Argie Bargy

20-team league witnesses 24th sacking of season

2009-05-31T11:00:00Z

River Plate may have been getting all the attention recently for their poor plight, but even further down the table lie their arch rivals Boca Juniors.

The Argentine media, never ones to hold back an opinion, have labelled Boca’s current campaign the worst in recent history, with Argentina’s most popular team 14th having won just five games all season.

But for a Boca fan, most South American supporters in fact, the Copa Libertadores is the holy grail.

And, as the cooler weather swept in, Boca’s bid ended early at the last 16 stage, ultimately costing coach Carlos Ischia his job.

Boca bow out to unfancied Uruguayans Defensor Sporting

NEWS: Boca coach to quit at end of season
NEWS: Velez inflict more misery on Boca
NEWS: Boca eliminated from Libertadores

Ischia’s departure will delight Boca fanatic Diego Maradona, who until being appointed the national team coach embarked on a fairly abusive mission to undermine his position.

While further speculation was rife when fan-favourite Carlos Bianchi, under whom Boca won the Libertadores, returned to the ‘non-coaching’ staff.

One subject Maradona and Ischia may agree on is the stubborn character Juan Roman Riquelme.

After walking out of the national squad saying he and Maradona didn’t see eye to eye, the Boca playmaker has reportedly had problems with Ischia.

While Martin Palermo, Boca’s all-time leading goal-scorer, has also allegedly disputed many areas of Ischia’s management.

"Fine, have it your way..."

Ischia has said he will leave the club at the end of the Clausura championship which has three games left to run.

Incredibly, he is the 24th coach to be sacked in the Primera this season – a league with only 20 teams in it - with Claudio Borghi also leaving Independiente to replace Claudio Vivas at Argentinos Juniors.

And with Argentina’s ‘Big Five’ – Boca, River, San Lorenzo, Independiente and Racing – all enduring crisis upon crisis, it is again likely that the league’s smaller teams will shine at the end of the season.

Lanus lead the way ahead of Velez Sarsfield, Huracan and Colon.

Problems continue to pile up for River Plate

"You’re going home in a Buenos Aires ambulance..."

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"You’re going home in a Buenos Aires ambulance..."

2009-05-21T08:00:00Z

It doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as some of it's English equivalents on the terraces (especially given the woeful healthcare service – but that’s another story), but it still isn’t a pleasant sentiment.

Yet Argentinian fans, as you would expect from the home of the tango, wax a more lyrical insult – my particular favourite being "Tu hermana en tanga," translated as "Your sister in the G-string."

River Plate fans have become a bitter lot in recent years, but the boiling point I predicted a month or so ago appears to be steaming at least, with the head of chairman Jose Maria Aguilar still to fall.

Tickets for the upper-tier were snapped up in seconds...

Now the fans are also turning on the players, with these choice insults heard in recent weeks:

"Que se vayan todos, que no queda uno solo" – "That everyone goes, and no one is left."

"Se va acabar, esta dictadura de Aguilar" – "It’s going to end, this dictatorship of Aguilar."

However, the one that is really sending the shivers through the River changing rooms is:

"Jugadores, si los vemos en un boliche, los mandamos al hospital" - "Players, if we see you in a nightclub, we are going to send you to hospital."

Empty threats? Well, considering members of River’s violent barra brava have been killed in the past, if I were a player I’d be spending more nights at home.

And why the vitriol? River are currently seventh, and sinking quickly. They are already out of the Copa Libertadores – the most important competition in South America – after crashing out in the first round, winning only one game.

They then they lost 4-0 to Huracan last weekend.

Huracan! I am now a Huracan supporter. They have always fitted in neatly with my other team, Scunthorpe, in terms of division yo-yoing. So to beat River 4-0... wow.

Huracan celebrate humping River

It was the shock of the weekend, even in a particularly high scoring couple of days.

Results:

Argentinos 2-4 Godoy Cruz
Lanús 2-1 Rosario Central
Huracán 4-0 River
Newell`s 1-1 Banfield
Gimnasia 3-1 Vélez
Tigre 2-1 Colón
Boca 2-1 Arsenal
Racing 1-2 San Martín (T)
Independiente 1-5 Estudiantes
Gimnasia (J) 0-3 San Lorenzo

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Boca barra brava set up sightseeing service

2009-05-09T11:00:00Z

Now that’s service...

Usually, service in the Argentine capital can be a little brusque. Steaks, stunning though they are, are usually dumped before you by a 130-year-old waiter in a dirty tux, and wine swamped in ice (you know the wine is bad when they don’t even ask if you want ice).

But it appears things are on the up in the most unlikely place of Buenos Aires... La 12.

That’s right, Boca Juniors' hooligan group are unofficially offering services to tourists, taking them into the stadium and keeping an eye on them.

And then the next day… following up with a courtesy call to make sure they had a good time.

A recent story from a German tourist reveals how effective the tour is.

"Thank you, please come again..."

Approaching La Bombonera on the morning of the Superclasico a couple of weeks back, the said tourist and a friend were sold ‘entrance’ to the game.

For AR$300 – about £50 and substantially lower than the usual ‘there’s a tourist, lets fleece him with a fake ticket rate’ - a member of the barra brava invited the German to enter with La 12.

Barra bravas in Argentina don’t pay an entrance fee (in fact they are usually given tickets to sell on around the stadium), they just barge past helpless police carrying streams of banners, fireworks and wine in a box (ice essential) to their usual position in the ground.

The tourists were invited to help carry the flag – a hallowed position in the strictly hierarchal barra brava – and taken into the centre position, before watching the game surrounded (and protected) by the hardest guys in BA.

And the next day? The phone call comes: "Can’t wait to see you next week."

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Simeone in to save slumping San Lorenzo

2009-04-23T15:00:00Z

Yes I know I say it a lot, but there really is no league in the world quite like the Argentine Primera.

Why? Well, lets take a peek at San Lorenzo, one of the most supported teams in the country.

After crashing out of the Copa Libertadores, they flew all the way back to Buenos Aires only to lose 3-0 at home to Tucuman, resulting in fans attempting to storm the hotel where the team was staying, scuffling with security guards.

Coach, Miguel Angel Russo has already gone, so who is to step into his shoes? Step forward Diego ‘El Cholo’ Simeone.

Simeone: Back in black

However, the plot thickens – the guy who is thought to have orchestrated this move is none other than Marcelo Tinelli.

Tinelli is Argentina’s biggest TV star. He is the Jonathon Ross of Argentina. He is also San Lorenzo’s most famous fan (although Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings movies, may beg to differ).

And such is his fanaticism and power over the club that he even set up an investment fund to help the club – a private endeavour.

Simeone will, if he manages to win a few games, stay at the club for 15 months, taking on to the touchline in his trademark black outfit in two weeks' time against struggling Racing, a team he has previously coached.

Speaking to Ole, he insists he understands that an uphill struggle lies ahead. “I’m more motivated when things are a right mess. And all I’m asking for is order, order, order.”

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Marcelo magic ensures Superclasico spoils shared

2009-04-21T11:00:00Z

As the taxi drivers huddled around bar windows, deftly ignoring anyone wanting to go anywhere, they watched as the cheers went up, firstly, for those in blue and yellow and then red and white.

However, it was the River fans feeling relieved at full-time having seen their team draw 1-1 at La Bombonera.

After a lousy run in the Copa Libertadores (down but not out), utter failure last season and an unconvincing campaign so far, River fans are finally beginning to lose their patience.

Palermo bags opener

In the biggest game of the season, it was an ecstatic Martin Palermo who edged Boca ahead after 59 minutes in front of an even more elated crowd.

However, Marcelo Gallardo’s 25-yard free-kick soon put an end to the celebrations.

“We could of won it,” coach Nestor Gorosito said afterwards, or something similar. “River finished with a good image. I would have liked more of the ball, and not lose it so quickly… we had few chances that meet our potential.”

Boca, without the injured Juan Roman Riquelme (who will also be out of their Libertadores clash with Ecuadoreans Cuenca on Wednesday), remain in 13th position.

Under-performing they may be in the domestic league, but this is a team who have been together for several seasons, have some talented youngsters at their disposal and have a proven, but not stellar, record.

Gallardo levels

Elsewhere, Velez leapfrogged Lanus and Colon to top the table. However, Huracan are fourth, their highest position in years, giving this correspondent reason to be slightly over-excited.

OK, they are still five points behind Lanus but Los Quemeros haven’t had too much to cheer about for, well, lets just say a long while. They walloped bottom-of-the-league Argentinos 4-1, each one of them a GOOOAAALLLLAAZZZOOO.

And if you're new to the Superclasico, the clips below provide a taster of what you've been missing out on.

River fans in the stands
Boca supporters stoke up the atmosphere

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Problems continue to pile up for River Plate

2009-04-16T14:00:00Z

It appeared for a while that River Plate would bounce back from the horrors of last season's pathetic performance.

After finishing bottom of the Apertura last time out, they started the new campaign well and are in a perfectly respectable fourth position with 15 points – Velez, Colon and Lanus above them are all on 18.

But numbers can be deceiving. River’s crisis continues.

Argentinian fans are known for their vocal opinion-making, but River’s fans were unusually muted during last season's shocking display. However, now they are making their feelings known.

After coming from behind to draw at home with Gimnasia de La Plata, the players were jeered.

River skulk off after disappointing draw

On the back of another draw against Nacional de Uruguay that could see them crash out of the Libertadores (San Lorenzo are already out, leaving Boca as the country's main hope), the fans began to fear that River may not be a team at all.

With a single in-form striker in Radamel Falcao and poor defensive play plaguing every game, Néstor Gorosito's team are, for the fifth season running, struggling to find form and cohesion - and even when they won the 2008 Clausura it was far from convincing.

However, the real test is next Sunday in the Superclasico… at Boca’s indomitable fortress.

To fail on this stage could be the final straw for the River faithful, who may call not only for the head of coach Nestor Gorosito, but the far from illustrious chairman José Aguilar.

90 percent of River’s members are believed to be against the guy, voted for in 2005 by 51 percent of the members (and the barra brava). Now could be his time to fall.

We’ll see after the ticker tape clears next Monday morning.

Gorosito: Great hair, great suit, not so great results

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Shrinks, spats and Superclasicos

2009-04-10T11:00:00Z

Argentine football is a distressingly uncaring rollercoaster of a ride.

The ups are up and the downs are subterranean. And if you are an Argentine, who are not generally known for their reserve and stiff upper lips, it can be an emotional affair.

Here I’d like to add my own reason as to why there are more psychiatrists per muddled head in Buenos Aires than anywhere else in the world, including neurotic New York.

The answer is simple: New York doesn’t have football.

Despite a crushing 6-1 defeat to Bolivia at altitude (La Paz is at 3,700 metres up – although Maradona couldn’t complain as he has previously campaigned with Bolivia president Evo Morales to stop FIFA banning games at altitude) they did drub Venezuela 4-0 scoring goals like these.

Bolivia deliver a battering

Who needs Riquelme? Well, Boca do.

Maradona doesn’t rate him, and Riquelme has decided he won’t play under El Diez (which for an Argentine is the equivalent of telling St Peter at the gates of heaven: “Well, whatever, I never believed in God anyway, I choose hell"), so no one really knows who will end up with egg on their face.

On Friday, Boca play Paraguay’s Guarani Asuncion at the Bombonera in the ever-important Copa Libertadores.

They are currently at the top of their easy mini league group, and are faring better than fellow Argentine outfits River, Estudiantes and Lanus, despite the latter currently topping the domestic league.

And then on April 18 it is the Superclasico – Boca vs River at the Bombonera.

Due to Boca’s lacklustre season – they are 9th – their focus must be on the Libertadores. But River’s season is not faring so well either, although being fourth in the league must be making them reasonably content considering last year's implosion when they finished bottom.

Who’d be a River fan eh? Who’d be an Argentina fan for that matter? But given this correspondent's Scunthorpe United fanaticism (damn you Luton), Argentine football’s unpredictable rally of successes and failures may suit me just fine.

La Bombonera awaits...

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The best Argentina goals ever…

2009-03-09T11:00:00Z

Style, that’s what Argentine football players do well. Oodles of style.

They may struggle as a team, but Argentine football has never been about the team, more individual brilliance.

So here are a selection of the best goals ever scored by the Argentine national squad, in no particular order, and not including the obvious contenders by Diego Maradona.

Javier Zanetti: One of the cheekiest, and classiest, free-kicks ever, and on the grandest stage of all to boot as England concede at the 1998 World Cup.

Zanetti catches England cold in St Etienne

Esteban Cambiasso: Again, at the World Cup - this time in 2006 against Serbia & Montenegro - and when I said Argentina never play like a team, I lied.

Hernan Crespo: The Inter Milan striker finishes in remarkable style against Colombia in 1995. The build-up to the goal isn't bad either.

Maxi Rodriguez: Stunning volley from the Atletico Madrid man sends Argentina into the 2006 World Cup last eight at Mexico's expense.

Aimar: The former Valencia midfielder converts from close range against Bolivia, but in some style.

Maxi: "Have a bit of this"

Sergio Aguero: ‘El Kun’ stakes his place for a call-up to the senior side and impresses future father-in-law Maradona with this cracking effort at the U20 World Cup in Toronto against Poland.

Lionel Messi: 'The Flea' chips in against Mexico at the 2007 Copa America.

Missed any? Add your favourites in the comments section below.

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FourFourTwo’s April issue, out now, is a South America special.

It features the 10 best new wonderkids from that continent, including exclusive interviews with Manchester United’s twins Fabio and Rafael da Silva plus Sao Paolo’s £100m-rated “new Kaka” Hernanes.

There are also interviews with Zico and Socrates; a look at the Boca Juniors academy responsible for Tevez, Burdisso, Gago, Banega et al; and the Lord of the Rings star so dedicated to Argentine outfit San Lorenzo that he bunked off a film set to see them play.

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Argentina vs Brazil.... a (biased) potted history

2009-03-05T12:00:00Z

Unlike many national rivalries, England vs Germany, Turkey vs Greece, USA vs Iran, there is little history between Argentina and Brazil that goes beyond football.

The Portuguese-speaking Brazilians and Spanish-speaking Argentines fought over land while they were dividing up the riches of South America.

And although the Argentina–Brazil war during the 1820s resulted in Uruguayan Independence, these land snatches are largely ignored by football loving South Americans. The fierce rivalry between the two countries is almost entirely because of footballing superiority.

Despite recent poor performances by both national teams, Argentines and Brazilians still consider themselves the best in the world. A glance at the FIFA rankings sees Brazil in 5th and Argentina a place below them.

But Spain? "fluke." Germany? "Good but no style." Netherlands? "Who?" Italy? "We taught them everything we know."

Diego takes a tumble in '82

Brazil and Argentina are not only the best teams in the world, they do it with style. And when these teams meet, the so called ‘Battle of South America’ consumes their nations.

We’ll skip over the Pele and Maradona argument that was so brilliant dissected in this month’s FourFourTwo and, instead, look at the history of the sides' rivalry that's been intense and full of incident, scandals and violence.

They have played a total of 93 games, with Argentina winning 34 and Brazil 35, Argentina scoring 149 goals and Brazil 145. Although the national football confederations have disputed some of these results, the relative parity between the arch rivals is not up for debate.

The first major talking point took place was in 1937, in less PC times when a section of the Argentine support were allegedly racist. The Brazilian players walked off before the end of a game that Argentina won 2-0 after extra time.

In 1939 it was the turn of the Argentine team to storm of, after Arcadio López had been sent off for barracking the ref. Brazil waited until the goalkeeper had walked off and then popped one into the net. The game couldn’t be restarted, so Brazil won 3-2.

Caniggia rounds Taffarel to slot home in 1990

1945 and 1946 witnessed violence spread from the pitch to the terraces and back again. Two games in particular saw broken bones, fractured egos and pitch invasions. Argentina's captain, Jose Salomon, was so badly hurt he never played professionally again.

But then in 1990, one of the most bizarre and infamous incidents in international football took place: the so-called ‘Holy Water’ scandal.

Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0 after Diego Maradona released Claudio Caniggia to score a wonderful goal. But the controversy was only just about to begin.

During a pause in play, the Argentine staff gave Brazilian Branco a water bottle, from which he took a swig, that allegedly was laced with tranquilisers. Not even Branco was aware of this until the Big Mouth struck again and Maradona informed a shocked press about the incident.

Branco threatened to sue the Argentines, but the Argentinian Football Association denied any wrongdoing (of course). It has further intensified every meeting since.

In a 1991 meeting, five players were sent off and one of the finest free kicks you will ever see was scored. Argentina won 3-2.

By now, cheating was almost an accepted ingredient of any clash, with Brazil seeking revenge for the ‘Holy Water’ scandal.

Branco (No.6) takes a 'water' break

In a thrilling 1995 Copa America quarter final, Tulio Costa (clearly) controlled the ball with his arm, but the referee decided it was on the chest and Brazil went on to win on penalties. The Argentine press dubbed it the ‘Hand of the Devil’.

Their last meeting was at the 2008 summer Olympics, a match-up which Argentina won comfortably.

But with both teams suffering from lacklustre form, especially during the World Cup Qualifiers, they now have more to prove than ever. Not just to each other, but to the world.

And it may be Argentina, under the leadership of ‘El God’, who have turned the corner given their recent performance against France.

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Argentina vs England... a (biased) potted history

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Argentina vs England... a (biased) potted history

2009-03-04T10:00:00Z

History has an ugly habit of rearing its head in football.

Diego Maradona is fond of stating that the Mano de Dios (Hand of God) was revenge for the Falklands/Malvinas war. And as an Englishman living in Buenos Aires, it's been the words ‘Mano de Dios’ that I've heard on a daily basis.

Of the 14 meetings between England and Argentina, each has been a tense, fierce and often ill-tempered affair.

Case closed

The sides first met at Wembley in 1951, the second team after Scotland to play England at the stadium, with the Three Lions winning 2-1.

Next it was England’s turn to tour Argentina. Although the team was officially called an FA XI, the 3-1 win for the hosts was largely considered a victory over England, with one Argentine politician commenting afterwards: "we nationalised the railways [built by the British], and now we have nationalised football."

The second game in Buenos Aires saw Alf Ramsey and Nat Lofthouse take to the pitch, before leaving 36 minutes later as the match was abandoned due to torrential rain.

While the first competitive meeting took place at the 1962 World Cup in Chile, with England triumphing 3-1 in an unremarkable affair.

But then they met again, in the 1966 World Cup quarter-finals.

A heavy-handed Argentine team were battering the English in the first half, but then German referee Rudolf Kreitlein sent off Antonio Rattin who eventually left the pitch accompanied by police. England won 1-0, manager Alf Ramsey said the Argentines behaved like ‘animals’, and a bitter rivalry was born.

"Don't do it George, you've never looked good in stripes"

They met three times more in friendlies in both Britain and Argentina, resulting in two draws and a win for England thanks to Keegan and Johnson goals, although it was Maradona who was named man of the match with his dazzling runs forward.

But it was the next encounter that would become one of the most famous meetings of all time. Mexico 1986.

There isn’t, of course, one English person or one Argentine who doesn’t know what happened that day in Mexico City. But if you are still bitter (Terry Butcher) then you'd better watch this. While, for everyone else, there's this. Nuff said.

England’s next meeting with Argentina was at Wembley in 1991, ending in a 2-2 draw.

In 1998, one of the most eagerly awaited clashes of the World Cup was England vs Argentina. An 18-year-old Owen ‘did a Maradona’, Beckham got sent off for ankle-tapping Diego Simeone and Victoria disagreed with the ref as Glenn Hoddle's "Heroic Lions" lost on penalties.

Becks atones for '98 mistake

By 2002 it was time for revenge as "Stupid Boy" Beckham, who by now was captain of his country, finally became the hero from the penalty spot.

And it was another three years before their next - and last - meeting, 39 years after the violent 1966 World Cup encounter that began the rivalry, as England left it late to win 3-2 in a Geneva friendly.

It was reported in The Times as thus: "By the unpleasant standards of previous confrontations, the skirmish between England and Argentina edged towards the saccharine, although the concept is deeply relative. The latest encounter featured punches on the terraces, songs about the Falkland Islands, jibes regarding players’ sexuality and general churlishness that, believe it or not, represents a significant thaw in diplomatic relations."

Owen late show seals England win in Geneva

But Argentina don’t hate the English, they are surprisingly anglophiles. Maybe it is more respect. One high ranking member of Boca Junior’s ferocious hooligan group once told me: "I like the English. We fought them in Sardinia in 1982. They were tough and great fighters. I respect that."

For Argentines, England are just a starter. Their real hatred is reserved for Brazil…

To be continued.

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Racing lose a coach, Independiente gain a hero

2009-02-22T12:00:00Z

It's in the big games where heroes and legends are born, and Saturday was Lucas Pusineri's day.

The 32 year old played the game of his life to help Independiente beat bitter rivals Racing 2-0, with the chants around the stadium echoing the elder leader's name: "Pusineri, Pusineri."

At the opposite end of the ground, the cries of of "Llop, Llop" could be heard but for very different reasons.

After the loss, Racing coach Juan Manuel Llop quit. Llop had previously been backed by the fans, as he was appointed while the club was going through a grave financial crisis that saw the company that owned them go bankrupt.

But after a meeting with the board, he decided to hand in his resignaton. However, Llop had earned a lot of respect and shouldn't be without work for long.

