Tomorrow at 11h00 local time Nigeria and Africa will get their taste of Maradona’s first eleven for the third match in the World Cup 2010 finals.

Nothing makes Argentineans more passionate than futbol.

Argentines are football (soccer) fanatics.

They breath football, they feel football and they worship footballers – ask kids on the street who is the pope and they will look at you blankly, ask them about football and they will astound you with their knowledge – blame the British.

Football is a major part of our national identity ever since the British introduced the game to Buenos Aires it in 1860.

Initially we played the game with a cow’s bladder and a couple of rocks – nice! I cannot say that I fancy the old cow’s bladder, although MEeeeeeSsssssssssIiiiiiiiiiiii might tell you that it would be better than the Adidas World Cup football that has caused just a little controversy.

We founded the A.F.A. (Argentine Football Association) in 1891 and Frank Wooley, its first president, organized a local championship, which won by Saint Andrews, so the Jocks were very much part of the early football scene in Buenos Aires, alas, they did not make the finals South Africa 2010.

Look at some of the names of our local Buenos Aires football teams, Newell’s Old Boys, Racing, Arsenal, River Plate, All Boys, Banfield, all very English names.

The Brits were not only of economic importance to Argentina in the early days, they also brought with them their culture we adopted as our own – not least, football and polo – two sports that Argentina has dominated for many years and more recently tennis and rugby that Argentina will NO DOUBT dominate in future years.

Every 4 years The World Cup creates an outpouring of ‘futbol loco nationalism’, stronger this year in our bicentenary and I feel good, quietly confident, if Maradona keeps his eye on the ball and protects him and his team from the media and us from his mouth we have more than a chance.

There is nothing the ‘futbol locos’ won’t do to see the “the celeste and whites” bring home a 3^rd FIFA World Cup. Most Argentine’s would deal with the devil or promise to crawl to the virgin of Lujan from Buenos Aires City (30km) to see the Argentine football team raise footballs most coveted trophy, the 2010 World Cup.

Surely, you find most Argentines fixed to the spot, in their favorite place and positions for every game. Buenos Aires tourists will need to plan early and fight hard to get their place in the best parts of town to watch Argentina destroy the world’s ‘footballing’ competition – should we meet, good night Brazil and farewell England.

If someone goes to the loo and there is a goal, he or she is relegated, the penalty, the sin bin, to sit the game out in the bathroom!  Make sure that you use the loo before kick-off and at half time because clear and present danger is a trip that blocks the screen.

Some Argentines I know will actually lock themselves alone in a room to avoid any disruption or the nerves of the others spoiling their viewing.

I read recently that so many Argentines are now ‘in-hock’ after spending heavily on those flat screen high definition televisions to ensure the very best at home Argentina football experience.

When you watch a match and Argentina makes a goal, it’s a pleasure to mute the TV and listen to all 40,134,425 argentines shout GOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLL at the same time. I am sure if the African’s listen hard they will hear the sateños and the fueguinos their lungs bursting with sheer join.

It’s been 24 years since a proud Argentine team brought home the World Cup. That day, Buenos Aires city exploded with joy and euphoria.

Imagine 30,507280 porteños (according to last census) shouting and dancing in the streets. The dance will includes the poor with rich, the punks with emos, nuns with atheists, socialists and liberals, maybe even Christina will tango Macri down 9^th Julio – now that would be a scene of consensus.

It doesn’t matter – that day we are one, we are Argentina and we are winners.  On top of the world again, come on Argentina!

Here is  a couple of Argentine footballs favorite chants – learn them, so, when people start to sing in the bars and in the streets you can join in and be part of our proud football culture:

OLE OLE OLE

OLE OLE OLE OLA

OLE OLE OLE

CADA DIA TE QUIERO MAS (every day I love you more)

SOY ARGENTINA(I am  Argentina)

ES UN SENTIMIENTO (It is a feeling)

QUE NO PUEDO PARAR (that I cannot stop)

(REAPEAT FROM THE TOP OLE OLE OLA……)

—————     ———————————————————

VOLVEREMOS VOLVEREMOS (We will be)

VOLVEREMOS OTRA VEZ (We will be again)

VOLVEREMOS A SER CAMPEONES (We will be champions)

COMO EN EL OCHENTA Y SEIS( like in eighty six)

(REPEAT FROM THE TOP VOLVEREMOS VOLVEREMOS….)

I suggest you go somewhere public to see the games. You will enjoy the football more and you can practice your chants, mingle with the local and catch football fever.

Where to watch the football:

Outdoors

Giant screens placed by the city government in

Plaza San Martin

Parque Centenario

Movie Theaters

FIFA has authorized Argentine movie theaters to show all  the games

On their screens and in high definition.

Bars and Lounges

Every single bar, café, hotdog stands that have electricity Will have some sort of apparatus showing the games. Here are a couple of options that I would suggest.

Locos por el Futbol

Azcuenaga 1896

Prodeo Lounge

Gorriti 5374   Tel:4831-4471

La Popular

Lavalle 3602

El Banderin

Guarda Vieja and Billinghurst

Restaurants

All the restaurants will have the games. If I had to choose one I would have to say:

Rodizio

Avenida Alicia Moreau de Justo 838,

Tel:4334 3638

Hotels

Intercotinental Buenos Aires

Café de las Luces

Tel:4340-7100

Hotel Madero Buenos Aires

White Bar

Tel:5776-7655

NH Hoteles: NH 9 de Julio , NH Jousten, NH City and

Tower, NH Tango, NH Lancaste, NH Crillon

0800-222-6464

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