Heading to Argentina -- question for the soccer fans

• BigAppleBuckeye

  

  Websurfinbird and I are headed down to Buenos Aires (Nov 21-28) for vacation, and we want to catch a soccer match. I know there are a lot of soccer fans on the board, and I was hoping you could point us in the right direction, as we both know very little about international soccer. What team should we see? River Plate? Boca Juniors? Also, are they in-season in late November? We checked out the websites but they were a little confusing. Thanks in advance!
• Automatik

  

  You should be good. Their season runs similar to the EPL's Start in early August to mid June. Here is their fixtures from this season.
  
  http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/fixtures/_/id/5/boca-juniors?cc=5901
  
  Personally I'd go see Boca....lots of history with that club and a cool stadium from what I've heard.
• DeyDurkie5

  

  boca juniors is my choice....if you need someone to tag along for free, you can always take me.
• Laley23

  

  Gotta go to either Boca Juniors or River Plate. No other option!
  
  Both have amazing history. Boca have produced the nations top player ever, Diego Maradona, and River Plate have produced Alfredo di Stefano (the greatest player for Real Madrid of all time). But I think Boca have more history and would go to their game.
  
  You might also be able to get a Columbus Crew jersey of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who played for Boca for like 10 years. The fans would love you if you came in his jersey.
• BigAppleBuckeye

  

  Awesome feedback everyone, very much appreciated! This is extremely helpful ... I will keep you posted when (if) we land tickets.
  
  Laley: cool idea about the Columbus jersey. Do you think that would be a good move, or would the locals get pissed about him leaving for the U.S.?
• SportsAndLady

  

  BAB, "smaller" teams in soccer do not get upset when their star players leave...like it happens in the US (see: Cavs fans hate Lebron). They rejoice in their star players' successes and do not feel they were "betrayed" They take a lot of pride in developing stars. They will absolutely love the jersey.
• SportsAndLady

  

  Also, La Bombonera is awesome, I did some facilities research on that stadium last year for one of my classes, very cool
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Laley23

  

  BigAppleBuckeye;762484 wrote:Awesome feedback everyone, very much appreciated! This is extremely helpful ... I will keep you posted when (if) we land tickets.
  
  Laley: cool idea about the Columbus jersey. Do you think that would be a good move, or would the locals get pissed about him leaving for the U.S.?

  
  They will love it. They will particularly love it since you are an American with enough knowledge to know he played there before and it will show you know the game (even if you dont). They will love it. As S&L said, fans love when their players make it big. I would say GBS left for America when he was a bit older, but they will still be pleased he won a title and MVP in the MLS, even though he didnt necessarily leave for "greener pastures" in Europe.
• SportsAndLady

  

  If you want to go more on the common side, you could also get a Carlos Tevez jersey, since he also played for Boca.
  
  And Argentinean international jerseys are pretty fucking sweet.
• BigAppleBuckeye

  

  Awesome stuff guys, this is great. Sincerely, thanks a lot.
  
  On a totally unrelated note: I guess polo is huge down there, and my wife and I might check that out as well. Any advice/feedback on that front?
• Laley23

  

  SportsAndLady;762494 wrote:
  And Argentinean international jerseys are pretty fucking sweet.

  
  Yes they are. I have a Messi jersey. I always get a laugh when I wear it cause I was in France in fall of 2004, and I wore it around, and people were asking who he was (he had yet to play for Argentina, but I made the jersey personalized when I bought it...he had only played in 4 or 5 games for Barcelona at that point). I told people, the greatest talent i the world. Somewhat tongue in cheek as I never though he would be this good, but I will always take credit on that!
  
  But the jersey is sick. I love the blue and white stripes.
• trep14

  SportsAndLady;762488 wrote:Also, La Bombonera is awesome, I did some facilities research on that stadium last year for one of my classes, very cool
  
  
  
  
  
  

  That stadium looks awesome. So unique.
• rock_knutne

  Laley23;762451 wrote:Gotta go to either Boca Juniors or River Plate. No other option!
  
  Both have amazing history. Boca have produced the nations top player ever, Diego Maradona, and River Plate have produced Alfredo di Stefano (the greatest player for Real Madrid of all time). But I think Boca have more history and would go to their game.
  
  You might also be able to get a Columbus Crew jersey of Guillermo Barros Schelotto, who played for Boca for like 10 years. The fans would love you if you came in his jersey.

  
  Boca is "the people's" club, River Plate is seen as the sophisticated snobs in that rivalry.
  
  bigapple.........you may want to "pack some heat" if you're going to the Bombonera.
• Mulva

  

  I would definitely go see Boca, although they haven't been as good recently as they used to be. I love Riquelme even though he's getting to be an old man now.
• Laley23

  

  Mulva;763415 wrote:I would definitely go see Boca, although they haven't been as good recently as they used to be. I love Riquelme even though he's getting to be an old man now.

  
  So does the greatest broadcaster in the world, Ray Hudson:
  [video=youtube;afjYKExZHic][/video]
  
  [video=youtube;bxA2lBnqykI][/video]
  
  This one is more of a Compilation, but he gushes over Riquelme starting at 1:14 (but especially 1:52-2:55).
  [video=youtube;B9-29KDNGTg][/video]