Montenegro celebrates scoring in derby

Playing in Huracan's stadium while Independiente's new home is being built, Pusineri headed the first after only three minutes and went on to punish a woeful Racing until the final whistle.

The second came after 65 minutes, with Gabriel Mercado tugging Ismael Sosa in the penalty area, allowing Independiente stalwart Daniel Montenegro to neatly slot the ball home.

The Avellaneda Derby, named after the neighbourhood they share, was typically dramatic, with a vast ticker tape entrance providing a red hot atmosphere for one of the most thrilling derbies in the world.

And this is what it feels like to be under one of the largest football flags ever made.

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Argentina's big boys make stuttering starts

2009-02-19T13:00:00Z

The new season's underway in Argentina, with last weekend seeing the second round of fixtures completed and a few surprise names topping the table.

Newell's Old Boys lead the way, while Huracan lie in second and Arsenal third.

You can't read too much into the table at such an early stage, but Huracan's 4-1 drubbing of Racing must have caused some glee among the Quemeros ('Burners' - their stadium is near a landfill) who have had very little to celebrate for several years.

Newell's not only went straight to the top of the league, but did so by beating Boca 2-0 in the Bombonera. Maybe Boca's youngsters do have a little more to learn.

Boca slip up at home to Newell's

With losses for Boca, Racing, San Lorenzo and Independiente, River were the only team of the big five to win, beating Central 2-1. Even more incredible is that they still had some fans left after last season's rock bottom-placed finish.

Early days it may be, and I once again predict Boca to run away with the league, and possibly the Libertadores although my Brazilian friends may have something to say about that.

Next weekend is one of the biggest derbies in Argentina: Independiente vs Racing.

I've covered one of these games for the More Than Just A Game feature in FourFourTwo and can vouch for its intensity. There is a deep divide between the fans of both teams despite their stadiums literally being less than 400 metres apart. Here's a clip to wet your appetite (plus another of a wonderful goal from new daddy Sergio Aguero).

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Maradona's moans ahead of French examination

2009-02-10T15:00:00Z

Before Wednesday night's game in France, Diego, sporting greased back mullet and half of Sierra Leone's diamond deposits in his ears, relaxed on the Med.

He told Ole, Argentina's daily sports paper, the importance of the game against France - a team they could meet in the latter stages of the 2010 World Cup - with it being a good opportunity to test out the defence against an aggressive, attacking team.

Mascherano was singled out as a particular favourite. "He is the emblem of the team and that's why I made him captain."

Captain Mascherano gets Maradona's message across

He also explained that being the manager was much more difficult than he thought.

"I thought that when I got to the 'seleccion' they gave you everything. But I asked for an assistant and they didn't give it. They put us in a game in Cochabamba (Bolivia) at 8pm, and the plane leaves from Argentina at 8.30. This could wind me up, but it's the opposite.

"I chose to be here and I believe the kids need me and they need each other."

He also complained that Roman Riquelme couldn't be released to play in the side. Instead he will travel to Jujuy with his domestic team Boca Juniors – although a stomach bug may stop him playing anyway.

"I'm not going anywhere until I get my assistant"

Messi is, of course, central to his plans. "I'm a donkey," Maradona explained. "If I don't play Messi where he is best, I think the best position for Messi is where Barcelona are moving him, going to the right and going in diagonals. You have to give him the ball with the frequency that Leo wants and then leave him to play."

France is Argentina's first major test with a young team – no Riquelme and Veron injured – and now a certain amount of the surprise has fallen away, its time for Maradona to prove his worth.

I, for one, back the decision of appointing him. There isn't one person in Argentina (OK there might be one) who doesn't worship the guy, despite his flaws.

As for the players? Well if you were confronted by god, you'd play your best right?

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River ripped asunder by Boca babies

2009-02-02T14:00:00Z

With only seven days to go until the beginning of the season, it's surely time to hit the big red panic button on the River Plate chairman's desk.

Morale in the camp is at an all-time low. Having finished bottom of the table last season, River have lost most of their summer friendlies – including two defeats against hated rivals Boca Juniors.

The latest loss, against a Boca team so young and inexperienced they were known as los Pibes ('the kids'), was a disaster. In the blazing sun of Mendoza, Argentina's wine-growing region, River's team were not so much vintage as vinegar. There was no urgency and no leadership.

Boca: Kicking rivals River while they're down

The contrast with Boca's 'kids' couldn't have been more acute: they were there to have fun. A confident B team humiliated Argentina's other supposed powerhouse. Like a children's team who were winning by a vast margin, they almost decided to take it in turns to shoot.

Under the circumstances it was quite amazing they only managed to get two past the keeper, via Pablo Mouche and Facundo Roncaglia.

River looked on, without emotion. Boca sat back and admired their next generation.

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In-house hostility hampering Boca & River

2009-01-22T15:00:00Z

Having occupied antipodean places in last year's Apertura league table, Boca and River appear miles apart. But, in fact, their plights are far more similar than it may appear.

River all but imploded (although the administration remained strangely calm) during their disastrous season in which they finished bottom. Diego Simeone is long gone, and now with a team full of young pretenders, and the papers full of rumours, there have been no major signings.

Simeone: Long gone after leading River to rock bottom

Even Ariel Ortega, on a break for alcoholism treatment, looks more likely to go north to Peru than return to the Monumental. So there is little reason to believe that River's next season will be any more delightful than the last.

Boca, despite winning the title, have still had their fair share of turbulence, most of it caused by the appointment of former coach Carlos Bianchi as general manager, who is in danger of undermining namesake Ischia's tenure as coach.

Bianchi waded in to diffuse his first spat this week. Mauricio Caranta, Boca's former first-choice goalkeeper, was dropped from the squad – allegedly for the whole season - by Ischia, and told he must find a new club.

The apparently confused Caranta told the press: "When did I make a mistake? Where did I lie? It is a personal problem of mine, of my daughter, is it much less than a game of football? If having a problem with my daughter and trying to solve it is a sin, I don't understand, and if that doesn't allow me to play, I understand it even less."

What the problem was with his daughter is anyone's guess. "I never spoke about my problems with the players," he continued. "I never talked bad about anyone, perhaps Ischia thinks I killed a person, and I don't know about it."

Caranta: "I didn't kill anyone... honest"

It all culminated in a bizarre scene at a hotel in Tandil, a small town outside Buenos Aires where Boca stage their summer training camp. Caranta wasn't even allowed into the hotel where the players and Ischia were resting, instead leaving Bianchi to turn him away at the door.

Boca vs River may be one of the biggest games in the world, but both teams must sort our their own problems first before they can even think about taking on their arch-enemies.

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Summer loving for rejoicing Racing

2009-01-15T10:00:00Z

OK, so it's only a win in the summer tournament. But when you've had a couple of seasons like Racing, any win is a glorious one or at least an extreme relief, especially when it is against San Lorenzo.

This is a club where, only two years ago, a Playstation and a TV were the prizes on offer for players scoring a goal in the relegation battle. Man City, it ain't.

Racing are now back in the hands of the fans, who voted in Rodolfo Molina as Chairman, who - in turn - kept Juan Manuel Llop on as coach. And although they have had some tumultuous seasons in recent years, it is Llop who has maintained a level head and, most importantly, integrity throughout the debacle.

So it will have come as a massive relief to win the opening match under the new regime, a first in six games.

A sublime header from Matías Martínez put Racing ahead and the celebrations say it all (which include a little lesson in folk dancing if that's your kind of thing).

Llop shouted, screamed and the assembled Racing fans, mostly the barra brava, dared to believe a corner had been turned.

It probably hasn't yet, but Racing fans haven't had a thing to celebrate for years. So please, let them dream for now. They deserve it.

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All work and no play for Argentina's Big Five

2009-01-13T10:00:00Z

The Argentinian Football Association don't believe in giving their players much of a break.

No sooner have they hit the beaches of Uruguay after driving across with their model girlfriends in their moderately priced cars (there are no supercars in Argentina), than they will be back on the pitch playing in the pesky summer tournament.

Independiente, Boca, River, Racing and San Lorenzo, or the Big Five, will all meet in various destinations such as Mar del Plata - Argentina's version of Blackpool - and Mendoza in the wine-making region.

Mar del Plata... a bit like Blackpool apparently

And in the couple of weeks since the end of the season it has been all change.

Boca have brought back Carlos Bianchi, a former very successful coach to work 'behind' Carlos Ischia. Despite his reassurances he wouldn't step on Ischia's toes, he has already waded in to talk about possible signings. They are particularly desperate for a first team goalkeeper, and Bianchi (noticeably not Ischia) wants Roberto Abbondanzieri.

River had their worst season, well, ever, finishing comprehensively bottom (they don't get relegated because demotion is based on a three year average, basically safeguarding the bigger teams from going down).

Néstor Gorosito, who replaced Simeone via a temporary coach has said cheerio to Sebastián Abreu - sending him out on loan to Spain's Real Sociedad - without, as yet, bringing in a replacement goal-scorer.

Only the Colombian Radamel Falcao made any major impact in front of goal. However, Gorosito has said that "we all would like to see Ortega back." The star is currently in treatment for alcoholism.

Ortega: Return to River on the cards?

But the biggest change has taken place at continually-troubled Racing. Following the Blanquiceleste's demise for financial 'irregularities' the club, like most in Argentina, returned to being a civil association, whereby the fans vote in the club's chairman.

In the last couple of weeks Rodolfo Molina was handed the reins of the club with 43 percent of the vote.

Among the sweltering heat of the Argentine summer, we'll soon begin to see the effects of the changes – starting with River vs Independiente on Tuesday January 13 – the unluckiest day in the Argentine calendar (Friday 13th is actually lucky).

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Bianchi back for third term at Boca

2009-01-07T16:00:00Z

It's a time for reflection in Argentina. The season has ended and now is the time to uproot, leave the stinkingly hot city and head to the beaches of Uruguay.

Entire football clubs decamp to Argentine resorts such as Mar del Plata, Carmelo and across the River Plate to South America's self-styled St Tropez of the South, Punta del Este.

Here the teams strut their stuff on the beach with expensive haircuts and cheap speedos, getting papped coming out of night clubs with either models or a black eye. It also welcomes the return of daily football paper, Ole's Diosa del Dia (Godess of the Day) but I digress.

Bianchi: "Guess whose back... back again..."

The season came to a close with Boca winning a three-team play-off, despite losing to Tigre in the final game.

However, the celebrations have been overshadowed by the startling news that Carlos Bianchi is back at the club as 'general manager' while the other Carlos, Ischia, remains head coach of the squad.

The hugely popular Bianchi is Boca's most successful coach ever, winning nine titles during his two stints as manager. And now in a move that Peter Mandelson would be proud of, he's back for a third spell.

He has reassured Ischia at a news conference that, "Carlos is the chief of the first team. He manages the dressing room. If I have to talk to the players, I'll do it, but the dressing room is his property." Whatever that means.

Ischia: "Don't ask me, I'm just the head coach... I think"

His contract also stipulates that he can't take over the head coach job if Ischia goes. The current coach, despite guiding Boca to the title, has been unpopular with some of the Boca aristocracy, not least Maradona, who called him a 'big fat steak'.

What Bianchi's actual role is, is still unsure, but one of his first jobs is to find a new goalkeeper after Javier Garcia - who let in a horrendous goal against Tigre - was rendered surplus to requirements.

Isn't that the coach's job? Who knows?

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Title race gets uglier

2008-12-22T08:00:00Z

And so the plot thickens.

Boca Juniors beat San Lorenzo in the second game of the three-way play-off. Lowly Tigre remain in third place, and now play Boca Juniors on Wednesday with a win, draw or even 1-0 defeat for Argentina's most supported side handing them the title.

On Saturday night, it was another ill-tempered affair when Boca beat a nine-man San Lorenzo 3-1. And as usual in Argentina, the match had just about everything: great goals, horrific injuries, red cards and goalkeeping gaffes.

Chavez (centre) celebrates netting killer third

Amazingly, no serious injuries were reported after a shocking first-half clash between Boca defender Juan Forlin and Andres Silvera, although both were taken to hospital. Lucas Viatri opened the scoring for Boca and it stayed that way until a horrendous goalkeeping error from Boca's Javier Garcia allowed a shot from Solari sneek in.

Still, Boca's star striker Rodrigo Palacio added a second in the 77th minute, and a delightful goal from Cristian Chavez, thanks to a superb cross from Riquelme, settled the matter – to the wild jubilation of the Boca hardcore, who surged through the stadium.

In the last 10 minutes tempers frayed and Aguirre and Bergessio were both sent off for San Lorenzo.

Riquelme will now miss the final game against Tigre after receiving his fifth yellow card. But he may not be the only one missing in action. Argie Bargy would never wish to be labelled a cynic, but Tigre are well-known 'friends' of Boca…

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Play-offs, punch-ups and perished pigeons

2008-12-19T15:00:00Z

"Why use two words when you can use 20?" someone once said, I think, probably a politician. But the point was there. Sometimes overcomplicating things is good, more exciting.

Argentine football is a case in point. Well many aspects of Argentina actually. Why queue once for a drink in a bar, when you can queue to pay, queue for a ticket and then finally queue for your drink? You meet more people, have a chat and maybe spark up a beautiful friendship.

Argentine football is certainly not in the business of making life easy. There are currently three teams still fighting it out for top spot: San Lorenzo, Tigre and Boca. It would have been too easy to just settle everything on the final day of the league season, instead we have an elongated series of finals to, well, make it exciting. And no doubt it is.

So, as of today this is how it stands. All teams finished on 39 points out of 19 games, so it goes to a play-off because goal difference is not taken into account.

Bergessio celebrates doubling San Lorenzo's lead

On Wednesday, San Lorenzo beat Tigre in an ill-tempered play off game on a scorching day in the neutral Velez Sarsfield stadium.

San Lorenzo went ahead after 17 minutes thanks to a goalkeeping gaffe from Daniel Islas. And three minutes later poor defending from Tigre allowed Pablo Barrientes free to cross a perfect ball for Gonzalo Bergessio to power into the net.

Tigre pulled one back with a stunning header after 31 minutes, but then things got ugly. Play was stopped for six minutes when Tigre keeper Islas pushed Barrientos in the face. The referee missed it but he was finally sent off, much to the chagrin of Tigre's fans who bombarded the referee with bottles and coins to the extent that he required a police escort off the pitch.

Tempers flare after Tigre lose their keeper

And spare a thought this Christmas for the poor pigeon who was killed during the game. At least that's Christmas lunch sorted.

So, we're left with San Lorenzo due to face Boca Juniors on Saturday. A win for San Lorenzo would hand them the title, while a draw would mean that Tigre would be out of the running, with Boca needing a win next Tuesday against Tigre to be crowned champions. Otherwise, San Lorenzo win. Got that?

"Not the pigeon, why did you have to go and kill the pigeon..."

After Wednesday's shenanigans, it seems certain that there will be more craziness to come. There is too much at stake.

What will be interesting is if San Lorenzo draw on Saturday, leaving Boca ('friends' of Tigre) needing a win next week.

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Argentinian title to go right to the wire

2008-12-11T12:00:00Z

Three teams tied on 36 points and one game to play. Welcome to the most eagerly anticipated final day in Argentine footballing history.

San Lorenzo, arguably the country's fifth biggest team, lead the way on goal difference, with the mighty Boca Juniors, undoubtedly the most popular team in Argentina, lying in third.

And nestling in the middle... the mighty, erm, well, actually pretty tiny, Tigre.

Boca and San Lorenzo (and Tigre) to go head-to-head for title

Who, you may ask? Well, until Club Atlético Tigre were promoted to the Primera at the end of the 2006/07 season, the team from the gorgeous semi-tropical delta two hours north of Buenos Aires were anonymous, even by second division standards.

But during the 2007/08 Apertura – the second of two championships that take place each year – they stunned the footballing fraternity by finishing second. And now they have defied the critics again with an already secured top three finish and the possibility of taking top spot.

"We are hungrier than Boca and San Lorenzo," manager Diego Cagna told Olé. "We are in a historical position. We have never won a title in the Primera, and if we don't get it, it will be bad luck."

When the final whistle blows in all three games at around 7.10pm this Sunday, the Apertura will be done and dusted. Tigre need a 2-0 home win against mid-table Banfield, while San Lorenzo have a trickier test against Argentinos, who have had a poor season but are notoriously unpredictable.

Boca have the undoubted advantage with Colon travelling to play in front of a sell out crowd at the Bombonera.

Jam-packed La Bombonera plotting title party

The bookies have Boca to win, of course, but fans only need to hark back two years when Estudiantes beat them to the title in a similar situation.

The 'two seasons in a year' system, that confounds so many, does have its advantages. With only 20 games to play, the championship race is always much closer than nine-month-long seasons, and sprints over the finishing line are not rare in Argentina.

But as the apprehensive fans of Boca, San Lorenzo, and Tigre now know, this will be the most thrilling finale of any season so far.

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River's nightmare season goes on and on

2008-12-02T10:30:00Z

This has been, undoubtedly, River Plate's worst ever season.

Out of 17 of the season's games (leaving three left to play), the Millionarios have won only two. To say it is a crisis is perhaps an understatement.

Diego Simeone left his coaching position after they nose dived out of the continental tournaments and failed to win games in the opening stages of the campaign.

After winning the title the previous season what on earth could have gone so drastically wrong so quickly? There are rumours, of course...

Party boy Ariel Ortega was unceremoniously kicked out of the squad by Simeone who refused to even speak to the player, who had decided he wasn't hungover and turned up to train.

Understandable many would say. And off he went on loan to Primera B team Independiente Rivadavia, under the proviso he underwent treatment for alcoholism.

Ortega: "Drat, I knew I should have brought a brolly!"

He was a fan favourite, but few could argue for him to stay – on the terraces though, many harbour hopes he will return. Simeone, Argentina's most capped player, walked, leaving the team in the hands of caretaker coach Gabriel Rodríguez.

For many however, the blame lies in the controversial chairman José María Aguilar, elected by mandate, as all chairmen in Argentina are, in 2001.

Since then they have won only four domestic championships, and no continental tournaments. He is known for his interfering hands on approach, something that was probably a factor in Simeone’s departure.

Aguilar: Facing the chop - nice shirt, though...

Today, it is rumoured that 90 percent of the club's members want him to leave. Yet Argentina's system of members electing the chairman, has unintended consequences. The chairman, like politicians, need voters, and the most powerful group among the fans, is the barra brava.

Of course, there isn't a president, chairman, coach who will ever admit that getting the barra brava on side is part of the election process, but the reality is that the barra brava is often used to make the rest of the fans vote for their candidate - often with heavy handed means and dire consequences.

It seems increasingly clear that not even the barra brava, in disarray though they are, will help out Aguilar. His days must be numbered, and in this bloggers opinion it will not only be good for River, but also for Argentine football as a whole.

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Racing's cat curse to blame for goalkeeper gaffe

2008-11-18T16:00:00Z

Kick-off in Diego Maradona's first ever game as coach of the Argentine Seleccion is growing ever nearer, but in the meantime here's a little treat for you... the best, sorry worst, goalkeeping error of the season by former Boca glove-man Pablo Migliore.

Maybe I'm being a little harsh, because there is a darker side to Racing's struggles at the Cilindro, their home stadium in Buenos Aires.

Racing have occasionally blamed a curse on the stadium, in particular the goal where the blooper took place, for their poor fortunes.

Migliore: Expecting the call from Tottenham any day now

Apparently, at the end of the 1970s, fans of Racing's arch-enemies Independiente broke into the stadium and buried seven cats there. Alfio Basile, former coach of Racing (and the guy who Maradona has replaced as national team coach), was very superstitious when he played for the club and ordered the goal be dug up – he thought there were frogs, not cats, buried there.

They found nothing, until a couple of years later when the remains of a cat were found. The other six have never been recovered.

Racing lost 2-0, and now Basile is out of a job.

Coincidence?

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Plus: More goalkeeping gaffes in the video round-up

Pig-Pen Maradona causes stink with his boss

2008-11-17T09:00:00Z

Remember the Peanuts character Pig-Pen? Wherever he went, the poor kid always had a ring of dust and dirt surrounding him.

Similarly, Diego Maradona has a ring of muck the size of Saturn's spinning constantly around him.

God's arrival as the new coach of Argentina created a new maelstrom that whirled around the world. "He's our saviour," believers chorused. "Just a marketing tool," cynics argued. As another put it: "If he can't organise his life, how is he going to organise 11 people on a pitch?"

He flew to England, all shades and bodyguards, and went home. And then he did what Maradona is supposed to do: caused another scandal.

Football managers have been known to throw their toys out of the pram when things go wrong. But most coaches have at least had a game in charge.

Shady character flies into Europe

Maradona's first "incident" happened before what could be his first game, against Scotland. Yes, "could be." Because on returning to Buenos Aires he fell out with his biggest advocate, AFA head Julio Grondona, over the appointment of Maradona's assistant, former team-mate Oscar Ruggeri.

It was an astonishing appointment, and one that could be seen as a dig at Grondona: Ruggeri is a personal rival of the AFA president. Grondona's reaction to Maradona's selection? "I don't like his face, it's a personal thing." Whatever, Maradona has warned he will resign if he can't hire his "own people."

God. And his boss

All Argentines believe Diego is like God, only better at keepie-uppies. Trouble is, Maradona believes it too.

