Football, Buenos Aires

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Managed to get tickets for the River Plate v Olimpo game at the Antoni Liberti stadium (1978 World Cup final was played there if you're old enough to remember).
Atmosphere inside was amazing, great passion and support, sadly, the standard of the game itself didn't match, a tepid 1-0 home win.
Still, a very memorable visit.

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In Buenos Aires you either support Boca Juniors or you support River Plat. Like 2 sides of the railroad track, the Juniors are from the poorer, but more colourful, Boca neighbourhood. Boca have won a record 18 international titles (equal to AC Milan) and sport the colours of gold (yellow) and blue. Their all time hero is the controversial Diego Maradona who famously cheated the English side out of the 1986 World Cup with his famous ‘Hand of God’ handball goal. Surely the most outrageous single event of cheating in sports to ever go unpunished. He waited until 2006 to appologise. And that was after 11 years of allegedly taking drugs.

Boca's supporters are known as "Bosteros" and they are proud to be called ‘la número 12 or La Doce’ - meaning the 12th player.

I was told that watching a football game was something hot in Buenos Aires but i`ve never imagined that it was such a big thing.
As i didn´t want to miss the game i booked with Tangol (http://www.tangol.com/esp/futbolargentino.aspx) a travel agency that runs futbol experience tours ( i got their contact from the Lonely Planet guidebook) they picked me up from my hotel and took me in a van to the stadium with a group of other 11 guys. The guide was the first cool thing, his name is Gonzalo and he told us about the players, stadium, history and the songs wich are amazing. One´s in the stadium i couldn´t belive that 40 thousend people where singing non stop the hole game:) I finished my memory stick in the camera recording the hooligans singing...lovely.
The game was good but the atmosphere was the unique. We all jumped in our seats, sang the songs and get to talk with the Argentinians seating around us that were crazy about their club.
I finished liking River Plate because Ortega, the national team player has something that makes you love their club.
I really think everybody shoul watch a game in BA.
You can trust these people! And Gonzalo is a great guide..i still keep contact with him on facebook.

Equipment: Don´t bring valuables like big cameras, passport or money i just went with a fotocopy of my passport, some cash on my pocket. Look like them not like a turist in safari...:)

It was the highlight of my Argentinian trip. i knew before hand that passion was a big thing in futbol stadiums but i have never imagined something that powerfull. As i went to a big game i took from a guidebook called Buenos aires day & night that was in my hostel the adress of tangol, a trvel agency that picked me up 2 hours before the game in a vana took me to the River Stadium. it was so full of people all covered in red & white. People standing near me would give me newspaper to cut in pieces to trow away ones the first team get into the field. 70thousends people singing andjumping in therir seats. Emotionl, River wn in the last minute and the people stayed inside the stadium for 30 more minutes celebreting the victory. i took 200 pics and made a few videos too:) this guys are reacheble in their website http:www.tangol.com and there are games most weekends and some week days all over the year. Don't take valuables that can call the attention of a pickpocket. Bife the chorizo, ice creams from freddo and futbol is the must do in Argentina.
I hope you can feel all this music, energy, vibration:)

Equipment: clothes to feel comfortable

Football in BA is a unique, fascinating and exciting experience. But you need to know and be aware of the "Barras Bravas"
Firstly, of course there is the simple fact that Argentinians love their football. Everyone knows that in football, local derby games have the most passion. In Argentina, most of the big teams are based in BA so every day is derby day - so much so that there are games on at different times in the city so you if like me, you love the game you can see 2 games on a sunday.
Each club has a "Barras Bravas" and they are basically the thugs. It is not unusual to have organised hooliganism but this is different. Often they have incredibly close links to the clubs and are involved in ticket distribution and various degrees of criminal activity. Club presidents are elected by the supporters hence the Barras Bravas often have a real influence on these elections. They arrive en mass just on kick off, about 2-300 hundred usually and stand behind the home teams goal - DO NOT GET IN THEIR WAY!! During the game, they lead the tempo, sing and chant and really add to the atmosphere but many genuine fans hate them. A recent game between Boca and River saw not only the team bus arriving live on TV but also the busses with the Barras Bravas!
I went to 4 games while I was in BA and had no trouble standing in the popular section. Take sensible precuations starting with recognising the Barras Bravas!
I have been to 2 world cups, the maracana, Camp Nou and Bernabeau but the atmosphere in BA is special (although doesnt quite have the history and hatred a Celtic-Rangers game does!). If you get the chance to go enjoy it... and come away wondering why all the teams have songs that go to the tune of "Karma Cameleon" (1980s hit in UK) - hilarious.
Oh, and when you get back to your hostel, you need to stop singing "la cunch, la cuncha, la cuncha a la tu madre"
Enjoy.

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Check out a South American futbol match while in B.A. I went to see Boca....who seems to be a popular team. The atmosphere of the match was great.

Equipment: You can get a guide if you want....we had one escort us to the match for safety reasons......that just takes the fun out of it though.

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La historia

Titulos en primera: 7. Torneos 49, 50, 51, 58, 61, 66 y Apertura 2001.

Titulos Internacionales: 3. Copa Libertadores 67, Copa Europeo-Sudamericana 67 y Supercopa 88.

Maximo goleador: Evaristo Barrera (1933/38), con 136 goles.

El que más jugó: Agustín Cejas, 312 partidos (1962/80)

Equipment: ARQUEROS
25 CAMPAGNUOLO, Gustavo
1 MARTINEZ GULLOTTA, José Luis
22 ROMERO, Sergio

DEFENSORES
31 Ezequiel Ares
1 Javier Eduardo Arizala
2 Gustavo Daniel Cabral
6 Diego Crosa
3 Celso Esquivel
21 Francisco Maciel
39 Gabriel Ivan Mercado
4 Matías Sánchez
29 Franco Sebastian Sosa
18 Martín Ariel Vitali
José Shaffer

VOLANTES

7 Adrián Jesús Bastia
30 Nicolás Alejandro Cabrera
26 Fernando De La Fuente
33 Gonzalo Garcia
14 Diego Sebastian Menghi
23 Ezequiel Miralles
10 Maximiliano Moralez
17 Cristian Pellerano
8 Sixto Peralta
15 Martín Andrés Romagnoli
27 Sebastián Miguel Ángel Romero
31 Claudio Yacob

DELANTEROS
16 Luis Alberto Benítez
19 Gonzalo Rubén Bergessio
20 Claudio Fileppi
28 Pablo González
11 Claudio Javier López
24 Santiago Malano
9 Facundo Sava

CUERPO TECNICO
DIRECTOR TECNICO Miguel Mico

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Stadium

Name: Pedro Bidegain
Nickname: Nuevo Gasometro
Capacity 43.000 spectators
Pitch Size 110 X 70 Mts.

Equipment: La historia

Titulos en primera: 9. Torneos 33, 46, 59 y 68; nacional 72 y 74; Metropolitano 72; Clausura 95 y 2001.

Titulos Internacionales: 2. Copa Mercosur 2001 y Copa Sudamericana 2002.

Maximo goleador: José Sanfilippo, con 200 goles (1953-62 y 1972)

El que más jugó: Sergio Villar, 445 partidos (1968-81)