-year international dominance. The U.S. team had been 58-0 with NBA players.

The victory was a triumph for Argentines, who felt let down by their soccer team's first-round exit at the World Cup.

Basketball ranks as the second-most popular sport in Argentina, but replays from Wednesday night's game aired repeatedly on television throughout the morning Thursday, accompanied by comments like, "Argentina downs the best players of the NBA.'' Newscasters described the victory as "one of the most important victories in Argentine sports.''

The win even managed to overshadow the latest news of the country's prolonged financial crisis that last December sparked food riots and widespread street protests, followed by a steep devaluation of the peso, Argentina's currency.

"After all we've been through this year, it's nice to have something to cheer about,'' said Javier Solari, a 36-year-old dentist. "Now I just hope we don't have to play them again.''

The tournament is down to a single-elimination format, and the United States and Argentina, which is 6-0, could meet again.