And he might not be in such a strong position has he thinks. Grondona is not a man to be bribed into accepting a sworn enemy in his ranks, and the public support for El Diez's new role isn't quite as strong as he might think.

Whether Diego gets his way, we'll know in a couple of days. But in the battle of egos, neither has the upper hand.

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Diego, God, drugs and lynchings

2008-10-29T11:00:00Z

At the moment it seems a very God-like coup. It was a perfectly executed piece of political manoeuvring that even the snakelike Argentine president Christina Kirschner would have admired.

Speaking in Tblisi, a city that's no stranger to a bit of political intrigue, Diego Maradona, el Diez (10), el Dios (God), announced that he would be managing the national seleccion.

And although there was a slight asterisk in his statement to the ever-loyal press (*he hasn't actually been offered the job yet), Argentina began to celebrate.

If anyone could turn around the squad's poor performances of late, it was God himself. First he created the world, then he created football and now he is coaching some of the greatest 11 players ever put on a pitch together.

And if it doesn't work, well, he can rain down plagues and disease on the opponents.

"You there! Run or die!"

As you can tell, in Argentina, it's hard to overestimate the power Diego holds over the nation.

Despite being a bloated, unreliable, former drug addict with a penchant for shooting journalists (and I'm aware that I may get lynched and hanged from the Bombonera for saying that), he is deemed by the nation as the perfect person to lead the squad.

Let's ignore the fact his previous soirees as manager ended in poor showings at Racing Club and Deportivo Mandiyu, he knows football! He knows how to win! Whatever the, erm, expense!

And if AFA head Julio Grondona instead gives the job on a permanent basis to U20 coach Sergio Batista (who will apparently pick the side for the November 19 friendly in Scotland), then he'll be swinging alongside me at the Bombonera.

The announcement will be made on November 4, but Maradona has already made the decision for Grondona. And if politics doesn't work, there's always the Jedi mind-trick.

Can Diego revitalise vapid Argentina?

2008-10-23T15:00:00Z

Blogs always run the risk of blurring the boundaries between fact and opinion... and Argie Bargy is no different.

A nugget of information here, a misguided prediction there (I recently saw a quote of mine in a magazine declaring unequivocally who would win last season's championship, which, erm, ahem, este, didn't quite happen) and a smattering of opinion everywhere.

I'd like to think I fall on the factual side of the Daily Mail and perhaps the more opinionated side of those more intellectual papers, like the Mirror.

One particular sentiment of Argie Bargy's was directed at the national team management of Alfio Basile. Now I'm certainly not one to blame the coach every time a team suffers, unless it is over a particularly protracted period, but it wasn't long ago I'd called for the coach to go... again.

Coco go-go. Argie Bargy gets it's way... for once

Under Coco (a nickname which doesn't have anything to do with a clown, unfortunately) Argentina's national team have been lacklustre in their World Cup qualifying games – I'm bored of using 'lacklustre' to describe them, how about unimaginative, humdrum, characterless or vapid. Yes vapid seems particularly apt.

With a team that includes Messi, Aguero. Mascherano and Riquelme, it can only be the manager's fault they lost 1-0 against Chile (yes, Chile!). And thank goodness, Coco then finally stepped down and disappeared into the night.

A replacement has yet to be announced, but on paper whoever steps in will start with an easy job. Qualifying still seems a dead cert, no matter how the next games go.

Chile defeat proved one mediocre result too many

Given the calibre of the players, defeat to Bolivia just isn't going to happen (yes, that is a prediction), but harder to please will be the Argentine fans. They want skill, flurry, fanaticism, humiliating score lines, not, erm, vapidity.

And news just in...

Guess who is in line to be the new coach?

Yep, you guessed right...

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Tempers fray in bruising battle with Uruguay

2008-10-13T08:00:00Z

Argentine spectators left the Monumental stadium on Saturday again feeling exasperated by another mediocre performance by their national team, but more-so worried about playing Chile on Wednesday without a raft of their best players.

It was an ill-tempered 2-1 win against Uruguay, one that left Sergio Aguero, Javier Mascherano and Martin Demichelis injured and doubtful for Wednesday's clash.

Coach Alfio Basile's will also be without his playmaker Juan Roman Riquelme for arguing with the referee, something that Boca fans and domestic referees are used to, and Carlos Tevez, booked for kicking the ball away in frustration meaning a one-match suspension.

The Manchester United striker has also been sent off in two of his last three internationals.

Argentina's first goal came courtesy of an inch perfect cross from Riquelme with Messi racing into the box to connect with his head. He had been desperately keen to score, so he could perform his pre-prepared celebration, lifting up his shirt to reveal 'Te amo Papi', I love you Dad.

Seven minutes later, 'El Kun' took advantage of some hesitancy in the box and blasted the ball home.

Uruguay did pull a goal back just before half time, but they rarely threatened to do so again, and a more confident Argentina will be needed to win in the hostile atmosphere in Santiago.

Boisterous though it was, Saturday's battle didn't turn out quite like this game of beach football between the two countries.

Argentina's day of reckoning

2008-10-10T10:00:00Z

Uruguay is a relatively small patch of country that borders both behemoths Brazil and Argentina. Derided as a province by most Argentines, it is often said that Uruguayans have a bit of a chip on their shoulders.

Tango, they claim, began there. They actually eat more meat that their larger neighbours (which is saying something), they drink even more maté (a ubiquitous tea sucked through a straw and shared) and they produce some very fine red wines.

"Everything," a Uruguayan recently told me, "is like in Argentina, only better." It is certainly a warmer country – the people that is – but they are undoubtedly the poorer neighbours football-wise.

"We eat more meat than you, we eat more meat than you..."

Sure, they won the first ever World Cup in 1930 – beating Argentina 4-2 – and they won it again against Brazil in 1950. And they are the only country to have won a World Cup with a population of less than four million. Recently though, they have been a bit, well, rubbish.

Uruguay's national team will make the short ferry ride across the Rio de la Plata to play Argentina at River Plate's Monumental on Saturday. And with Argentina having played relatively poorly in recent World Cup qualifiers, Uruguayans are looking to this game as an opportunity to humiliate their bolshy enemy.

Uruguay are currently fifth in the qualification standings, and are in reasonable form, while Argentina are third, but have been consistently criticised for lacking team structure despite the amazing talent at their disposal.

In-form: Aguero & Messi aim to run Uruguay ragged

It is quite amazing, in this day and age when managers seem to last, on average, about five days, that Argentina's coach Alfio Basile is still in charge. A loss on Saturday, however, would surely hammer the final nail into his coffin.

But he has been experimenting in training, employing a 3-4-3 formation with an irresistible front-line trio of Leo Messi, Carlos Tevez and Kun Agüero.

How can that fail?

Superclasico fever marred by more violence

2008-10-08T14:00:00Z

Well it's that time again folks... when tales of the 'World's Greatest Derby' rear their head ahead of Boca Juniors vs River Plate.

The clash of the titans of Argentine football return in a frenzy of flag waving, chanting, scantily-clad models, mild violence and the odd drug arrest.

Only this season, the managers don't seem that bothered. And the barra brava, as you'll find out later, have other things on their mind.

La Bombonera build-up ahead of Boca vs River

Wins for either team would, of course, be valuable. River could desperately do with the three points to lift them above the utterly dismal 18th place they currently occupy (there is no chance of going down thanks to their high three-year points average).

But they do have their eyes on the Copa Sudamericana as a route to silverware.

Boca, after a good start to the season, have been conceding goals like it was going out of fashion, and have dropped down to 6th. And as we reach the halfway point in the season, its seems increasingly unlikely that they will catch table-topping San Lorenzo.

With the amount of resources and fanbase each team has, the clash remains the most important in Argentine football, but during the last few seasons they have had less and less to argue about. As the smaller teams (Newell's, Tigre and Lanus in particular) have surpassed them the superclasico is no longer the duel it once was.

Of course, the fans still hate each other and pretty much every TV screen in Buenos Aires will be tuned in, but even they seem a little despondent.

The last two meetings between the sides were marred by internal wranglings, culminating in several deaths among the River Plate barra brava.

River fans clash at Velez Sarsfield - March 2008

And this time it seems the same will happen again, only this time in the Boca end. In fact, if anything, it is the superclasicos that spark the feuds within the barra bravas.

A certain rhetoric sprayed around the makeshift walls of the poor la Boca of Buenos Aires warns of the fighting: "Go armed, you'll be safe." "There are bullets to go around."

Following Boca's defeat against Estudiantes last weekend (their third in a row), two of the factions within the Doce (12) barra brava clashed - those behind the current leader Mauro Martin and the others, supporting a Uruguayan called Richard.

They are fighting over their position on the terraces – something that will give them overall control of the barra and the income from criminal activities that take place – before the superclasico.

The battle is about to commence. We can only hope it doesn't result in the horrific pitch-side battles involving River last season.

Diego's shock support of… River Plate

2008-10-03T15:30:00Z

There are few fans in the world quite as high profile as Diego Maradona.

Forever in his blue and yellow shirt, the former player follows his team around the world and is often spotted hanging over an executive box with three bodyguards holding on to his shirt tails. His passion for the club maybe equalled by the disdain directed at the clubs administrators. But he is Boca 'til he dies.

"Just hit it you useless sack of $%^&"

In Argentina, a father's passion for a club is passed on to the son. Usually, before the christening of the kid, a team jersey - usually a cheap fake - is ceremoniously forced upon the baby. What else could explain the huge number of Racing fans?

So often I have spoken to people on the terraces and asked why, after their team had lost the 44th game in a row, are they still fans. "Erm, well my Dad was a Racing fan," is the stock reply. You simply don't jump ships. If you do, it is akin to sleeping with your best mate's girl. No worse, his grandmother.

Yet during River's 2-1 Copa Sudamericana win over Uruguay's Defensor Sporting, one of Maradona's sons, Diego Sinagra born in Napoli, was there screaming on the team.

Ferrari celebrates his opener vs Defensor Sporting

Thanks to goals from Ferrari and Barrado, River should ease into the quarter-finals, a rare moment of happiness in a poor domestic season.

They play the return leg tonight. It is unknown whether Diego Jr will be there, but one thing is certain, he has some pretty serious sucking up to do to dad if he is going to be invited to the next Sunday barbecue.

River goal flurry fails to sink Racing

2008-10-01T16:00:00Z

It was another clasico, another local derby. This time it was the 'millionaires' of River playing the league's paupers Racing (who recently held a prize draw among the players to win a PlayStation 2).

Racing, who barely stayed up last season and are currently lingering in 12th position, would have normally dreaded their trip to River's posh suburbs.

But Simeone's team, winners of the championship last season, are struggling themselves, and are even further down the table in 15th.

Because of the Argentine league's complicated structure of relegation based on a three-year average, Racing must finish very well this season - even a mid-table finish could see them have to face a demotion play-off.

So they wholeheartedly took the game to River, full of confidence after beating Estudiantes on their last outing.

Three times they were ahead with goals from their young pretenders, starting in the 12th minute with an own goal from Quiroga (who later scored at the right end) on an uncharacteristically soggy day in Buenos Aires.

Simeone had rested a couple of players for the Copa Sudamericana, one of them key man Abreu. The Paraguayan Santiago Salcedo, who River had high hopes for at the beginning of the season but pushed out following Abreu's return, gave Simeone something to bite on to with a powerful header and his first goal in a red and white jersey.

But Racing never withered and continued to play well, although they lacked the killer instinct to bury River once and for all. The game ended 3-3 with Racing going home a little disappointed not to have won.

At the top of the table San Lorenzo lead, but Tigre, championship winners in 2007, are proving they can compete with the big boys.

A 3-2 win against Boca, at the Bombonera, puts them in 2nd ahead of Boca with Vélez in 4th, their best start for years.

But again it's proving to be an interesting season for the small provincial teams. San Martin de Tucuman, Lanús and Colón aare all in the top seven. No Independiente, no River, no Racing and certainly no Estudiantes who are rock bottom.

After eight games, the season is wide open and it is the smaller clubs who are making all the headlines.

Disallowed goals, red cards, nine-man draws and tiddlers

2008-09-16T09:00:00Z

Red cards, handballs, good goals not given... ah yes, Argentine football at its best.

Argie Bargy has long said the fascination of Argentine football may not necessarily be its quality but its sheer entertainment value; rare is the game that hasn't contained at least one ejection, scuffle, or moment of controversy – and that's just in the crowd.

This is a passionate society, and football is its vent.

Take Boca 1-1 Independiente on Sunday. Not an inspiring scoreline, but the game contained all that is good, and bad, about Argentine football.

Independiente striker Leonel Nuñez's goal was disallowed, much to the consternation of the Red Devils president Julio Comparada: "Independiente fans are disgusted," he told the press. "The ball went in. I have no doubt it was a goal," with coach Claudio Borghi chiming in that "The ball crossed the line and bounced out."

To disgust Comparada even more, Rodrigo Palacio, on his first game back at Boca this season, scored a lovely goal straight after half-time... but did he use his hand to control it first? Comparada certain thought so. "Palacio carried the ball with his hand," he fumed.

Palacio: handy

Somehow, Comparada failed to mention Daniel Montenegro's foul on Gabriel Paletta – a pity, as again it was an entertaining moment.

Marvellously-named referee Pablo Lunati booked the forward for the tackle, even as he limped off for treatment. So when Montenegro (who had set up Dario Gondin's 49th-minute leveller) injudiciously came back onto the field without a permission slip, the ref had no choice but to show a second yellow, meaning the visitors faced the last 15 minutes a man down – a situation that got twice as bad when Guillermo Rodriguez was sent off for dissent with three minutes to go.

Comparada did admit that the result was just: "Independiente had a good game against the best team in Argentine football" – and the visitors will be happy to have escaped with a point against the league leaders. Resurgent San Lorenzo are level with Boca after beating Rosario Central 2-1.

While there is a certain predictability about first and second positions, Colon in third, followed by San Martin de Tucuman, Tigre, Velez, Lanus and Arsenal are all small teams taking advantages of the disarray at River and Racing, both skulking in the bottom half of the table.

With Boca already proving their squad depth by thriving without major players, it seems unlikely that they'll face much of a challenge for the title – but behind them, it could be yet another good season for the smaller teams.

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Maradona: "Messi's no team player'

2008-09-12T17:00:00Z

Diego's mouth has been uncharacteristically quiet (full of pizza?) for a quite a while now.

But it is with a heavy sigh that we return to our irregular God Watch feature for all things Maradona.

Yep, the number 10 has somehow managed to upset Lio Messi in his criticism of his performance in a 1-1 draw against Peru in Lima on Wednesday. Diego, get this, actually accused Messi of being an 'individualista'. Pot, kettle, black.

"Even I could have scored that one..."

Messi shrugged off the comments telling the Spanish press on his return: "Diego always has something to say about me. It doesn't mean a thing."

Another star studded Argentine team, and another disappointment. Coach Alfio 'Coco' Basile, already on a short leash after his team's poor performances, was full of self criticism after Wednesday's game. "I'm worried about the level of the national team," he solemly said. "The defense was better but attack not so."

For Argie Bargy, it must be time to ask some serious questions about how far this manager can take the team. I have long said that, all things being equal - which of course they never are - Argentina should have a wonderful team.

Instead, they lack the cohesion needed to fend off even the poorest teams. The pressure placed on Riquelme distributing from midfield, in particular, must be questioned.

No one doubts his leadership skills, but the slowing 30-year-old can't be relied on forever as the sole pivot in the midfield. And the opposing team now know 'shut down Roman, shut down the attack' as happened against Peru.

But with Tevez suspended after being sent off against Paraguay and Heinze in an almost-public spat with Basile – rumoured to have ruled him out of any further games – the team is in disarray. And that blame must lie at the coach's door.

Argentina flop again, this time against also-rans Peru

Looking forward to the domestic games this weekend, the biggest is undoubtedly 1st placed Boca versus Independiente in 8th. Known as a classico (as opposed to superclasico, which is against River), it can be guaranteed come Sunday afternoon the cafes and bars of the capital will be full of fans, and it will be one of the most watched games of the season.

Meanwhile River Plate, in 9th place, are complaining that in 29 games there hasn't been one penalty given in their favour. Coach Simeone complained: "It's best not to talk about it, but they just don't happen for us. They don't give them to River."

Maybe Arsenal will slip up this weekend and give Simeone another reason to stop complaining.

Tevez sent off again in poor Argentina qualifier

2008-09-08T21:00:00Z

If it happens again, you could almost say it is becoming a habit.

And while there is no way we could ever prefix the words 'Carlos Tevez' with 'Bad boy' (he is such a nice lad) another sending off in another World Cup qualifier doesn't bode well. Again, it was frustration that led to Tevez's hard tackle against Dario Veron.

Off the back of Argentina's U23 Olympic gold success, they should have gone into the game against Paraguay brimming with confidence, and they did for 11 minutes until Gabriel Heinze's own goal.

Tevez heads for another early bath

Argentina then reverted to the team that has failed to win any of their last four top flight games, and one that has annoyed the Argentine public as jeers yet again echoed around the Monumental Stadium as they humbly walked off the pitch with a point thanks to Sergio Aguero's 61st minute goal.

Argentine football fans are asking themselves 'que carajo paso?' or, more politely, what the hell is going on?

True, they were playing against the World Cup qualifying table toppers, Paraguay, who have had a superb run winning 14 points in seven games. Argentina have 12 points.

Aguero on target again for Albicelestes

It looks good on paper, but on the pitch the disjointed team of truly world-class players fail to gel in any meaningful wey. The pressure is now on coach 'Coco' Basile to engineer a good win against Peru in Lima on Wednesday.

The raw materials are there, but the cohesion has been lacking for too long, and the fickle finger of blame is moving against the previously impervious coach.

While Brazil's excellent 3-0 win against Chile abated the equally angry Brazilians and their poor team, it is Argentina that should be one of the best teams on the planet, taking advantage of Brazil's weakness.

But lets face, they ain't and it hurts.

"You'll win nothing with kids..."

2008-09-01T14:00:00Z

Boca Juniors, it could be argued, are moving into a new era.

No Riquelme, no Palacio and no Palermo. None of Boca's big three were available on Sunday to play Huracan, but the chicos ran away with a confident 3-0 win.

Palermo, who found it difficult not to score in every game, is out all season after surgery on his knee. Such was the perceived gravity of the 34-year-old's injury, Boca's former coach Carlos Bianchi wrote an open letter to El Loco (the Crazy One) offering his support.

"You are a natural winner," Bianchi wrote. "You have a lot of confidence, and a quality that few possess. We know you'll come back and enjoy being the greatest goal scorer of the last 15 years".

Palermo: Gone (for now) but not forgotten

I know you may be choking back the tears here, but frankly Boca seem to be doing OK without him. In fact, the youngsters such as Noir, Gaitan and Lucas Viatri have all expressed their confidence in winning the league.

The real test will come in their upcoming international games, but - so far - the kids are united, and the only team to have a 100% winning record so far.

Racing finally win

Good news too for Racing, before which it is almost compulsory to put 'troubled', who won away from home 1-0 at Argentinos Juniors, for the first time since Noah built his arc, and the first time this season.

It may be scant relief, however, for players who are still locked in a dispute over payment of their wages and uncertainty over the situation of the clubs ownership.

Little guys lead

Former surprise champions Lanus have had a good start to the season, recording seven points from four games.

The winners of the 2007 Apertura confounded the experts to win the championship for the first time. This season fans are hoping for a repeat performance after a strong start.

Lanus: Upset the odds to triumph in 2007

The little team from the poor southern suburbs lack the star quality of Boca, River and San Lorenzo, but their team ethic and 'we can beat anyone' attitude has carried them far.

They currently hold third position, while perennial underachievers Colon (previous best place: runners up in 1997) are in second place. San Martin from the northern Tucuman province are in fourth while Tigre, runners up in 2007, sit in fifth place. River linger in 11th, Independiente in 8th and San Lorenzo 6th.

Other results

Tigre 1-2 San Martin
Lanus 3–2 Gimnasia de Jujuy
Godoy Cruz 1–3 Velez Sarsfield
Colon 1–1 Newell's Old Boys
Central 0–0 Banfield
Estudiantes 2–0 Arsenal
River 0–0 San Lorenzo

Argentina strike gold

2008-08-25T12:00:00Z

Argentina's Olympic squad retained their gold medal in a close encounter with Nigeria.

Beating the African rivals 1-0, Argentina finished off a convincing campaign that saw them fend off fierce rivals Brazil in the quarter-finals. The Brazilians left Beijing with the bronze, and bitterly disappointed with that after what has been a nightmare year for their team.

Di Maria seals gold for Argentina

Argentina, however, seem to have broken their run of losing in the finals of major tournaments and proved that the largely under-23 team can confidently continue the country's class and skill.

As for the elder statesmen, Messi had a good tournament after all the issues of getting Barca to free him. Coach Sergio Batista called him the 'Maradona of the 21st century' and sees him as a future captain of his country.

Riquelme (pictured, below) led well from deep in midfield, but he will now be looking forward to returning to his homeland as Boca's top goalscorer, Palermo, is out for the rest of the season with a bad knee injury.

"What's that Ronnie? You only won bronze?"

But the focus of Argentina has been its successful Olympic run, not only with the men's football, but also a bronze for the Leonas female field hockey and a bronze for the men's basketball team.

Congratulations Argentina. After all the chaos on the streets and in the government, this winter has just got slightly warmer.

