Argentina V Colombia, Buenos Aires

Argentina  V Colombia
South American Qualifying Group
FIFA WC 2014
Estadio El Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina
7 June 2013

We acquired tickets on Viagogo as they were extremely hard to come by due to it being a crunch qualifier between the top 2 in the group. I had to sweat for the tickets, but the system worked and 72 Hours before kick off I had received an Email from our hotel that the package had arrived, result ! 

Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti The is located to the North of the city in the respectable neighbourhood of Belgrano. It is the largest football stadium in Argentina with a capacity of 68,000 and is the cultural home of the Argentinian national team and also the permanent home of River Plate.

On Day 1 we arrived into Argentina across the River Plate via the Burquebus from Montevideo to Buenos Aires. Later in the afternoon we arrived at our digs, the Mansion Dandi Royal in San Telmo on Piedras

The view up Piedras in San Telmo

The view down the road 

The Dandi Royal is so flamboyant

Roof Terrace over San Telmo

Monument of "Song to Work" in San Telmo at Paseo Colon.
 It symbolises the spirit of work between men and women.

Street Tango at Plaza Dorrego, San Telmo

The first evening meal is an Argie mixed grill

Day 2 greeted us with glorious sunshine and after a good breakfast in our colonial mansion we decided that we would walk to the centre of Buenos Aires and take in all of the sights. We ambled along stopping at churches and other land marks, such as the Tomb of Manuel Belgrano at the 
Santo Domingo convent. 

Obelisco de Buenos Aires

The obelisk was built to commemorate the fourth centenary of the foundation of the city by Don Pedro de Mendoza. It has one entrance, an internal stairway with 206 steps, 4 windows and is 67.5 m. It is built on the site of a former church (St Nicholas of Bari) where the Argentine national flag was raised for the first time in Buenos Aires in1812.

The Casa Rosada (Rose Palace) is another iconic land mark, as it was here that Eva Peron (Evita) - the first Lady of Argentina delivered her emotional speeches to the public who would gather to the front of the balcony on Plaza de Mayo'. She is immortalised by the song "Don't cry for me Argentina" 

Plaza de Mayo (May Square) was the scene of the 1810 revolution that led to independence from Spain in 1816.

The Equestrian monument to General Manuel Belgrano.

The May Pyramid is the oldest national monument in the City of Buenos Aires its construction was ordered in 1811 to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the revolution of 1810.

Argentine Veterans of the Falklands War.

The veterans sell Malvinas memorabilia, such as pin badges and flags which show the Falklands Islands (Malvinas) superimposed with an Argentinian flag.

Pro Malvinas grafitti

Cemetery at the top of Plaza de Mayo

Florida St, the main shopping street.

Pizza stop on Florida St

Galerias Pacifico shopping centre

Plaza Lavalle

The Palace of Justice to the top right on Plaza Lavalle and in the centre is the Column in memory of Juan Lavalle, a leading figure in the War of Independence of Argentina.

After crossing the road from the Obelisco we were met with a large and noisy rally; a common occurrence in South America as we were to find out in Chile.

After a busy day in central Buenos Aires we go back to San Telmo for a shower and then get ready for the game. In my infinite wisdom I decide to take us to Belgrano via the Buenos Aires Underground (Subte). We get on at Independenca on line C, change at Diagonal Norte for line D all the way to Congresso de Tucuman and walked to the Stadium. On the way we found a brilliant bar, 'Espacio Amerelo' and indulged ourselves in 1 Litre bottles of beer. 

After surviving a very aggressive police check at the barrier and then getting pick pocketed by an organised gang, it was amazing that I still had a sense of humour!

Argentina 0 Colombia 0

Attendance: 44087

Sue was loving it in our seat with the 
Gods at the 'Belgrano Alta'.

And we made some Colombian friends too.

Popular Centenario and Centenary Media Baja

Popular Sivori and Sivori Media Baja

Deep in the Colombian end

Colombia

Colombian mama

The Colombian bird of paradise seemed very pleased with his team's performance. The game was end to end and very pleasing on the eye. In the 27th minute Huguain of Argentina and Zapata of Colombia were sent off. One for a bad tackle and the other for an equally bad reaction (kicking out). The out of form Lionel Messi was brought on in the 57th minute but couldn't make an impact and the game petered out at 0-0 

Attendance 44,057