Derby day in BA

2008-08-23T08:00:00Z

In the August 2008 issue of FourFourTwo magazine, Argie Bargy reported on the intense rivalry between Independiente and Racing.

At the end of last season Racing were a goal away from being relegated, but survived to live on in the Primera. They are, after all, one of Argentina's most supported clubs, fourth after their arch enemy Independiente.

Both teams are based in the poverty stricken Avallaneda neighbourhood of the city which is split by support for either team.

As Independiente struggle to make an impact at the top of the league, Racing are still fighting for survival; staying up was merely the beginning of their campaign.

Independiente vs Racing: Never a dull affair

Beset by boardroom wrangles and severe financial straits (many players are owed money) Racing, under the leadership of the ever positive Juan Manuel Llop, need a relegation worry-free season, and a win over Independiente would do wonders for team morale.

One interesting footnote will be the reception of Hilario Navarro in Independiente's red jersey. Last season he appeared in Racing's blue and white and played a significant part in keeping them in the first division.

Racing have lost both of their first two games, while Independiente have four points from their two matches.

Meanwhile in Beijing, as the men's football team warm up for Saturday's final against Nigeria, the women's hockey team - known as the lionesses - have won a proud bronze for their efforts, despite an overall performance which lacked their usual bite.

Argentina one win away from more Olympic glory

2008-08-20T11:30:00Z

In Argentina there is only one thing that is sweeter than beating England... thrashing Brazil.

Long the poorer siblings to the Brazilian behemoth, Argentina finally got one over their bitter rivals with a glorious 3-0 win in the Beijing Olympics semi-final on Tuesday.

It was the first time they had beaten Brazil since June 2005, earning the mostly under-23 team a place in the final and the chance to defend the gold medal won in Athens four years ago against Nigeria on Saturday.

Aguero chests home the opener

During the first half the Brazilians focussed on Riquelme's midfield importance, scuppering any chance of the ball getting through to Messi and Aguero up front.

And there were several close shaves for Dunga's side whilst the Argentines created little, with only a stunning solo effort from eventual man-of-the-match Aguero just going wide.

But the second half proved to be their moment of glory. The appearance of Mascherano and Gogo relieved the pressure on Riquelme and opened up the game. Aguero put the Argentines ahead after the ball ricocheted in off his chest. And seven minutes later 'el Kun' – named for his similarity to a Japanese cartoon character – netted again from a poorly defended cross.

The third goal came from a Riquelme penalty after a dubious foul from Breno.

Riquelme scores third from the spot

More than a win over the hated enemy, it was a relief to see what the younger members of the squad could bring to what has been a poorly performing senior side in recent times.

But they will be mindful of recent defeats at the final hurdle, with the national 'seleccion' having lost three major finals - twice in the Copa America and in the Copa Confederaciones - all in the last three years.

Olympic run goes on while domestic season gets going

2008-08-13T16:00:00Z

Another game, another win for the Argentine Olympic squad and with it qualification to the next round.

The game could easily be picked apart and was, again, far from convincing, but it was an overall solid performance in amongst a series of pretty wobbly displays, from Brazil included.

Messi, who is quickly becoming 'God Mark II' in the bars of Buenos Aires, admitted they played "in a slow rhythm."

He may have been talking about his own pedestrian performance, or the team who left it until 15 minutes before the end to look cohesive, when Riquelme and Messi combined to put through Ezequiel Lavezzi to score the only game of the match.

It was, however, a blinder with an amazing build up and perfect finish, showing how Argentina loves to play their football: with exuberant style.

Lavezzi side-foots home vs Australia

The team now play Serbia in their last league game, but they are already qualified. Riquelme, Messi, Mascherano and Aguero (on a yellow card) will all be rested.

But the second team should not fret, because over in Argentina the domestic season has finally got underway with Boca grabbing the headlines with a stunning 4-0 victory over Gimnasia de Jujuy.

Their team included several players who were previously in the reserve squad, but who had beaten the first team in training sessions twice that week.

Palacio, who remained with Boca despite being expected to head off along with the pre-season exodus, is injured but should return for Wednesday's ReCopa match.

Boca's Gracian and Ibarra celebrate vs Gimnasia

Other results:

San Martin 2–0 Huracan

Gimnasia 0–1 Newells Old Boys

Arsenal 3–0 Argentinos

Central 3–2 Estudiantes

Banfield 1–2 Godoy Cruz

Velez 0–0 Independiente

Colon 1–1 River

Racing 0–2 Lanus

San Lorenzo 0-1 Tigre

Bittersweet start for Argentinian Olympic teams

2008-08-10T22:07:00Z

Stood amongst the spectacular fireworks of the Olympic opening ceremony was one Lionel Messi.

After weeks of wrangling that involved FIFA, the highest levels of the clubs and a sports arbitration board, Barcelona finally let Messi play.

In their opening game, before the ceremony, Argentina beat the Ivory Coast 2-1. Defending their gold medal, Argentina showed more cohesion than in many of their recent games, thanks largely to Riquelme's intelligent leadership.

Messi bags opener vs Ivory Coast

However, the women's team fared worse, losing to Canada in the first sporting event of the Games.

But the Argentine's have plenty to look forward to: swimmer Georgina Bardach won the bronze four years ago, Miguel Albarrcin is looking of his first Olympic medal in judo and long-distant cyclists Matías Medici, Alejandro Borrajo and Juan José Haedo will be charging 245 km around the streets of Beijing hoping for a podium place.

The best bet's for Argentina gold medals, apart from the men's football squad, are with the basketball team led by, star of NBA's San Antonio Spurs, Emanuel Ginobili, who carried the flag into the arena.

But no one, particularly Argie Bargy, can forget Las Leonas' female field hockey team.

There are 139 Argentines at the Games hoping to beat the two gold medals they won in Athens.

Messi mess continues to wrangle on

2008-08-07T09:00:00Z

With Argentina making their final preparations for the opening game against the Ivory Coast in the Olympics, the wrangle of Messi shows no sign of abating.

Barcelona at first refused to allow the forward to play as one of the few over 23 players allowed in the Olympic squad, but on FIFA's advice let the player travel to China.

Messi trains ahead of Olympic opener vs Ivory Coast

The 'flea' is currently in Beijing and training with the squad but the sports tribunal at the centre of the fight have now said Barcelona has 'no obligation to free the player.'

The reason is that the Olympics doesn't figure in FIFA's calendar and therefore has no right to demand the player be freed. AFA president Julio Grondona told the press "Messi will stay and play in Beijing" and the national Olympic coach added "tomorrow he will be playing against the Ivory Coast."

With less than 24 hours until their opening game it looks unlikely that Messi will be returning, and Argie Bargy, for one, thinks that he should be there.

Relief for Argentina as Messi boards for Beijing

2008-08-01T10:48:00Z

Did you feel that slight breeze at around 2pm yesterday?

That was the collective sigh of relief from 35 million Argentinians as Lionel Messi was freed by Barcelona for the national Olympic squad. Slight exaggeration? Well yes, but there can't be a man, woman or dog in the country that isn't pleased to see Argentina's new prodigal son in the team.

Argentina in recent World Cup qualifiers and friendlies have been lacklustre, even with Messi. But the Barça player adds a touch of flair, bordering on the genius. His sidekick Aguero is undoubtedly a great player, but has failed to skip past defences in the way Messi can.

Bye bye Barca: Messi departs for Olympics

Fortunately, their rivals, and fellow favourites in the gold medal betting stakes, Brazil have been even worse. Utter failures in World Cup qualifying (they lost against Venezuela for Ronaldo's sake), Brazil are a merely a group of 11 good players without any coherence.

With only eight days until the opening ceremony - which given the heritage of vast displays in China might actually be worth watching for the first hour - coach Checho Batista's team still remain joint favourites.

It all kicks off next Thursday as they take on the Ivory Coast.

Stormy start for Olympic favourites

2008-07-30T11:30:00Z

While the weather may have disrupted the first Argentinian friendly warm up in Tokyo yesterday, the storm continues over Lionel 'the Flea' Messi.

The ongoing dispute between Barcelona and the AFA has got so out of hand that FIFA have been brought in to mediate.

The nation hopes that Messi, still training in Spain, will be able to help Argentina keep the Olympic gold. The win, although paling against a World Cup, is still taken seriously by an Argentinian populace looking for respite from the problems that have dogged their 'winter of discontent', that has seen daily protests, food shortages and rampant inflation. Messi is revered in the country (and by Argie Bargy).

The Argentinians failed to shine in their friendly against Japan despite a skillful goal by Angel di Maria.

Angel di Maria celebrates in the rain against Japan

Both Argentina and Japan hit the post in what was a worryingly close game. A fortunate storm led to the game being suspended seven minutes before the final whistle. Overall it was a reasonable game for the blue and whites, but without the genius of Messi, it seems they might have to work harder to retain their favourite status.

Argentina's group is far from easy with Serbia, Australia and the Ivory Coast, each of whom can be tricky opponents.

Do Argentine players have illegal passports?

2008-07-17T11:42:00Z

When this blogger lived in Argentina in 2001, the rush for European passports was immense.

As the country teetered on the brink of collapse – which came, sure enough – hundreds of thousands of residents looked up their past in an attempt to find a way to attain European passports. Most Argentines (around 60 per cent) are from Italian descent and about 30 per cent are of Spanish origin.

These days the living isn't exactly easy, but it is better. But as protests continually bring the city to a halt the exudos has sped up again.

And it seems footballers are no different.

Dozens of Argentine players are among those being investigated for travelling to Italy on illegal passports, according to a BBC report. The report suggests the reason for footballers buying illegal passports is so that Italian clubs can avoid the limit of non-European players on their team. This does, of course, implicate the clubs. However, they can earn much more money in Europe.

Juan Veron: Investigated for dodgy passport dealings in 2002

Argentinian judge Norberto Oyarbide started the investigation after staff in the Italian Embassy didn't recognise the signature on the passports.

Apparently an illegal passport can be bought in a few days for US$30,000, while the process of getting a real one can last for months. Also the ever-tightening rules mean that only those with close ancestors born in Italy are eligible.

It is also being reported that many of the passports claim the players' ancestors were all born in Fagnano Castello. Current population? 4,194.

Call me a cynic, but...

Mass protests and chaos hit crazy Argentina

2008-07-16T17:00:00Z

Well this blog might not have too much to do with football, but what is happening in Argentina today is quite unlike anything I have ever seen.

My office is located on a wide Parisian avenue that connects the Congress building and, 15 blocks away, the Casa Rosada presidential palace. Outside there are an estimated 60,000 people beating drums, screaming chants and letting off crackers and bombs. I literally cannot hear myself type.

Now understanding Argentinian politics is somewhat akin to comprehending nuclear physics. So why all the noise and protests? Well get this... the thousands of people outside are showing their support for the government. Confused? You will be. 50 blocks north, near my house, there are another 50,000 people, protesting against the government.

Protesters take to the streets in Buenos Aires

It is all over a debate that has utterly polarised Argentinian society. The root of the problem is the dear old Presidenta Christina Kirschner and her decision to whack a huge tax on soya. Less than five years ago, soya was seen as the saviour of the Argentinian economy. It is easy to grow, and much more profitable than beef, the second largest export.

Apparently, to redirect the exported crop to an Argentinian market food in a country where children still die from starvation, the export tax is high. The 'countryside', who even in the UK get off their tractors for a good protest, went crazy. They went on strike. And to understand the repercussion of such a strike one just has to look at inflation (unofficially thought to be around 35% - officially around 9%) of food prices. And you thought Gordon Brown had problems. Perhaps more importantly, Argentina couldn't get its beef.

So on the day of the final senate vote, half the country came out in support and the other half against. But support Argentinian-style means NOISE.

And since I started this blog, it has got even louder, the entire city has been cut off, public transport has come to a standstill, and many people are leaving work. A few days ago a much smaller protest (or was it in support) ended in a riot. Here we hope that the tens of thousands of angry people separated by utterly different ideologies and a mere 50 blocks don't meet.

Farmers gather en masse in Rosario

But on the plus side, everyone out there is thinking about politics, and what does it take for this amount of people to stand up in the UK?

Bloody fox hunting.

Chaos reigns on the streets of Buenos Aires, and will do long into the evening. But by tomorrow a decision by the senate will be made to either approve or disapprove the tax. And no matter which way it goes, it will only exacerbate the problem.

How do I bring this back to football? Well, all those drums and trumpets are being played by hired football fans and barra bravas, some being brought in from more than 2000 miles away especially to bang their drum.

All seater stadiums? Never!

2008-07-10T13:15:00Z

Can you remember how incensed you were when all-seater stadiums became law?

"It's going to lose the atmosphere of the terrace!" they shouted. And well, I think it has. So as FIFA demand that Argentina's Primera clubs do likewise, the same complaints are being heard.

In fact, it should have happened a year ago. The clubs, in true Argentinian style, have merely ignored them. But after the horrendous terrace violence of last season the big clubs are beginning, slowly, to increase the percentage.

Will it kill the unique atmosphere of an Argentinian football game? Well, at least it will give away fans more ammunition to rip up and throw. But it did partly work in stemming UK violence and to be frank they have to try anything here.

Boca fans in their season-ticket spots at La Bombonera

FIFA are asking that 90 per cent of stadiums are seated by, erm, August 8 – the other 10 per cent? Well that's for the barra bravas of course (can anyone else see a flaw in the plan?)

River Plate need to add another 4,500 seats to comply with the rules. San Lorenzo? 8,000. And Boca Juniors a whopping 12,000 seats. Boca have the most difficult problem. Their tiny stadium is already built up vertiginously high, and they are already well over capacity at most games.

There has been talk for years about moving the stadium, but it is a massively unpopular idea and no president has been brave enough to push it through – especially remembering that the presidents are voted in by the fans, strong armed by the barra brava.

For the time being, it looks as though the terrace atmosphere will remain. And for the violence? We'll know when the season starts on
August 8.

Defending Olympic dreams

2008-07-04T11:29:00Z

So now we are in the off-season and have six weeks to enjoy idle gossip about transfers until the first game of the new season on August 8.

Thankfully, this blog won't be filled with such meaningless tattle (well it will, but I'm making a point), because in only 35 days we have the Beijing Olympics.

The Argentina Olympic squad that will defend a gold medal has been selected. It may not hold quite the same prestige as the World Cup - especially not for British teams which can't compete - but it is a source of pride nevertheless for a recently underachieving Argentina team.

Rules dictate the squad has to be mainly made up of players under the age of 23, with a handful of older members allowed. The big name is, of course, Lionel Messi, who Argie Bargy recently watched in a homecoming national game and would like to confirm his status as a footballing genius.

Messi wows FourFourTwo's correspondant against Ecuador

Maybe more surprising, given his slated performances in the World Cup qualifiers, is the presence Roman Riquelme, at 30-years-old the eldest of the squad. But his commanding position at Boca is undeniable, even though Palermo may wear Boca captain's armband. Javier Mascherano, 24, is also included as is Inter defender Nicolas Burdisso at 27.

Several clubs have withheld players (Demichelis, Milito and Coloccini, for example) but squad manager Sergio Batista can be confident with the 18 he has selected. Sergio Agüero, paired with Messi in the World Cup qualifiers, is likely to continue up front.

As ever, very few of the players selected actually play in Argentina, namely Riqueleme at Boca, Buonanette at River (although he is likely to head north) and Fabian Monzon, Boca's excellent defender.

Expect a tantalising performance from the football team but, I'm going to be honest, not quite as sumptuous as Las Leonas, Argentina's women's field hockey squad.

See them here

And here

OK that's enough... probably

Racing live to fight another day

2008-06-30T17:04:00Z

Well all the praying to the virgin and various other, slightly non-authorised saints seems to have worked as Racing stayed in the Primera thanks to a horrendous miss by Belgrano.

Not that anything should be taken away from a gallant Racing. In front of a sold out Juan Domingo Perón stadium Racing were under enormous pressure. They needed a draw, but a great goal after 10 minutes by Maxi Moralez put them ahead. And this is why you
should never stand on the terrace in Argentina - just look at the surge from the crowd when the goal arrives.

Belgrano's Claudio Bustos managed to round the keeper in the second half but somehow tripped over the ball. And on 90-minutes the cafes of
Buenos Aires were packed with football fans awaiting the result. They might not have been fans, but as Racing are one of the largest teams in Argentina, everyone seems to be following their progress.

In fact it knocked Spain vs Germany off almost every screen in the city.

So after a fraught weekend of finals, the next season of Argentine football will take pretty much the same shape as the last one. The only difference is that Los Andes will take the place of San Martin.

The real question, though, is if Racing have it in them to stay up again next season.

Prayers, playoffs and playstations

2008-06-27T10:32:00Z

"I've been hassling the Virgin Mary a lot," Racing's manager Juan Llop told the press before the first leg of the playoffs to determine whether his side stays up.

24 later Llop was back on his knees and crossing himself after a draw against Primera Divison hopefuls Belgrano. The agony for Racing fans prolonged after a late equaliser.

Racing must now win on Sunday if they are to stay up. As the third most supported team in Buenos Aires it is almost unthinkable that they have reached this position, but they have done once before in 1983.

They only remained in the 'B' for a season but it is still something that haunts the perennial underachievers.

The team is now in the hands of the receivers after a disastrous tenure of Blancquiceleste. And they haven't won away all season.

The bottom two teams of the Primera play the top two teams of the 'B', with the winners staying/going up and vice versa. Fighting in the other playoff is Gimnasia and B team Union who also drew the first leg.

Racing players have said in the past that they say a little prayer to whoever they believe is listening. The receivers of the club also offered an incentive to win the last couple of games.

What was it? A TV and a PlayStation 2.

Enough said.

... and that's why we love Argentine football

2008-06-26T10:34:00Z

It's the last game of the season and Argie Bargy drags itself down to La Republica de Boca.

It was all in the name of spreading the word about football. Yep, there are actually people who have not been to a football game and three were with me on this occasion. What do you do when a visitor comes to Buenos Aires? Show them Evita's mausoleum and go to a football game.

La Boca on a freezing night against Tigre (11th in the league) may not seem like an alluring game, but this is Argentina and you never know what will happen.

Eight goals later and we - including three footie virgins - were bouncing up and down with the fans on the most exciting terrace in the world – on Boca Juniors' mighty Bombonera stadium.

La Bombonera in full-on party mode

Let's be honest, the quality of Argentine football here in Argentina is not great. We have the opportunity to see players on their way up or on their way down. Although Boca's team sheet did include Riqueleme, Palacio and Palermo.

Only slightly exaggerating, Palermo hasn't not scored in a game all season. Riqueleme still plays for the national side. And it was Palacio's last game for Boca after an $18m investment from Lazio.

But Boca put six past Tigre who managed just two in replay. We had sending offs, yellow cards, pitch invasions and the club's twelth man - the barra brava - were in full swing.

This is still a stunning experience, one of the most exciting in the football world I would argue, and there was nothing to play for. But Boca played and actually looked like they were enjoying it. The stadium was packed. And I remembered why I liked football again. After a pretty ugly season marred by violence, Argentine football was again doing what it does best... entertain.

River had won the Clausura a week earlier, while Independiente - known as the King of Cups - qualified for the Copa Libertadores after years away. The story now is Racing. One of the most supported Argentine football teams, Racing are playing in the Promoción – a playoff which, if they lose, will see them descend into the 'B' for the second time in their history.

But as the final whistle blew in the Bombonera, my three friends had seen just why Argentine football is so exciting. It doesn't have the smooth play and multimillion pound players, but it has the fans with their whistles, chants, flares and fireworks. It has players who often play for the team they are passionate for. It has a 'nothing to lose' attitude. It is a thrilling visceral experience.

Reading FC it ain't.

Boring Brazil meet average Argentina. The mouth waters...

2008-06-18T14:10:00Z

There may have been no wars and no sneaky handballs. But for Argentines, the 'clasicó' against Brazil is more important than any game against England.

There has been little trouble between the fan groups, instead Argentina and Brazil are united by something else: actually being good at football.

This is a rivalry based on 'which team is the best in the world,' and a bit of local banter, but not bad blood.

Wednesday night's match is unlikely, however, to define the 'Best Team in the World (TM)' mainly because, well, they have been a bit rubbish recently.

Messi & co could only scrape a draw against Ecuador

As Argie Bargy documented yesterday, the team of stars (Messi, Aguero, Verón, Mascherano et all) were incredibly lucky to scrape a draw against Ecuador thanks to Palacio's goal in the last minute.

Meanwhile over the 'Bridge of Friendship' AKA 'The Bridge of drug dealing, terrorist hidings and cheap whiskey' at the frontier between Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina, Brazil's team has been a little... crap.

As fellow FourFourTwo blogger Celso de Campos Jr wrote a couple of days ago, Brazil's loss against Venezuela in a friendly was, and I quote, "pathetic."

Fortunately, they had a more important world cup qualifier game against Paraguay coming up to banish the memories of that surprise upset. And beating a team from a country that imports more whiskey than anywhere else in the world (but funnily enough doesn't consume that much... hmm) should have been a doddle, especially for Brazil.

But alas, no. Brazil lost. I mean lost 2-0. The Brazilian coach, increasingly aptly-named coach Dunga, told the press "We will certainly play a lot better against Argentina than we did against Paraguay. I know the personality of these players and the way they play."

Brazil have faired no better, losing to Venezuela and Paraguay

There was little posturing, though, from the Argentine national team manager Alfio Basile. Behind closed doors the team trained, in the hope they might actually look like a team come Wednesday night.

Verón, for Argie Bargy one of the best players on the pitch against Ecuador, is likely to be out through injury. Mascherano is also doubtful.
But Argentines, with little to cheer about these days among mass protests on the freezing streets, will be hoping the team raise their game. For morale reasons alone, Argentina need a win. And against the Boys from Brazil there is nothing sweeter.

And as a reminder of some past clasicós have a gander at these YouTube clips:

1982 World Cup

Copa America 2007

And a token collection of female bottoms from the above game.

Average Argentina fail to warm the cockles

2008-06-18T06:00:00Z

Argie Bargy recently braved a freezing Buenos Aires evening - is it always four degrees colder on a football terrace? - to watch the national side take on Ecuador in a World Cup qualifier; the sold out River Plate stadium shaking with the excitement of 50,000 gregarious Argentines awaiting the return of the nation's favourite sons.

Once through the rigorous police frisks, I walked out into a packed stadium swathed in celestial blue and white; the balloons, flags and ticker tape an overwhelming experience. Although when fans' favourite 'If you are not English then jump up and down' got an airing, me and my fellow Brits coughed mildly and looked down at our feet – we were so English it hurt.

Fans gather outside River Plate's Estadio Monumental

And then before us: Messi, Agüero, Verón, Riquelme, Zanetti, Heinze, Mascherano. I was, I have to admit, star struck. Only Verón, Riquelme and Palacio - who later made a goal-scoring appearance - play in Argentina and after several seasons of watching players bugger off to Europe it was great to see them back in the country.

Ecuador had, erm, that bloke there and him, you know from Liga de Quito. This was going to be a whitewash.

But 20 minutes into the game hands became colder and the crowd silenced (which takes some doing in Argentina). This was poor. Nay, it was embarrassing, even for an honorary Argentine like myself.

Verón, earlier scorned by Argie Bargy, was playing his heart out even though he was roundly booed everytime he touched the ball - he is still blamed for Argentina's 2002 World Cup disaster among other misdemeanours. Playing in centre midfield he controlled the team, while captain Zanetti, stuck out on the left wing, failed to impress.

Boca's Riquelme, slaughtered in the following day's press, was simply outplayed. But all eyes were on Messi. The 'little flea' barely moves around the pitch, and even when he is jogging it seems to be in slow motion. But then he gets the ball at his feet. And when that happens 50,000 people stand up.

Excuse me for gushing, but the man is a genius. He may not have scored, but his dribbling is consistently stunning. How easy football must be for him, effortlessly beating every defender. But even partnered with the workmanlike Agüero they simply failed. Messi: bored. Agüero: frustrated.

And 23 minutes into the second half Ecuador's Urrutia stunned the home faithful after finishing off a superb move (see 2:09mins). Argentina had constantly threatened but failed to capitalise and it took going a goal down to urge them on. But Agüero's poor finishing and Riquelme's even poorer set pieces were stalling an increasingly desperate Argentine side.

Urrutia celebrates giving Ecuador a surprise lead

However, deep into added-time Palacio, on for the injured Verón, scored a goal (see 4:10mins) that saved some, but certainly not all, of Argentina's dignity.

As Argie Bargy wandered back into the night, no longer quite as star struck, it wondered how a team with such characters could fail, on home soil, against Ecuador. Their biggest test will now come on Wednesday away against Brazil, Argentina's greatest enemy – even more than England.

River fans party around the world

2008-06-09T13:37:00Z

The presumptuous barra brava had the fireworks ready. And with 10 minutes to go, River Plate's jam-packed Monumental stadium erupted in flame.

In the penultimate game of the season the Millionarios extended their lead over Estudiantes and won the Clausura championship; the second half of the Argentine season.

Playing lowly Olimpo, Diego Buonanotte put River ahead on 15 minutes after a goal mouth scramble. But the game was far from over and a determined Olimpo piled the pressure on Ortega's team. 21-minutes into the second half Olimpo equalised and River's fans began to foresee another disappointing night.

Buonanotte edges River ahead against Olimpo

Over in La Plata, meanwhile, Estudiantes' supporters were ecstatic at the news. Their team were playing Colon at exactly the same time and, with River drawing, the title would not be decided for another week.

But they were soon silenced a few minutes later with the news of another Buonanotte goal.

At full time, with the party already in full flow, River's players along with coach Diego Simeone disappeared into the changing rooms to watch the five minutes of extra time in La Plata.

As they watched Veron put his head in his hands after only drawing 0-0, they returned to the pitch swamped by the media and partied like it was 1999, and erm, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

After the disappointment of losing the Superclasico against Boca and crashing out of the Copa Libertadores against San Lorenzo, all was now forgotten. Fans who were up until a week ago still throwing maize at the 'chicken' players as they ran out were now climbing the fence and throwing fireworks.

It was what is known in Buenos Aires as a 'Descontrol total'. It even extended as far as Neuquen a 15 hour drive away and Barcelona.

Ortega hoists trophy to get global party started

River go top but still plenty to play for in Argentina

2008-06-03T13:30:00Z

River Plate have extended their lead over Estudiantes after a comfortable home win against mid-table Colon, despite playing most of the game with 10 men.

River are now two points clear with two more games to play. However, with Estudiantes on 35 points, Boca on 33, San Lorenzo on 31 and Independiente on 29, there is still plenty of time for a few surprises.

But Simeone, in his first season in charge, needs to redeem what has been an overall disappointing season for the Millionarios, with violence off the pitch and lacklustre performers on the field.

Looking at the remaining games, the favourites have to be River but Estudiantes also have relatively easy games. Both teams play Olimpo, a team even Argentine fans struggle to know anything about. Then River take on Banfield currently in 10th position, while Estudiantes play Colon who are 14th.

Alexis Sanchez celebrates as River go top of the pile

San Lorenzo's boardroom troubles, that will probably see the end of Ramon Diaz's one season tenure, has affected them on the pitch too with two defeats in their last four games.

At the other end of the table, Racing remain bottom. However the Argentine league relegation system is structured on an average score over the last few years.

Racing's demotion is not a given, but they are likely to have to take on other strugglers in a play off, the loser of which will be relegated. It was the blue and whites, however, who came closest to winning a poor 0-0 Clasico against Independiente on Saturday.

Meanwhile the national team have just arrived in San Diego for a couple of friendlies against Mexico and a team made up of local players, before playing their International Clasico Brazil in the World Cup qualifiers.

Boca head to Rio carrying the hopes of a nation

2008-05-29T16:00:00Z

With two games to go the domestic league is wide open, with six teams within six points of each other. But however important it is to Argentine football fans for their team to win the championship, each would gladly lose the title to their arch rivals on the last day of the season 20 times over in exchange for a Copa Libertadores in their dusty cabinets.

The hopes for the Copa coming to Argentina are now in Boca Juniors' hands. And if a team can be convincing while still drawing at home, then that was Boca.

On a bitterly cold night (OK, it was 5C which is bitterly cold for Argentina) against, Brazilian side, Fluminense - mostly wearing gloves - Boca maintained a relentless attack on goal throughout a thrilling match.

When Riquleme scored an 11th minute goal from a lovely flowing build up, it looked as though the night was Boca's. The crowd, packed into Racing's impressive stadium - built for the 1978 World Cup - believed the night was theirs. Fluminese's equaliser three minutes later did little to dampen the party atmosphere as probably the most fluid performance from Boca all season constantly threatened another goal.

Riquleme's second, a free kick, came just after half time and the erstwhile mild mannered number 10 danced around the stadium and kissed the ball before placing it on the centre spot.

But against the flow of play, on the counter-attack, Fluminese's lofty Migliore hit one from outside the penalty area. It slipped through the goalkeeper's hands giving the Brazilian's a potentially crucial away goal.

Boca now have to go Rio de Janeiro in a week with Argentina's hopes weighing down on their shoulders.

Riquelme fires home before going mental, below

Palermo hat-trick sees Boca bounce back

2008-05-22T10:57:00Z

Even in Argentina the Champions League final threatened to push Boca's quarter-final win over Mexico's Atlas off the city's café screens... but not quite.

Anyway, for those not flicking through FourFourTwo's photo archive of recent events in Moscow, Boca Juniors - against all expectations, well, Argie Bargy's, at least - are through to the semi-finals of the Copa Libertadores.

After a worrying 2-2 draw at home, Boca were the underdogs going into the away leg. But Boca dominated from the off and scored three first-half goals, all by the golden boots of who else but Martin Palermo.

For Boca fans it was one of the most important games of the year. And riding high, but not top, in the league and with a recent Superclasico win under their belts, they are finally gathering momentum and confidence which many hope will carry them through to the Libertadores final.

Leaving the pitch, Riquleme said what many Argentines also wish for: that San Lorenzo win on Thursday night and we see a final between two sides from the same country.

Not too unlike some other game recently.

Martin Palermo makes it three to rip up the Atlas

Don't cry for me Boca Juniors

2008-05-21T13:00:00Z

Argentina is an undeniably macho society.

Men wolf-whistle, stare and call out comments at pretty much any female passing. Women generally stay at home - granted this is changing, but we are still looking at 1950s Britain as a comparison - and they earn less.

Oddly, for British minds at least, the Samson effect remains strong in this country with long wet-look hair, preferably in a curly perm or prize mullet, being a sign of machoism and virility. Look at Ariel Ortega. There are also other things on the football field that can make a stiff upper lip quiver. They hug and jump on each other at moments that elsewhere would seem mildly inappropriate.

But to cry? Well, Gazza did it once and England never forgot. Here, dry eyes are deemed almost a detachment from the passion of Argentine football. Maradona did it, and they loved him for it.

The emotion at Boca Juniors' Bombonera stadium is notoriously intense. So when a young Boca team - Palermo, Riquleme et al saved for tonight's Libertadores match - went up against an imploding Racing, there were a couple of debuts.

Ricardo 'Tito' Noir, however stole the show. The young 19-year-old, unknown to many spectators, came on with Boca Juniors drawing 1-1. He immediately took control of the game, getting involved with nearly every attack, and then four minutes into extra time – Gooooolaaazzzoooo. The crowd were ecstatic. Noir wept. What a debut. He was carried off on the shoulders of his team-mates, still crying. Well, wouldn't you have done?

Gooooolaaazzzoooo: Noir scores, and then weeps

It leaves Boca third in a wide-open title race. Estudiantes stay top; River, whose fans still haven't forgiven them for losing the Superclasico or the Copa Libertadores game against San Lorenzo, are in second after lacklustre performances.But within six points are six teams including Independiente, Velez and San Lorenzo. It's going to be an exciting finish.

Tonight, attention turns again from country to continent as Boca Juniors face Atlas in Mexico, needing a win or a 3-3 draw, while San Lorenzo travel to the heights of Quito to play Liga needing a 2-2 draw or a win. The Argentinians will be hoping to display manly, hairy pride, rather than weeping tears of disappointment.

San Lorenzo left with mountain to climb, literally!

2008-05-16T17:15:00Z

Just take a look at this.

There are few bloopers that may have such lasting effects. In the first - and home - leg of San Lorenzo's Copa Libertadores quarter final, the team from the Almagro neighbourhood went one nil down against Liga de Quito with the above goalkeeping disaster from Agustin Orion.

They pulled one back with a great free kick from Adrián González, leaving the Quito goalie looking almost, but not quite, as stupid as San Lorenzo's. Now they are left with, literally, an up-hill struggle for their away leg in the altitude of Quito. Not to mention that, before then, they are playing one of Buenos Aires' great derbies: against Huracán.

Liga can't believe their luck after Orion gifts them the lead

On Tuesday, Boca Juniors fared even worse. An ecstatic sold out crowd were utterly silenced in the last minute by an Atlas goal meaning they drew 2-2. Boca now travel to Mexico needing a win, or at least a 3-3 draw, to progress to the semi-finals.

And another big weekend for football sees two major derbies taking place. The big one, as mentioned above, is Huracán vs San Lorenzo. Undoubtedly the most important game for Huracån this season. And I know it's good to be as independent as possible in the blogosphere but COME ON HURACÁN!!!!!!!!!!!!

The nearby city of La Plata hosts the showdown between Gimnasia de La Plata and Juan Verón's Estudiantes, the latter in second place in the league only on goal difference.

In first place are River, who are not having the greatest of weeks, and it's unlikely to be made better with their visit to a resurgent Independiente in the Mini Clasico.

All hail King Tevez, River players pelted with chicken feed

2008-05-14T14:20:00Z

'He wore the Argentina flag, he wore the Argentina flag,' was a phrase that I think, with only a little bit of exaggeration, was what every one of my Argentine friends said to me on Monday morning.

The photo of King Tevez with a Argentina celestial blue and white flag draped around his shoulders appeared on the front page of every newspaper and was a proud moment for a proud nation.

"The English love me for what I have done with Manchester," the star told daily football rag Olé. "I wore the flag so it would help give an even better image of my country."

Celebrating his ninth title, Tevez also said how the English appreciate his work rate.

"They were shouting "Argentina, Argentina" when I had the ball, and I have seen lots of Argentina flags in the crowd."

He also dedicated his title to his uncle who is suffering from cancer.

Carlos dons his country's colours during title celebrations

It could be called a self-fulfilling prophecy, but since some witty fan threw a live chicken on to the pitch after a dismal losing streak by River a couple of years ago, they have been nicknamed gallinas (chickens).

In the best tradition they took the name under their belt and proudly called it their own. Now it has reappeared, original meaning intact.

Despite being on the top of the table - although there are six teams within four points and they are only separated from Estudiantes by goal difference - River's miserable week involving crashing out of the Copa Libertadores to San Lorenzo and losing the Superclasicó has left fans furious.

On Sunday they comprehensively beat Gimnasia de La Plata (currently in 16th) but, far from appeasing the fans, each goal was met by utter silence from the 40,000-strong crowd. Worse, the players were pelted with corn arrived at the stadium and as they left the changing rooms.

"It hurt," River's Diego Buonanotte said, unclear whether he was referring to physical pain or mental distress. What is clear is that River must win the domestic title if Simeone wants to hang on to his job.

Silence greets Abelairas' goal against Gimnasia de La Plata

Battle of the season lives up to the hype

2008-05-09T14:54:00Z

It was billed as the battle of the season and, judging by the scuffles on and off the pitch, it lived up to its name.

Nine-man San Lorenzo came from 2-0 down against River Plate to draw 2-2 and progress into the quarter finals of the Copa Libertadores.

In an astonishing game at River Plate's Monumental stadium four goals, three sending offs, one penalty and a mini post-match riot made for a fiery event on a chilly autumn evening.

River Plate went ahead 16 minutes into the first half and things appeared to be looking up for manager Simeone, whose week was already a struggle after losing the Superclasicó against Boca on Sunday. Abreu, a former champion with San Lorenzo, put them 2-0 up in the second half.

But it was Bergessio's two audacious goals in four minutes, supported only by eight team-mates, that earned San Lorenzo passage into the last eight of the Copa.

Bergessio celebrates his moments of magic against River

River fans, making up the vast majority, saw their hopes dissipate before their eyes and things turned ugly.

After the game, 150 fans broke into the entrance hall demanding the head of chairman José María Aguilar - or as he is known to Argie Bargy, the 'Muppet'.

BLOG: April 2 Muppet mastery from River Plate president

Police held the fans back, but players had to remain in the changing rooms due to the threatening behaviour of waiting fans.

San Lorenzo and Boca Juniors are now the only two Argentine teams still in the competition after top of the table Estudiantes crashed out along with Lanús.

Goollllaazzzooooo!!! Bouncing Boca in Copa quarters

2008-05-08T13:14:00Z

It's turning out to be a pretty good week for Boca Juniors. On Sunday they beat title favourites and local rivals River in the superclasicó.

And last night, they took on Cruzeiro in Brazil and won 2-1, sending the holders through to the semis. AND WHAT A GOAL! Rodrigo Palacio, who has been far from on form, scored a great goal from the edge of the area on 36 minutes.

Just before half-time, Martin Palermo (who else?) headed in the second with perfect accuracy. Cruzeiro scraped one back, but it was too late.

Boca will now play Mexicans Atlas, who should be comfortable opponents for the team of the moment.

Palermo's post-goal peck for Palacio

Battle of the year

However, the game all of Buenos Aires seem to be talking about is tonight's second-leg encounter between River Plate and San Lorenzo. It has already been called the 'battle of the year' after last week's bad-tempered game, in which dirty laundry was hung out by players reportedly arguing throughout the game about alleged wife-snatching.

But we at Argy Bargy don't encourage scurrilous gossip* and remain sure tonight will all be about the football.

Speakers in the Bombonera?

And in a bizarre move, Boca's administration were accused – mostly, it has to be said, by River fans – of placing speakers on the terraces to make more noise. Hard to believe in what is considered the loudest stadium in the world, but with an ever-decreasing amount of away fans allowed at the superclasicó, could it be symptomatic of the quietening of fans in Argentina?

No, of course not.

* Oh, go on then. The clash was between River's Eduardo Tuzzio and San Lorenzo's Gonzalo Bergessio. Bergessio brought up an old one on Tuzzio. Apparently it was about three years ago that Tuzzio's 'friend' and River Plate teammate, Horacio Ameli, did the dirty on Tuzzio with the latter's wife. Well that's enough to put anyone off their game.

Boca's win over River leaves Simeone stewing

2008-05-06T09:26:00Z

There were fireworks, enough ticker to cover parading liberators of all the wars put together and odd bombs that spurted blue and gold smoke. It was the closing season's superclasicó and it was the home team Boca Juniors who earned the glory.

Sure, it was a scrappy game, as most derbies are. But then again, as in all derbies, this was a fight for the fans. And Boca Juniors' slick fans unveiled a brand new flag, 15 storeys high, for the occasion.

Boca's banner: at least they didn't hold it upside down

Fortunately they had plenty of opportunities to unfurl and shake it like a Polaroid as they celebrated their first win for three years over their uptown rivals. Although nether team were convincing, Boca created more chances but generally failed to capitalise – a problem for them of late. It was a sublime header from Sebastian Battaglia in the 14th minute that set the tone, and then Boca hung on for dear life. Not that River were particularly threatening: Ariel Ortega was subbed early in the second half, and Diego Simeone's side looked lacklustre - much to their manager's disgust. And as he walked off, some witty Boca (or River) fan threw him a rubber ring.

It means Simeone has a tricky week ahead. After a loss against San Lorenzo in a heated Copa Libertadores first leg last week, River need a win on Wednesday to make the quarters. Their league prospects are also dubious, but as with the English Premier League it looks as though it will be down to the wire. Estudiantes lead, but both River and San Lorenzo have the same amount of points, 27; fourth-placed Boca are a point behind, while Veléz and Independiente have 24 and 23 respectively.

Off the field, the superclasicó passed off relatively peacefully, with only 253 arrests (yes, that's low), including 69 from River faction Banda del Oeste, who are largely blamed for the recent violence on the terraces. But apart from a few scuffles wherein Boca supporters mugged River fans for flags and shirts then burnt them, it was a security success, especially amid the most violent season for years.

At the other end of the table, Racing played Rosario Central looking to escape the relegation zone. But Rosario won 3-2, leaving Racing in their worst situation for a decade and a real possibility of going down – a huge blow for one of Argentina's most supported teams.

Argentina gears up for biggest game on earth

2008-05-02T09:45:00Z

Well what a week for football. Champions League antics maybe dominating the European scene, but in this small corner at the end of the world it's one hell of a weekend for football.

Buenos Aires giants San Lorenzo played River Plate in the first leg of their Copa Libertadores last 16. In San Lorenzo's Nuevo Gasómetro stadium, River went down 2-1. Neck and neck until the final three minutes when Baldassi earned a penalty, which was neatly slotted away by González.

Earlier in the day Boca Juniors, who only just scraped through to this stage, won far from convincingly against Brazilians Cruzeiro. They play the second leg next Wednesday on Brazilian soil, but by continuing to earn their passage through to the finals on goal difference alone will not be enough.

Both River and Boca will, however, be mildly distracted by the Biggest Game on Earth (TM) this weekend. Yep it's the Superclasico.

Boca's Bombonera stadium will be shuddering during the most famous derby in the world. Both teams are high up in the league with River second, separated by goal difference from Verón's Estudiantes, while Boca are looking to rescue a little bit of dignity from their lacklustre season by winning the Superclasico and moving nearer the top of the table.

So as a little taster here are three clips demonstrating why Boca Juniors vs River Plate is such a spectacle.

Boca vs River at La Bombonera. Never a dull moment

Juan Román Riquelme, Boca's number 10 and all round saviour – or at least at the beginning of the season – reckons that River, whose recent loss against San Lorenzo in the Libertadores puts them firmly on the back foot, won't be able to score.

"Nobody attacks us in the Bombonera," he said in reference to the intimidating atmosphere the echoing stadium is known for.

"This is the most important game because we are both playing for the championship," he continued. "And we are going to win."

Boca are currently in fourth position, behind San Lorenzo, River in second on goal difference and Estudiantes on top. Only five points separate the top four with seven games to go.

"It's going to be a complicated game on Sunday," Riquelme told local football paper Olé. "It means a lot to many people, but lets be realistic. Its 90 minutes, when 11 players play against 11 other players. It's football. Nothing else."

Violence has traditionally been most intense at Boca-River games with their notorious hatred. However, increased police presence and the very limited amount of away supporters has led to a reduction in the troubles.

But it could be the internal wrangling in both barra bravas that remain the story, preferring to fight their own rather than the 'enemy'.

Well, I have booked myself a spot to watch the game. Not in the stadium – if you don't know Maradona you have no chance. But just to understand how important this game is in Buenos Aires culture, I have had to reserve a seat in the crappiest, dirties, little dive cafe in BA – THREE days in advance.

Man. I had better get on to Maradona's people. Watch this space on Monday for a full report.

If in doubt, pray to the Argentinian Robin Hood

2008-04-29T08:30:00Z

Boca's season is not on fire. Scraping through to the final 16 in the Libertadores, Sunday's defeat by San Lorenzo and struggling (for Boca) in third place in the league – all after this blogger confidently predicted the team would win everything: Copa Libertadores, League, Lottery Polo Championship.

As the less than convincing season continues, Boca fans have turned to that peculiarly Latin American tradition of adopting a saint to whom they can pray when times are less than divine.

Guachito Gil is an obscure gaucho (a cow-killing, gin-swigging cowboy) who became a fugitive character back in the early 19th century after going AWOL from yet another war with Brazil.

As with all good legends, Gil's story is shrouded in mystery but he is believed to have been a simple farmer born Antonio Mamerto Gil Nuñez in the north-eastern province of Corrientes around 1847. The story goes that he became involved in an affair with a wealthy widow. When her brothers found out they told the head of police – also in love with the widow – and Gil was forced to scarper to join the army, fighting in a civil war between the warring 'celestes' and 'colorados' political parties.

Subsequently, he became a kind of Argentinian Robin Hood, stealing from rich land owners and giving tto the poor. Word also spread that Gauchito had received special healing powers from a Guaraní god.

Today in Buenos Aires, red rags, red candles and red flags mark shrines around the city for this folk saint while icons of the moustachioed gaucho are usually surrounded by offerings of wine, cigarettes, crosses and flour.

So it was that with a little splash of wine, I recently saw a couple of Boca fans stopping for a quick prayer – presumably for a comfortable win for the team.

Boca fans: praying for help from a cow-killing, gin-swigging cowboy

Mind you, Boca's troubles are nothing compared with Racing.

A big team struggling badly, they are playing for their survival in the Primera, and some players have taken to making offerings to Guachito Gil in return for rescue from this situation – or at least three points towards it. One has a tattoo of the gaucho. Another has gone as far as saying that Racing are cursed.

It hasn't stopped all manner of odd going-ons in Racing players' homes (though we're not quite at the stage of making voodoo dolls of Independiente players).

In case you think this is superstitious piffle, it's worth remembering that this is a country where a worryingly high proportion of the overwhelmingly Catholic population want Evita to be sainted. And where a recent popular saint is a cumbia singer called Rodrigo who died young in a car accident about 10 years ago.

It's basically like praying to Robbie Williams – if he were dead of course. But no one wants that, even if it helps Port Vale win the league.

Maradona wades into Peronist politics

2008-04-25T15:17:00Z

Peronism. Argentina's dominant political movement is about as easy to understand as geothermal physics.

There are Peronists and then there are Peronists. And they hate each other. Named after Juan Domingo Peron, who had some famous wife or other and became famous with his populist politics, in which he somehow managed to reconcile workers' rights with the harbouring of Nazi war criminals.

And that example is demonstrative of the paradox of Peronism.

Maradona, another tricky cookie to crack, has now waded into Peronist politics with customary confusion. 'The number 10 of Judicialism will be Maradona,' the former president Nestor Kirchner said. Answers on a postcard.

The new number 10 of Judicialism. No, we don't know either

No one will be sure what God's role will be within the government but, understandably, cynics among you maybe thinking it is a cheap ploy to get publicity for the ruling party. The opposition party are also Peronists (naturally). But surely not – apparently 'all of Diego's family were Peronist' which is akin to saying 'all British families like a cup of tea'.

Perhaps he will become the ambassador to the UK, maybe the World Bank's spokesperson, or perhaps Principal Private Secretary to the Minister of Cigar Smoking, Talking Bollocks, and Stirring Up Trouble.

If anyone has any other ideas for Diego's role, we welcome them. And can someone please explain Peronism to me.

Boca scrape through in Copa; Pele & Diego in spat shock

2008-04-23T14:05:00Z

River fans call Boca 'swines'. Last night they became lucky swines, qualifying for the last 16 of Latin America's holy grail: the Copa Libertadores.

They went into the game needing a five-goal win over Venezuelan whipping-boys Maracaibo to assure their place in the knock-out stages. They could only scrape three, despite Anfield refugee Gabriel Paletta opening the scoring in the ninth minute.

But, as is often the case, football is part-mathematics, part good fortune: Chilean outfit Colo Colo could only draw at home to Mexican side Atlas, meaning Boca squeaked through at the Chileans' expense on goal difference, along with table-topping Atlas.

As word of the Santiago stalemate got around La Bombonera, fireworks were lit in the stands, while on the pitch Juan Roman Riquelme started singing and doing a Nobby Stiles jig. The onlooking Diego Maradona took off his top and swirled it over his head. In short everybody reacted as if they'd won the competition, perhaps because they'd experienced something many other fans enjoy more than anything else: the lucky escape from humiliation.

Jesus Datolo and Riquelme's goals beefed up the scoreline but it was a far from promising game from an erratic Boca side. They were the only Argentine team who struggled: although Arsenal had left themselves too much to do in Group 8 after three defeats in the first four games, River Plate topped a strong Group 5 while San Lorenzo got through Group 1 Lanus and Estudiantes had Group 2 sewn up last week.

Colo Colo draw whips Diego up into a frenzy

Pelé on Maradona's doping

As the newly-thin (again) God watched from his Bombonera box, shirt off, hanging from the rafters, the Brazilian God was wondering how come, if other Olympians have their medals taken off them for doping scandals, Diego had hung on to his?

A fair enough point, perhaps, but one that made angry headlines in a fiercely loyal Argentina. He also criticised that goal by arguing "He was a great player, but you just can't hit a ball with your hand, pretending it was your head."

This one could run and run. Oh, it already has...

Where there's smoke, there's a River on fire

2008-04-18T13:32:00Z

Cough, cough, splutter, splutter... as Buenos Aires is enveloped in a soup of acrid smoke from farmers burning land (I can see less than 100 metres across the roofs of the city; see it here

River Plate were on fire last night (sorry couldn't resist) beating whipping boys San Martin de Perú 5-0.

The smoke was so bad you could barely see one side of the pitch from the other but River cleverly used it to their advantage, sweeping the ball up the pitch to Uruguayan Sebastián Abreu who scored three.

River, along with Estudiantes, San Lorenzo and Lanús, are now through to the last 16 with Arsenal and Boca Juniors the only Argentine teams still to qualify.

The latter are only likely to do so through some complicated mathematical equation - and a good helping of luck - which to be fair, they usually have.

Moody Maradona tips San Lorenzo to win Libertadores

2008-04-17T13:36:00Z

Managers come and go, but one always remains a fan of the team. It's the law. And no matter how much you hate the gaffer, you wish the team well.

Maradona, never one to hide his rancor, hates Boca Junior's boss Carlo Isichia (he once called him a 'big fat steak'), but is there week in week out, following them around the world.

However, his mood has considerably dampened in recent years; no longer seen hanging off his executive box in La Bombonera, being held onto desperately by his security guards in case the top-heavy genius topples over. No, now he is more likely to be seen sucking coke (not that sort, he's all clear) grumpily watching his beloved Boca do, well, alright.

Diego: Not as animated at La Bombonera as he used to be

After losing their Copa Libertadores game in Mexico he merely uttered to the press "well, what happened had to happen" implying that Boca have to lose to get rid of Isichia.

Now, after San Lorenzo's emphatic victory over Venezuelans Caracas which saw the centenary team progress to the second stage for the first time in six years, Maradona came out and said "San Lorenzo are going to win the Copa."

Coach Ramón Díaz, an Argentine, and therefore holds Maradona somewhere above Allah and just a bit below the Virgin Mary in deity status, blames the win on his presence, hoping he will come again.

God, who has played for San Lorenzo twice in his life, said, 'I'm just a fan of football.' But it can't sit well with Boca who still have a somewhat slim chance of progressing into the second stage, unlike underdogs Estudiantes and Lanús who both qualified after wins on Tuesday night.

Tonight River play a key game against Universidad de San Martin. As long as they don't lose by two goals they are through.

Independiente sleeping with the enemy

2008-04-16T09:55:00Z

For Independiente, the unthinkable has happened.

The rivalry between Racing and Independiente is one of the most intense in Argentina. It's difficult to express how much they hate each other. And yet, as both teams reach crisis point - Racing are fighting the relegration zone - a die-hard, life-long Racing fan has been appointed manager of Independiente.

The current Colo Colo coach will return from Chile at the end of this season to take up the role.

However, as he was presented to the press and underwent the usual 'here's a red shirt display', Claudio Borghi actually refused to put it on. "It's a size too big, he said with a laugh."

He went on to explain: "They are taking on a manager, not a fan." But it is unlikely to appease Independiente fans who would probably rather have my mum as coach than a Racing fan.

And imagine, the hostility of the fans even if they do accept the idea. Every time they lose, 'Bichi' Borghi is going to get more hassle than the particularly thick skinned Argentine managers are used to.

Paranormal Boca

Boca Juniors have always attracted a wide fan base, covering all social classes and even nationalities, but now it appears that they are attracting fans from the afterlife.

"Sometimes I hear La Doce (Boca's barra brava) singing 'Dale Boca, Dale Booooccaaa' but I walk onto the pitch and there is no one there," claims one cafe worker. "It gives me goose pimples and I leave running."

A security guard has also spotted paranormal activities in the stadium. "Sometimes you hear knocks always in the same places, but we never see anything, but occasionally there is a black shadow moving away."

Argentine Copa failure

It has been a pretty grim time all round for Argentine football, but not even the Copa Libertadores offers a reason to cheer.

Of the five teams who have already secured their places in the next stage of the finals, none are Argentine and only Estudiantes, Verón's team, are leading their four team mini league (Lanus are second) and are almost certain to go through.

Maradona, Rod Stewart and worst miss ever

2008-04-11T09:31:00Z

The Boca wibble-wobble

Boca Juniors' wobble continued during a bizarre Copa Libertadores match against Mexicans Atlas on Tuesday, courtesy of what might be the worst miss in the history of football.

To use a footballing cliché, my grandmother, nimble for a 76-year-old but certainly not Premiership material, could have knocked in the chance that Martin Palermo blazed wide. It was a miss that appeared to defy the laws of physics. A yard out, a gaping goal and Palermo sliced it wide. Not just wide, but miles wide. How?

Remember, this is Boca's greatest ever goalscorer. And it was the moment when the game turned in favour of the Mexicans, who were supported by a vast home audience as fervent in their support as any Bombonera crowd.

The game finished 3-1 in Atlas's favour, complicating Boca's movement into the final stages of the Copa. Maradona was in attendance and uncharacteristically quiet – not that he could do much talking with that missile-sized cigar in his mouth.

Known for his dislike of Boca's coach Carlos Ischia, Diego told waiting press: 'It was something that had to happen.' Code for 'I really hope Ischia does so badly that he'll be fired and they'll give me the job.'

Palermo looks down at the ground, hoping it will swallow him up

River's terrace closed down

After the horrific violence that mars every single River Plate game, the AFA have forced River's management to close their terrace for the next two games. But despite the violence, it is a move that has drawn criticism from many corners.

What's to stop the thugs from simply moving to the seating area? And why punish the guys who aren't part of the barra brava but who simply can't afford seats?

Fortunately River Plate's manager Aguilar (see previous post, 'Muppet mastery') doesn't have a clue who the people who cause the violence are. No idea. Zip. Well, as he said in front of the judge, only the jailed Alan Schlenker, his arch enemy Adrian Rousseau and the murdered Gonzalo Acro – the three protagonists of the troubles. But no one else. Once again for the record: MUPPET.

Thank God for Rod, eh?

Amid all the usual chaos, at least rockin' Rod Stewart had some good things to say about Argentinian football. Arriving in Buenos Aires to subject porteños to dank hits and gruff wailing, he told reporters that he would love to see Messi and Tevez at Celtic. He was also presented with one of Maradona's Napoli's shirts which he promised to wear on stage. Oh, sail away Rod.

River Plate go top, San Lorenzo score goal of season

2008-04-07T13:23:00Z

Well, finally, cause for celebration: A violence free weekend.

OK, last time I hailed a few days like this it was followed by all sorts of trouble. But, nevertheless, lets take this opportunity to talk about ..... da da da da da da da DAAAAA ..... football!

River top of the tree

Time to catch up. After their nightmare start to the season, River Plate sit at the top of the league, ahead of Juan Verón's Estudiantes and a great Boca Juniors team.

Simeone's team have settled into the roles the new coach imposed on them at the beginning of the season. Although they are struggling in the Copa Libertadores – losing in the last five minutes against Mexicans America despite being 3-1 up going into the second half – they made it through to the quarter finals.

On Sunday a great solo effort by Diego Buonanotte over Lanus put them further ahead.

Teenager Buonanotte celebrates winner against Lanus

San Lorenzo score five

The Cuervos (The Crows) as San Lorenzo have been celebrating their 100th birthday. Or at least trying to. Their huge party in their own stadium turned out to be a damp squib, but not as much as Ramon Diaz's team's performance in the Copa Libertadores against Brazilians Cruzeiro.

They lost 3-1 further stifling the fiesta. All this was forgotten, however, yesterday with a 5-1 thumping of Tigre away, including what could quite possibly be the team goal of the season alongside a couple of other contenders too.

Other results

Argentinos Juniors 1 – 1 Gimnasia de Jujuy

Possibly the least appealing fixture in the weekend saw Argentinos Juniors take on Gimnasia de Jujuy in Argentinos Maradona stadium. In joint 10th position, Argentinos were booed off the pitch for a lacklustre performance.

Velez 1 – 1 Racing

Troubled Racing went in to the Velez game with a new manager Juan Manuel Llop, however he couldn't inspire the team to a win. It has now been nine games without beating their rivals and they are bottom of the table after this game, making them firm candidates for relegation.

San Martin de San Juan 2 – 0 Huracán

Arsenal 0 - 0 Estudiantes

Central 1 – 1 Newell's Old Bots

Boca Juniors 1 – 1 Banfield

Independiente 1 3 Colon

Gimnasia de La Plata 4 – 2 Olimpo

Muppet mastery from River Plate president

2008-04-02T16:12:00Z

An email arrived in my inbox this morning from a fellow Argy football fan with the title F.*.*.K.I.N.G M.U.P.P.E.T.

Half expecting an amateur YouTube clip of Miss Piggy in an inappropriate clinch with Kermit, I can't say I was overly surprised to see it was about River Plate's president José Maria Aguilar.

"The members of the barras that were in the papers, I don't know," he exclaimed.

It was in relation to the huge, and bloody fight at the Veléz stadium last weekend, in full glorious technicolour , between knife carrying members of internal factions of River's barra.

"Of the one's in the photos," he continued, "very few are members of River Plate. Of the 25 faces I don't know any of them."

It is quite a claim from a club who has actively employed members of the barra brava, including Acro, a young barra, who was River's pool cleaner....on US $68,000 a year.

With nearly every team being cooperatives, presidents and the board rely strongly on their fans to vote them in, leading to an uncomfortable relation between the barra brava, who they often feel obliged to condemn for their violence, while desperately needing them to retain power.

The clubs are in a tricky situation, no doubt, but it is still astonishing that not even the River president recognises these thugs, when the fans, the police, the newspaper reporters and even myself, does recognise them.

This policy of hear no evil, see no evil, speak evil can only continue to damage River's failing integrity.

And just to lighten the mood a little: Mahna Mahna Hey!

When an Argentine can't eat his steak, expect hell

2008-04-02T09:04:00Z

First there was fear and loathing, now we have chaos and violence. It has been one of the saddest couple of weeks in Argentine football for years.

At the best of times, Argentina feels like a society hanging from a thread, but sometimes it feels as though even this is unravelling. As I write, I can hear massive protests outside my downtown office window to complain about new taxes on agriculture. And then there are the people who have taken to the streets to complain that people are complaining about taxes on agriculture.

As a result of various pickets, milk prices are rocketing and the butchers' shelves are empty. When an Argentine can't eat his steak all hell breaks loose.

It would take a better sociologist than me to make the link between these wider problems and an increase in violence on the terraces but although it might be an exaggeration to say Argentine football is in meltdown, it is clear that there are some deep, unsolved problems.

Two weeks ago two young supporters died in separate shooting incidents. This weekend, however, the true extent of the internal fight for power of the River Plate barra brava became horrifically apparent live on TV with an audience of thousands.

In clear view of the country's media, one faction of the barra brava attacked their rivals with knives and belts on the terrace of Velez's stadium. Around 40 fans were detained on their way out, but why the police let in an entire faction of one barra brava unchecked and unfrisked, most carrying knives, must be questioned.

River Plate barra brava attack rivals with knives and belts

The last week has also seen the resignation of four managers. Independiente, Colon, Banfield and, yesterday, Racing have all replaced coaches. Of those, the most crucial dismissal was at an increasingly troubled Racing.

On the point of bankruptcy and in the midst of a full scale revolt by the fans, Argentina's only privately owned top-flight club (the rest are cooperatives) looks as if it will be changing hands pretty soon.

Their last game was a sad affair, after the Argentinian FA forced them to play behind closed doors due to violence at the previous game. They lost 2-0 to San Martin, and if the same team beat Huracan tonight, Racing, one of BA's most supported clubs will find itself in the relegation zone. Claudio Cristofanelli, a forward with 217 games for the club under his belt takes over.

And finally, some good news... Argie Bargy wishes San Lorenzo a happy 100th birthday. To celebrate, why not check out a few clips and the history of the club here?

The calm after the storm

2008-03-25T09:27:00Z

After a weekend of horrendous violence, leaving two dead, the Easter weekend games were peaceful and mostly sober affairs.

At the Vélez game against a resurgent River, fans packed the stand and held up signs saying 'We will never forget you Emanuel'. The family of the deceased walked around the pitch to applause while asking for 'justicia' for the 24-year-old who was shot in the heart before last weekend's game against San Lorenzo.

Other fans held up posters saying that: 'This doesn't just stop with one minute of silence'.

The reputation of Argentine footballing culture has again suffered, but it is unlikely that this tragic episode will be the 'full stop' in the violence. It has long been a problem in a country where blind fanaticism is seamlessly mixed with organised crime.

Nevertheless, the police, long seen as a problem themselves, are beginning to crack down under public pressure. Yesterday the third highest member of the Boca Juniors barra brava El 12 was arrested, a minor blow to this highly-structured organisastion.

William Richard was taken into to custody under a public order offence along with 24 other members of the barra before their victory against Colon. Mauro Martín, the leader of the barra while Rafa Di Zeo sits in jail, still attended the game.

How far the police can or will punish these people is difficult to say. Allegations are rife that corrupt police work in cahoots with barra bravas and they invest a lot of time building up relations. (At Rafa Di Zeo's wedding a couple of years ago, for example, were several police chiefs, along with Maradona and members of the team.)

To solve the violence requires not a major cultural change in Argentine football because the passion, fanaticism, excitement of the game is what makes Argentine football the most exciting in the world (as I argued a couple of days before the weekend of violence). It simply needs a crack down on those factions who are causing the the trouble.

River's barra Los Borrachos de Tablon (the Drunks of the Terrace) continue to fight among themselves for control of the barra. Why? Its the economy, stupid. These guys earn thousands of dollars by selling tickets, drugs, etc to the terraces they control – and that goes on among every barra of every team.

The problem is: who should crack down?

The police, with its inherent corruption, can't be an effective force, especially when 20 bucks can sort out almost any infraction.

The clubs too are at blame. But in Argentina, it is the fans who vote in the chairman and the board, and they simply can't be voted in without the support of the barra brava.

Mauricio Macri, the mayor of Buenos Aires, was, and still is for a while the chairman of Boca Juniors. And it is with him where much of the power lies. He isn't permitted to stand as chairman and mayor – and the words 'interest' and 'conflict' certainly spring to mind.

Let's leave the Argentine FA for another day, but they are generally seen as of no consequence at all.

Fortunately, the vast majority of fans are well behaved and abhor the violence that affects the game. It still is a beautiful game in Argentina, but the power of the barras needs to be dismantled. Then, once again, we can talk about what we are here for: the football.

Hospitals in Buenos Aires 'on alert' for football violence

2008-03-19T16:38:00Z

In the wake of two deaths related to football violence, a new fight amongt the highly orgaanised Boca Juniors barra brava 'El Doce' has broken out, resulting in the non-fatal stabbing of a 44 year old barra member.

Late last year El Doce leader 'Rafa' Di Zeo, who I once had the dubious honour to meet, was imprisoned for the Argentinan equivalent of GBH and posessing a firearm.

Many believed that this would lead to a violent power vacuum in El Doce, just as is currently happening on the violent terraces of River Plate's stadium. Nothing transpired, many beileving that Rafa was controlling the organisation, which re-sells tickets, drugs and parking spaces, among other activities, for vast amount of money.

On Sunday, a day after the deaths of two young people, violence broke out between rival factions of El Doce. One group of El Doce, known as Los de Lomas, and led by Mauro Martin, are thought to be the agitators. Winners of these fights will control what is basically an effective organised crime unit.

Before Boca Juniors' 0-0 draw against Huracán, fights broke out around La Bombonera, knives and an air rifle were used in the fight. 179 people and nine people under 18 were arrested and taken in a convoy, watched by hundreds of police and a helicopter to a nearby police station. The scuffle even reached the doors of the hospital where a fan was interned.

SAME, the Argentinan health care service have issued an alert to hospitals in Buenos Aires, for the possibility of heightened violence for forthcoming games.

Fear, loathing and death in Buenos Aires

2008-03-19T10:20:00Z

Two young fans killed in seperate incidents, bringing the total number of football violence related deaths to 224.

This has been a sad, sad weekend for Argentinian football. Yet again, football, a sport meant to be enjoyed, has been marred by violence in several games and the deaths of two young supporters.

On Saturday afternoon, 21-year-old Emanuel Alvarez, a Velèz Sarsfield fan, was shot in the heart on his way to San Lorenzo's stadium.

The Velèz fans were in a convoy of 40 buses when they were ambushed by what was thought to be a barra brava linked to San Lorenzo. As is common in Argentina, the fan groups travel with a police escort, flying through red lights and intersections. The buses were shot at and Emanuel Alvarez caught in the crossfire, while passing Huracán's training centre.

The teams left the changing rooms at 4.45 for the 5pm kick off unaware, but as soon as the referee blew his whistle to start, Velèz fans, who had been attacked, arrived and tore down the barbed fence to stop the game.

Velèz players attempted to calm down the group and the game was suspended. The players returned to the changing room, with defender Mariano Uglessich in tears. It is thought the fan was well known to the team.

The barra brava of Velèz returned to the team's training centre to organise their revenge, however, their efforts were scuppered by police.

Director of security at Velèz, Eduardo Capucheti claims that the death was not related to the barra bravas but 'very bad luck' – he claims it was the act of one person outside Huracán's training centre. Another witness claimed the murderer was wearing a San Lorenzo shirt.

Whatever the truth, Alvarez is the 224th fan to be killed in Argentinian football.

Meanwhile, a 17-year-old girl was murdered in the northern Argentinian province of Salta. She was with her boyfriend and other fans of Central Norte, to watch the lower division derby against Gimnasia y Tiro.

Witnesses say she was shot in the head by someone from a fan group of the opposing team. Police, however, are not treating it as a battle between barra bravas.

La Bombonera: Old Trafford on acid

2008-03-14T14:40:00Z

It features in every '646 things to do before you become worm food' list. It is on the itinerary of every visit to Latin America. Machu Piccu. Tick. Guinea pig for lunch. Tick. Football game in Buenos Aires. Tick.

There is nothing I have ever experienced, including visits to derbies for FourFourTwo, to Paraguay, Colombia, Chile and Siberia (well obviously nothing like Siberia – that was a trip dominated by a whiff of vodka and lunacy).

Seeing a game in Buenos Aires is a visceral, enlightening, exciting and thrilling experience. And then go see Boca at La Bombonera and multiply it by 12. Once you've figured out the entrance, been frisked by chain smoking police men with shotguns, head up into the terrace and be prepared to be blown away in a frenzy of drumming, trumpets, screaming, shouting from a leaping crowd: the barra brava.

Their fanaticism, fuelled mainly by various narcotics and wine from a box, is an incredible sight. The thronging mass will attract attention more than the game on the pitch. But even the games are always interesting.

I haven't done any empirical research, but I would wager my season ticket to Argentinos Juniors, (granted, not too much money by the time pesos are converted to pounds) that there are more red cards than anywhere else in the world. Coupled with the selfish individual skill that is prized in Argentine football , and you have one hell of a spectacle.

Cheese and onion chomping grunts in the Theatre of Dreams it ain't. And this is what fascinates me about football in Argentina. But life, or should I simply call it football, continues well after the 90 minutes are over.

Take for example Racing's recent march to get rid of their owning company. Thousands marched through the streets on downtown Buenos Aires on a Tuesday afternoon to demand that the AFA revoke the company's license.

Yesterday, fans of their arch-rivals Independiente also campaigned for their beleaguered coach Pedro Troglio to be sacked. Even the Minister of the Economy Martín Lousteau (a devout Independiente fan) waded in to denounce the team. The Minister of the Economy. This is the equivalent of Alistair Darling demanding the head of Aston Villa, or something.

In other news San Lorenzo climbed to the height of more than 4000 metres to play in the highest city in the world, Potosi (I've been. I fainted walking with a back pack let alone 90 minutes of football). They beat Real Potosi 3-2, no mean feat and one that led the Bolivian press to praise their strong temperament, that left them at the top of their Copa Libertadores group.

Kidnapping, Tony Blair and Michael J Fox

2008-03-11T16:13:00Z

Buenos Aires is a wonderful city.

I, personally, would say it is one of the greatest and most vibrant cites in the world. Of course I'm biased, but ask anyone who has been to Argentina's capital and I put money on it being a similar answer.

But it is far from perfect. This is still a third world country in many ways. Not that any visitors would necessarily notice, but there is a lot of poverty and, consequently, crime.

Worshipped though they are, football players are certainly not immune. The beginning of Federico Nieto's week couldn't have been better. He celebrated his first game in the Primera last Saturday with a goal in a 1-1 draw with Argentinos Juniors. But early on Monday morning, the 24-year-old forward was attacked and held captive for more than half an hour.

Travelling with his girlfriend in a brand new Audi, he was stopped by four teenagers who got into the car and drove them around for 30 minutes before dumping them, unharmed, and making off with the new car. (The thieves were evidently not Huracán fans and didn't recognise the player – perhaps they were San Lorenzo fans).

Despite the trauma it is likely this young player will be in the starting line up when they play Boca next weekend

Meanwhile, Independiente manager Pedro Troglio is attempting to 'do a Tony Blair'. Troglio has announced that he will step down from his role at the end of this season – the question now is, can he survive that long?

Independiente's president, Julio Comparada, denies that he has spoken to other coaches, but the Red Devils have only two unconvincing wins this season plus a draw against 10-man Boca (they haven't won at the Bombonera for 12 years) to go with a particularly dusty trophy cabinet.

Not surprisingly, then, many believe now is the time for a major shake-up at the team from Avellaneda.

"I'd love to go back to the year 1984 night and day, but we need time," says Comparada.

Unless, of course, Michael J Fox rolls up in a DeLorean to transport him back to their Copa Libertadores win. Maybe then a more effective team can be put in place.

Other results
Racing 0 - 1 San Lorenzo
Rosario Central 0 - 0 Colòn
Lanús 0 - 5 Banfield
San Martin (SJ) 1 - 1 Gimnasia
Argentinos 1 - 1 Huracán
Tigre 2 - 0 Olimpo
Vélez 1 - 0 Newell's Old Boys
Arsenal 3 - 3 Gimnasia de Jujuy
Estudiaantes 0 - 0 River

The highest game in the world

2008-03-07T11:46:00Z

Nausea, malaise, swelling of hands and feet (sometimes the brain), shortness of breath, occasionally fatal. Not symptoms you would necessarily want to be characteristic of your football team.

This is what can happen when you rise above 2400 metres (8000 feet). Next week, San Lorenzo will take on the Bolivian team Real Potosí …at a height of 4,800 metres (15,500 feet). Needless to say San Lorenzo aren't relishing the task ahead of them.

They have hired oxygen tanks for their players, put together a strategy meaning they will take several days to acclimatise, practising in the lower Santa Cruz, before riding along the dirt roads up to Potosí on the day of the game.

They have also had to take yellow fever vaccinations, leading to the temporary illness, ironically, of most of their medical staff.

Santiago Hirsig, a San Lorenzo midfielder, has already played in Potosí, but with his previous team Arsenal (who got hammered last night 6-0 by Brazilians Fluminense). "It made me feel terrible," he said. "Lots of the players fainted after the game. And the journey there is also hard work, so you already arrive tired."

FIFA have already tried to ban playing football above 2500 metres (8200 feet), ruling out any games in Bolivia at all, but also Quito and Bogotá. Fortunately for the Bolivian sides FIFA backed down from the proposal after a tongue lashing from Bolivian president, and football fan, Evo Morales.

But given the general quality of the grossly underfunded teams in one of the world's poorest countries, it is the only advantage they have.

Racing bouncing to bankruptcy?

2008-03-06T13:30:00Z

To say it has been a pretty bad couple of weeks for Racing Club is like saying the year 1939 was a bit of a bummer for international peace.

Without so much as a win in weeks, the fans of Racing, marched to the AFA headquarters asking for the resignation of the company that runs the club, Blanquiceleste (after their blue and white colours) to hand over their tenure and call election.

And today, the daily newspaper Olé reported that in the last two months their cheques have been bouncing around more than goals in the teams net. A total of AR$1.5m (£250,000) has bounced, leading the former coach Reinaldo Merlo to call for Blanquiceleste to declare bankruptcy. He himself walked out of the club at the end of last year because he wasn't paid. They finally came to an out of court agreement. If they do declare bankruptcy, the only owners of the team are the members. Something, it seems, everyone wants.

But, as all football fans know, the team come first, and Racing fans still fill the stadiums, to watch their poor performances. As the title of this You Tube video says: Maybe now you'll understand what we feel.

Floods, droughts and Palermo's day in the sun

2008-03-03T16:19:00Z

El Loco reaches record, San Lorenzo break goal drought, the rain, the rain...

Half of Buenos Aires currently lies under a metre of water, and I can barely hear myself type, let alone catch what's being said on the fine old BBC.

River vs San Martin de San Juan was suspended nine minutes from the end because the rain broke the referee's watch, or something. (San Martin may have come back from 3-2 down, but River, who have just discovered football again, are on top form).

Two hours away in La Plata, however, the sun is shining. Most of the rays are aimed at one lanky peroxide player called Martín Palermo who after weeks of speculation, wild betting and endless analysis has equalled Boca Juniors scoring record of 180 goals.

Palermo scored a penalty against Gimnasia de La Plata in the 41st minute of the first half as 10-man Boca hung on to win, but it will be Palermo on the front page of every paper tomorrow.

Have a look at some of Palermo's best goals including his incredible 94th-minute strike from the half way line against Independiente.

San Lorenzo break drought

San Lorenzo finally broke their 474-minute goal drought with a great 3-1 win over Estudiantes de La Plata.

Captain Adrián González scored two excellent goals, as did Carrasco, much to the relief of coach Ramón who has been resolutely booed at the last couple of dire games.

Here is San Lorenzo's barra brava, Los Cuervos de Beiro, finally with something to celebrate.

Independiente 2-0 Argentinos Juniors

Independiente overcame mediocrity with a fine Daniel Montenegro strike against a better Argentinos Juniors team. Somehow they managed another goal in a lacklustre game and have bought coach Troglio a few more games at the helm.

Argentinos fans, unhappy with the result, did what any self-respecting sports fanatic would do in that situation – they threw bottles at Independiente's goalie.

This is becomign a worryingly common trick in BA's small stadiums. Much more interesting was when Independiente beat Maradona's first team 8-1.

Gimnasia de Jujuy 0 – 0 Veléz

After a good start to the season, Veléz failed to score after their long trip to Argentina's north eastern city. It was such a dull game and so little football was played that to liven up the proceedings, the players decided to have a little on-pitch scrap a the end. Not that Argie Bargy approves of such affairs, but for the record, the Veléz fans looked harder.

Olimpo 3 – 2 Lanus

Recently-promoted Bahia Blanca team Olimpo, who most Argentines hadn't heard of, are starting well this season, evidenced by this good win over last season's winners Lanus.

Colón 1 – 2 Tigre

Colón's worries of relegation continue after Tigre's comfortable win against the team from Santa Fe.

You might think it's a bit early in the season to start worrying about relegation, but the AFA's unfathomable point average system means they are at more risk every time they lose. I think. I promise to have a clear understanding before the end of the season.

Newell's Old Boys 1 – 0 Racing

Racing's nightmare continues with a loss against an excellent Newell's team. After a week in which fans rioted outside the AFA's headquarters demanding that the club's owners should hold elections and move out now, Racing's team just can't deliver on the pitch.

Not that it can be easy when your fans spend all game demanding the resignation of the board.

Racing fans protest falls on deaf... teeth?!

2008-02-28T09:10:00Z

I was once talking to some sort of delegate of the European Union. He was from Slovenia, I from Britain, so we were discussing how our national characteristics affect our debating skills.

"Each country is very different," he said, in English better than mine. "The British are very reserved and would rather not talk about the problem. The Scandinavian countries will sit down for a brief meeting, simple and to the point and get it out of the way. And the Latins... well, they will take to the streets, shake their fists and make a lot of noise."

Argentina, a country consisting overwhelmingly of people of Italian origin, fall firmly into my Slovenian friend's stereotype. If there is something to protest against, they will.

As I write from an office on the main Avenida de mayo, near the government house, I hear all manner of songs, drums and pyrotechnics. Who knows what they are angry about (let's face there's a lot to choose from)?

Football fans are no different of course, but when 2,000 Racing fans assembled for a highly-organised march yesterday, in the middle of a very hot afternoon, to the Argentinian FA's headquarters to demand elections for their ailing club it took everyone a little by surprise.

It wasn't the first time they'd marched. In 2000, with the country at economic crisis point, 3,000 fans marched to ask the government for help against bankruptcy and the almost certain closure of this 105-year-old club. They won and Racing stumble on. Now they are marching against the company Blanquiceleste Ltd, (named after their blue and white jerseys) who took control of Racing.

Ex-players, ex-coaches, life long members and the barra brava blocked BA's main thoroughfare, chanting, 'Racing belongs to the fans, not the company' and pleading with AFA to call elections and change the perceived mismanagement of the club two years before it comes up for tender again.

Racing, one of the biggest clubs in Argentina, haven't even qualified for an international tournament in five years, and have won just one tournament in 40 years.

On top of that a matter of days before the beginning of this season, most of their technical staff quit, their star player Maximiliano Moralez left for Russia (before returning with a cold – maybe) and the rest of the players, who hadn't been paid for weeks, staged a walk out.

And to make matters even worse, Blanquiceleste Ltd, rented the stadium to their hated – really hated – rivals Independiente, while their new stadium was built.

The fans finally arrived outside the doors of AFA's downtown office at 7.30pm, but police had blocked the route, causing the barra brava to fight with heavy-handed officers resulting in 30 arrests and one policeman being taken to hospital after being hit by a flying bottle. The crowd were finally dispersed by water cannons.

And where, after all that, was Julio Humberto Grondona, AFA president since 1979? He had an appointment with the dentist.

River come to life, but the barra brava are disgruntled

2008-02-26T10:00:00Z

Trust River to wait until a big one to start winning. Disciplined, practical and no longer running around like kids in an Easter egg hunt, Simeone's team thoroughly overcame their past problems, by beating San Lorenzo 2-0, who certainly haven't overcome their problems.

In fact their problems have got worse, Andrés 'I'm no saviour' D'Alessandro limped off to the boos of a very disgruntled barra brava (not the sort of people you want to go disgruntling). A header from Falcao Garcia and a second half goal from Abelairas. And to see the welcome they got here.

Boca's goals continue earning headlines especially as Palermo gets near to the feted 180 record for goals with Maradona's favourite team. The wunderkid scored two against San Martin de San Juan on another scorching afternoon. There is only one more goal to go and the bookies money is on it being in their next game against Gimnasia de La Plata.

And other results:

Estudiantes 5 – 2 Newell's
Friday's incredible game saw seven goals, five from Veron's side, impressive considering Newell's great start to the season. So frustrating coach Caruso was expelled to the terrace at half time, leading to quite a reaction from the middle of the barra brava and sell out crowd.

Lanús 5 – 1 Colon
Another golaazo...

Racing 0 – 0 Gimnasia de Jujuy
...unlike at this game between probably the two most lacklustre teams in the primera right now.

Argentinos 2 – 0 Gimnasia de La Plata
Gimnasia, who haven't won any games yet, will be dreading Boca visit next weekend, coming out of a defeat to face Palermo's magic boot.

Tigre 1 – 2 Huracán
Huracán player Poggi asked to play on against Tigre despite the death of his brother in a road accident last week. Fans offered their support by singing 'Ole Ole Ole Piggo' throughout the game.

Vélez 3 – 0 Banfield

Central 2 – 0 Independiente

Arsenal 1 – 0 Olimpo

Cuddling pitch invaders and the 44-penalty shoot-out

2008-02-22T11:25:00Z

Hugs and relief for Riquelme's Boca

As fellow Four Four Two blogger Celso de campos Jr wrote in his excellent post yesterday the Copa Libertadores is a hugely important title for any Latin American team. It is the highlight of any teams, well, it would be no exageration to say, century. In the opening games the Argentine haven't exactly set the field alight (we'll leave that to the current heat wave, oh man it is hot here). Boca's opening game was no exception despite heading into the game with the confidence of a 4-0 whitewash over Argentinos (see below) at the weekend, and pretty much everyone in Argentine football falling over themselves to praise Riquelme as the best player in the league at the moment. Unfortunately against Maracaibo on Wednesday night, he had a particularly lacklustre performance, despite the one male fan who broke through the barriers on to the pitch and gave Riquelme a big hug, before being swiftly removed by the police. Man of the match Battaglia saved face in the last ten minutes of the game with a well earned knock in. Although it will be Mean Vitali's free kick that will be replayed again and again.

Team focus Argentinos Juniors

Full name Club Atlético Independiente
Website www.argentinosjuniors.com.ar
Founded August 15 1904
Nicknames The Ladybirds (nope, not very masculine) or the Nursery in account of the number of great players who learnt their game here including Diego Maradona (see him play with Argentinos here) and Juan Román Riquelme.
Ground The Diego Maradona stadium (they got there first) in the humble La Paternal area in Buenos Aires. It is only a block in size.
Manager Néstor Gorosito
Barra brava A small but noisy band of people from the area. This author has seen them in a full scale riot with shots being fired at them. Well, I say, me, it was actually my poor wife.
Titles Not an amazing record, Argentinos are the perennial underachievers, strapped for cash, but with some astute signings. Their greatest year was 1985 when they won both the Copa Libertadores against América de Cali and the Copa Interamericana against the wonderfully named Defence Force of Trinidad and Tobago.
Star player The Chilean national player Milovan Mirosevic is currently one of their best players.
Useless but quite interesting The club was originally called The Martyrs of Chicago, after eight anarchists hanged after the 1986 Haymarket Riot in Chicago. Answers on a post card?
Useless and not very interesting Argentinos Juniors have the record for the longest penalty shootout ever against Racing Club in 1988. Argentinos won after 44 penalties. Actually that is quite interesting.
Rivals Not known for their violence Argentinos don't have a particularly strong rivalry, but geographically Vélez Sársfield is the nearest team and always attracts a large crowd.
Recent form Argentinos finished in a perfectly respectable fifth in the last season and have traditionally always performed well against the big teams. They did however loose 4-0 last weekend against a resurgent Boca team (see last blog)
If they were an English team Newcastle. Nobody really despises them, and they hold a lot of respect despite a fairly empty trophy cabinet.

Boca blitz, pretty girls and a Sanchez wonderstrike

2008-02-19T09:50:00Z

Boca blitz Argentinos

La Bombonera, the Chocolate Box, is one of the most intimidating stadiums in the world.

Its vertiginously sided terrace, that jut steeply into a sky the colour of Argentina's flag, create an echo that strikes the fear into any visitor to the Boca Juniors stadium.

With El 12, Boca's barra brava, in full voice, they say it is the loudest theatre of football in the world. Here's the kind of welcome away teams receive.

The terraces were at capacity on Sunday night as Boca Juniors took on Argentinos Juniors on a scorching evening (32C at 8pm!). Boca arguably (or I would argue) have their best team in years.

For starters, there's Riquelme. If you need any reminding of why we – and everyone else – loves him, just watch this highlights reel featuring the most ludicrously brilliant reverse nutmeg ever. And now check out this weekend's assist for Rodrigo Palacio for the second of four goals against an unconfident Argentinos Juniors, a small team who often play well against the big boys.

Palermo gets the boot

After his goal against Argentinos, Boca's Martín Palermo, now only three goals from equalling Fransisco Varrallo goalscoring record for Boca, won another golden boot from Spanish football magazine, Don Balon.

In a marketing clever coup (I know, writing this is only exacerbating it) Puma will make 180 gold and blue boots for the player (have a look at www.losbotinesdepalermo.com and pity the poor sod who had to write an account of every goal Palermo has ever scored).

And his best goal, as voted by people with too much time on their hands? His goal in a 2-0 win against River in the 2000 Libertadores. Bets are on for when he'll grab the golden 180th… against Maracaibo in Boca's opening Libertadores game?

Pretty girls chat up foreigners

If the football alone wasn't reason enough to go see Boca in Argentina, this clip of some rather attractive ladies on the Bombanera terraces should change your mind.

Weekend results see the highlights here.

Banfield 3 – 1 Racing
Racing's season started badly with a large exodus of players who complained that they hadn't been paid. Now with money in their pockets, they still seem a bit miffed, with one win and one loss.

Colón 3 – 0 Arsenal

Gimnasia de La Plata 2 - 0 Central

Gimnania de Jujuy 0 – 2 Estudiantes

San Lorenzo 0 - 1 San Martin
It's still early but this is a turning into to a nightmare start for goalless San Lorenzo.

Olimpo 0 - 2 Vélez

Independiente 4 – 1 Tigre

Huracán 1 – 0 Lanús
Last season's winner face their first loss of the season. Not much to worry about though: they're still the only Argentine team to win their opening Libertadores game.

Newell's 0 – 0 River
An unorganised River were lucky to get away with a point against what is looking like a strong Newell's side this season.

Boca 4 – 0 Argentinos

Goal of the weekend
We'll go for Huracan's Alan Sánchez and his thumping goal against Lanús.

Lanús dreams, God Watch and Batistuta's chukka

2008-02-15T17:31:00Z

Lanús win Libertadores game
Lanús, a small team from the southern suburbs, firstly shocked the Argentine footballing world by winning their first ever championship last year. They are now the only Argentine team to have won their opening Libertadores game (Boca still have to play). They beat Danubio in Buenos Aires 3-1 with goals from Pelletieri, an Abelenda free kick and a second half shot from Acosta. River, San Lorenzo and Estudiantes all lost their games against small teams – in River case against Unversidad San Martin in Peru, a team that averages 50 supporters, mostly from the Orthodontology faculty.

God Watch: Maradona drops moaning goalie and Boca fans prefer Riquelme
God, who is currently touring Latin America with his, no doubt fairly lucrative, 'Showbol' team, dropped his goalie Sergio 'Superman' Vargas former Argentina AND Chile player, after the keeper walked off over a referees decision in the previous game. Sheesh. It's only glorified five-a-side.

Maradona's team drew 11-11 with the team captained by the former Chilean international Iván Zamorano. "It was an amazing game," Diego, said, despite failing to score.

Boca fans vote for Riquelme
In a vote by 50,000 fans of Boca Juniors, Maradona was relegated to second place in the 'who is your favourite Boca player of all time', or something, vote. Riquelme, who has won three Libertadores with the club, gained 31 per cent of the vote. Maradona, who only ever won one domestic title with the club, came in second with 27 per cent, despite being their highest profile fan. Guillermo came in third, with the goalscorer Palermo in fourth. Tevez came fifth with a mere four per cent.

In other news...
Gabriel Batistuta has jumped to Argentina's other national sport Polo, in proof that former footballers can make money after they retire. Lanús dream continues, God Watch: Maradona sacks goalkeeper and Boca fans prefer Riquelme, Batistuta's chukka.

River fight, Boca draw and the goal of the week

2008-02-12T09:40:00Z

Today: Two reportedly stabbed at River game, small teams continue to shine, full weekend results, and an amazing goal of the weekend.

Violence continues at River

After a well-deserved break (they were fighting all last season), River Plate's hooligans returned on full form with widespread fighting before and throughout their win against Gimnasia of Jujuy, that reportedly culminated in two stabbings.

Factions of River's powerful barra brava Los Borrachos de Tablón have been at war for well over a year to take control of this well-organised group which earns hundreds of thousands of pounds mainly through the sale of drugs, the resale of tickets, extortion of players and control of River's gym facilities.

Many are also on the bank roll of River's administration – barra boss Alan Schenker was reputedly paid more than £50,000 a year to clean the pool. The war between Los de Oeste (those of the West Terrace) under the command of Adrián Rosseau and those faithful to the brothers William and Alan Schlenker war has lead to the death of one young barra member, Gonzalo Acro, on August 8 2007, shot outside a gym in Buenos Aires.

Acro was a friend of Rosseau, who blames Schlenker for the organisation of the assassination. Schlenker was arrested along with six other barra members, but only the Schlenker brothers remain behind bars after a judge threw out the proceeding against the rest due to 'irregularities' in the collecting of evidence.

On the terrace the fight continues to gain control of the central terrace, a symbolic part of the stadium, the owners of which run the lucrative Borrachos del Tablón. It is a story that exposes how the Argentine barra bravas function and will be considered more soon.

River Plate 2 Gimnasia 0

Apparently some football was also played. And, in fact, the problems on the terrace are no longer so newsworthy. This may be a good thing. In a superb match, River played a solid, but not flawless, game against the side from Jujuy.

Their two goals were both scored from set pieces, including a wonderful free-kick from Matís Abelairs. And pretend you are right in the middle of the crowd here.

Small teams shine

Last season was a great one for the smaller teams of Argentine football and, if the first weekend of games is anything to go by, this season looks like following suit. Here are the results:

Boca Juniors 1 Central 1

Riquelme failed to inspire his team to a win, despite them being ahead for most of the game. But the 85th-minute equaliser from Central's captain Kily González deserves a point in itself.

San Lorenzo 0 Newell's Old Boys 2 see highlights

Not even the confidence of having Andres D'Alessandro on the squad could help this big team beat Newell's Old Boys.

Estudiantes 2 Banfield 1 see highlights

Veron's team from La Plata just managed a win against Banfield from the southern suburbs.

San Martin 2 Argentinos Juniors 0

Despite a massive AR$50 price for the terrace place (normal price is AR$24) thousands considered it money well spent against Maradona's former team.

Lanús 1 Independiente 0

The party continues for the winners of the Opening season as they beat Independiente with a 'goalazooooo' by Gioda, an Independiente player.

Arsenal 2 Huracán 0 see highlights

'Arsenal beat the English' claimed the headline in the paper, in reference to Huracán's popular chairman Babington (as Argentine as a gaucho).

Vèlez 4 Colòn 3 see highlights

A hugely entertaining goal fest at the Vèlez stadium.This is what Argentine football is about: free, attacking, skilful and audacious.

Tigre 2 Gimnasia 1

Another good win for the second placed team last season.

Racing 1 Olimpo 1

Racing didn't play like a team in crisis. They may not have been totally convincing (Olimpo aren't the most successful team in Argentine football), but they showed they have a solid fanbase willing to support them through the highs are lows. Just have a look at this.

Goal of the weekend

And the winner is Newell's Santiago Salcedo for his solo effort against San Lorenzo.

Boca tipped, Veron's big tongue and Ali G

2008-02-10T19:47:00Z

Today: Boca to win new season, San Lorenzo in surprise loss, Estudiantes score two in eight minutes, Argentina beat Guatamala 5-0.

Boca to win title

At the risk of turning this blog into a Mystic Meg/Russell Grant-style astrological prediction column, we can now reveal – in light of the fact Mars is in conjunction with the tropic of Cancer and a comet, or something – that Boca Juniors will win the clausura title in the Primera.

But don't just take it from me - although I'm prepared to go on record and say that it's my prediction too - take it from a survey of every coach in the Primera league and one of their players. Daily sports paper Olé printed the results and they read as follows:

Who will be champion? Boca 11 votes, River 4, Veléz 4.

Most important player? Román Riquelme 7 votes, Alexis Sánchez (River) 4, Juan Sebastian Verón 2.

Top goalscorer? Martín Palermo 13, Germán Denis (Independiente) 4, Sebastián Abreu (River) 2.

Who will be relegated? San Martín 13, Olimpo 12, Gimnasia 5.

San Lorenzo in surprise loss

After all the trumpeting and confidence brewing in the San Lorenzo camp with the arrival of Andres D'Alessandro, they immediately fell at the first, with a 2-0 loss to Newell's Old Boys in Rosario.

Here is the view from a happy Newell's terrace and see the goals here. D'Alessandro didn't play but is expected to take on San Martin at home next Saturday.

Estudiantes score two in first 10 minutes

Estudiantes scored two blinding goals against Banfield within the first 10 minutes last night in a thrilling game that had all the best of Argentinian football: great goals, a sending off that wasn't a sending off (ref Cristian Faraoni did a 'Graham Poll'), rolling around on the floor and a mild altercation. Ah it's good to back in the season.

See the highlights and Veron's remarkably large tongue.

Ali G watches Argentina beat Guatamala

Argentina's under 23 squad easily thrashed Guatamala in Los Angeles, in the presence, it appears, of Ali G (see 20 seconds into this). See the goals here.

D'Alessandro's back – and so is the football season

2008-02-08T16:13:00Z

Today: D'Alessandro returns, admission prices "From the First World", and the rest of the opening fixtures.

D'Alessandro arrives to celebrations
Andrés D'Alessandro landed in Ezeiza yesterday morning to swarms of fans (mostly young girls and press) to take his position in the San Lorenzo squad. As a consequence walking home from work I saw fans lining up around the block for season tickets.

There is certainly the feeling that this could be a huge year for San Lorenzo. Their Copa Libertadores campaign starts against Caracas on Tuesday, and now they have the goalscoring former Real Zaragoza player among their ranks.

"I'm happy to have returned," he told the press. "I needed a bit of air, I needed to return, and I'm ready." And here he is with the token keepie uppies in a San Lorenzo jersey.

Ticket at 'First World' prices

The announcement today that ticket prices for the popular (terrace) will rise from AR$14 (£2.30) to AR$24 (£4) has caused astonishment and outrage among fans.

In 2005, the average daily wage was a mere AR$20 (£3.20) with many fans on much less. Daily sports paper Olé drew immediate comparisions with Spain and Italy but, unsurprisingly, Premier League ticket prices weren't mentioned.

They also pointed to the Venezuelan team Maracaibo who charge nothing for entrance in an attempt to get more fans.

Opening weekend previews

Here are the rest of the fixtures for the opening weekend of the new Argentine football season – see yesterday's blog for the first instalment.

Vélez Sársfield v Colón

Vélez is known as the 'quiet' team of Argentine football, despite a recent survey saying they were the sixth most popular team in the country – something met with coughs and scoffs. On Saturday they take on Colón from the northern town of Santa Fe. Not the most thrilling game of the fixture list it has to be said.

Racing vs Olimpo

It wouldn't be particularly sensationalist to say that Racing Club is currently going through a bit of a crisis. Since 2003, Racing haven't qualified for an international cup, nor achieved anything other than keeping up.

As if things couldn't get any worse, over the last couple of weeks the majority of the coaching staff have resigned, leaving former youth team manager Miguel Ángel Micó to manage. Then their star player Maximiliano 'el Enano' (The Dwarf) Moralez, went to Russia. Olimpo come from the port town of Bahía and joined the Primera last season.

Lanús v Independiente

Last season's winner Lanús take on one of the 'big five' in the opening fixture. See Team Focus 1 for details on Independiente.

Rosario Central v Boca Juniors

Rosario Central, despite being at home, will expect a tough game against one of the best Boca teams for years.

In doubt? We have Martin Palermo a man who somehow has the inability NOT to score in every game he plays. Granted, most are from the Gary Lineker school of goal hanging, except that is for this little beauty from inside his own half.

Then there's Rodrigo Palacio (Happy Birthday by the way) and his much-copied rat's tail. And one Roman Riquelme.

Arsenal v Huracán

After a Copa Libertadores defeat a couple of days ago (though they're still in), Arsenal are still tiny team (see Team Focus 2), but with big ideas. They take on Huracán, once one of the biggest teams in Argentina, who have been in what's best described as a state of flux recently.

Carlos 'El Ingles' Babington, who apart from his name is about as English as Hugo Chavez, has been the chairman since 2005 but linked to the club since 1969. Under his tenure the team returned to the Primera after their shocking relegation in 2003. And after a decent last season, Huracán, under new coach Claudio Ubeda first aim is to stabilise their squad.

River Plate v Gimnasia

We've said plenty about Simeone and his squad. Now is the real test as they actually have something to play for.

Over the summer season their form has been precarious but Ortega & co. certainly attacked their opponents 'with a knife between their teeth' as Simeone told them too – they just forgot about defending.

Gimnasia, from the nearby city of La Plata, finished 17th last season and will have an uphill struggle in River's huge stadium.

Maradona: Boca boss is "a big fat steak"

2008-02-07T11:02:00Z

Today: The season kicks off, a goal makes up for love tiff, and Maradona gets the insults out

It's here!!! Yay!!!! Pah-Pah!!! Toot toot! The football season has arrived!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No more of the banal discussion that plague the sports press in the off-season (how they managed to fill pages and pages of debate about Simeone's formation for the River squad I shall never know). No more of the photos of the Boca squad playing beach football. No more inane You Tube links of semi naked women (OK maybe a few). But now, at last, the clausura (the closing season) is upon us and we can talk about real football.

The apertura (opening season) was thrilling and historical. Three tiny teams came in the top three: Lanús, Tigre and Banfield, knocking the 'Big Five' of Boca, River, Independiente, San Lorenzo and Racing back to rethink their squad a little – Boca and River are among those with fresh coaches.

The fans, as you would expect, were amazing and many clubs claimed their highest gate receipts in years. Getting into a Boca game was akin to breaking into the US Federal Reserve dressed as a monkey, and apart from the ongoing problems in the River barra brava, hooligans had a relatively, and I mean relatively, peaceful season.

So without further ado here is the first part of the tantalising line up for the opening fixtures of the season.

Friday February 8

San Lorenzo v Newell's Old Boys

Da..da da da.. NEWS JUST IN...da da da... Reports are just coming in about a fight in the San Lorenzo dressing room. Apparently a bout of fisticuffs broke out between defender Christian Tula and -year-old goalie Bruno Centeno.

"He [Tula] followed him into the changing rooms hitting him and now he [Centeno] has told me he wants to leave," said the youngster's representative. There is no news yet whether the police will be brought in.

What is certain is that it spoiled an otherwise good day for the Ciclón (Cyclone – presumably after the short temper of their players): Andrés D'Alessandro landed this morning in Ezeiza airport to join the club from Real Zaragoza. If you haven't seen much of D'Alessandro, check these clips of him in action to see why it's such a big deal.

And now the big-spending Ramón Díaz, has announced that Gonzalo Bergessio, currently at Benfica, is likely to return to his native land.

Estudiantes v Banfield

After a surprisingly good season (they finished third) Banfield are hoping to capitalise on their good run on into the new season. They will be travelling the couple of hours to play La Plata Estudiantes, who won the 2006 Opening season under Diego Simeone's tenure. Former Lazio coach Roberto Sensini is now at the helm, once again managing one Juan Sebastián Verón.

Saturday February 10

San Martin v Argentinos Juniors

Maradona's first club have a long trek to San Martin in the scorching hot city of San Juan. I'm sat here in my shorts sweating like a pre-stomach stitched Maradona in a baking Buenos Aires (too much info?) but San Juan is unbearable, well above 37C today anyway.

San Martin are playing only their third ever season in the top flight (the first was in 1970 and then last season). Argentinos Juniors however are a small team with big ambitions and a consistently good run in the league. (I declare an interest living a few blocks from the Argentinos stadium and watching them more than any other team).

Tigre v Gimnasia

Tigre, the tiny team from the river Delta north of Buenos Aires, finished an amazing second last season. A stunning achievement in the first season they have played in the Primera Division since 1955 and featuring a memorable 4-1 victory over River Plate.

They were promoted in a game against Nueva Chicago in which, in an attempt to stop play, Chicago's notorious barra brava caused some of the worst violence... well, probably since the last time Chicago played.

Tigre take on Gimnasia, another team from La Plata and the hated rivals of Estudiantes. The team has had a poor run of late and a string of managers; they are now managed by former Vélez Sársfield goal keeper Julio César Falcioni.

In other news: 'Liitle Rabbit' scores and makes up

Last night's glorious win 3-0 over Olmedo for Lanús in their first ever Copa Libertadores was particularly special for one lucky girl. We don't know the full story, but goalscorer Santiago Biglieri (check out some of his great goals) dedicated the strike to his girlfriend.

"It was the most important goal of my career. I dedicate it to my girlfriend because we had a fight, and I hope with this she'll forgive me."

Biglieri is known as El Conejito or the Little Rabbit – perhaps a clue to why he got into the fight in the first place.

God Watch

Never really known for his eloquence off the field, Maradona appears to have trumped all (and there have been many) previous insults with this little gem: he announced that the new Boca manager, Carlos Ischia, is "a big fat steak".

The background is that Diego's at loggerheads with Pedro Pompillo, the president of his beloved club, apparently upset because he was promised the job of general coordinator (whatever that may be) – and then denied it. He has been in a huff ever since.

He is happy with the make-up of the national Olympic under-23 team (with Riquelme and Mascherano named as two of three over 23s allowed to play) who have a friendly tonight against Guatemala. But he says he'd like to coach the Olympic team. Or was it Chelsea? Can someone please give him a job.

And finally…

Police have now been stationed outside Athlético Victoriano Arenas' stadium (see yesterday's blog Balls to this) in an attempt to stop the countless – and cunning – robberies that have been taking place.

Up El ***, Argentina's minnows

2008-02-06T08:35:00Z

Featuring: Arsenal (no not that one), football players to scared to practice, River Plate copy Manchester United, Little teams, Big Cup.

El *** in the Libertadores

The Copa Libertadores, the greatest competition in Latin America is underway and could prove to be the most interesting yet. It is a tournament where domestic titles pale into insignificance (relatively speaking, this is Argentina after all).

Winners of the last domestic tournament, Lanús (for the first time in their history), took on Ecuadoreans Olmedo who flew down for the delight of kicking a ball around a rather shabby suburb south of Buenos Aires on a scorching night. Olmedo, who won the first leg 1-0, returned home with a headache and a loss as confident Lanus recorded a stunning 3-0 victory.

Another team in action, again for the first time in their history, was Arsenal – the subject of today's Team Focus below. They went into last night's meeting with Venezuelans Mineros 2-0 up. And despite losing in Venezuela last night 2-1, they continue into the Libertadores.

River and Manchester

With only days to go until the opening of the... erm, closing tournament (the clausura), River Plate coach Diego Simone claims his much-discussed (it's the off season and there are pages to fill) 3-3-3-1 or 4-2-3-1, which has so far failed to set the world alight, is based on Manchester United's.

New Colombian signing Falcao will apparently be playing in Tevez's position behind Abreu (think Rooney with a ponytail, good looks and a goatee). Ariel 'El Burrito' Ortega takes Ronaldo's position, and the part of Giggs will be played by Alexis.

"One looks at European football," explained Simone. "There, everyone runs, the forwards return and collaborate with the midfield. Here there is a prejudice or they look at the coach in a funny way when they're asked to participate when they lose the ball."

There may be some in the UK who disagree.

Balls to this

You remember back then. Jumpers for goalposts 'n' all that. That big boy in the park, you probably remember his name, stealing your ball, maybe even your jumper.

Well, with this in mind please offer a bit of empathy for D division Club Athlético Victoriano Arenas who are too scared to practice.

Why? Because wayward balls are being sabotaged by young thieves who bombard the player with stones while another grabs the ball.

"It's impossible to go like this," the president Domingo Sganga told the daily newspaper Olé. "They've stolen nearly 20 balls and each one costs 90 pesos (£15). Then they sell them to buy drugs."

The club borders a villa, one of the vast shanty towns on the edge of Buenos Aires. Despite the rumours, Buenos Aires is still a safe place to visit, but in and around these villas it's dangerous – not least if you're carrying three weeks wages under your arm, even if it is football shaped.

"It's normal to hear bullets flying, even in the middle of the day," one administrator admitted. "We are used to it, but I'm not going to lie, recently we are very scared. The players now all come to training together."

Team focus 2: ARSENAL FUTBOL CLUB

Website www.celesteyrojo.com.ar
Founded August 22 19564
Nicknames El *** – which leads to some great graffiti – or El Viaducto
Ground Julio H Grondona, also known as the Viaduct. When El *** won their first coveted international title in 2007, they played in nearby Racing stadium because the viaduct holds less than 17,000 fans
Manager Gustavo Alfaro
Barra brava Just take a look at this for an idea of La Banda de Beto.
Titles The trophy room in the Arsenal stadium must be a pretty lowly sight. On the domestic scene, despite jumping up a series of league, they have never finished on top. Internationally, this team had never even played a non-Argentine team until 2004. But pride of place will be reserved for the Copa Sudamericana 2007, an incredible achievement – and story. This year they are playing in the Copa Libertadores for the first ever time
Star player The 31-year-old Martín Ezequiel Andrizzi scored the winning goal against Ciudad de México
Useless but quite interesting Needless to say they were named after the Gunners, but the colours were chosen because the original team was formed by fans from arch-rivals Racing and Independiente who chose the colours as an amalgamation between Racing's blue and Independiente's red. Very odd if you ask me.
Useless and not very interesting El *** (I like writing that) had an agreement with Barcelona whereby young players at Arsenal, who haven't played for more than a year at the club, can go to Barcelona. In return Barça will help with the club's infrastructure. Ironically the deal fell through because Arsenal couldn't improve their infrastructure.
Even more useless and less interesting Your correspondent is often mistaken for an Arsenal fan while wearing his Scunthorpe United jersey – exactly the same as their away kit.
Rivals They share the neighbourhood of Avellaneda with Racing and Independiente and any game with these teams are tense affairs. They also knocked big boys San Lorenzo out of last year's Copa Sudamericana, and San Lorenzo hold a grudge.
Recent form Poor. They finished 13th in the domestic league, but won the Copa Sudamericana last year so should be fairly confident in the Copa Libertadores preliminaries where they're currently playing.
If they were an English team Certainly not Arsenal. More like Wigan Athletic: still new to the top flight and not really doing that well.

Thousands of Argentines vote on Maradona apology

2008-02-01T09:46:00Z

Well, finally 'God' has apologised, sort of. In an interview with The Sun, Maradona said with customary modesty, 'If I could apologise and go back and change history I would do. But the goal is still a goal, Argentina became world champions and I was the best player in the world.'

Here in Buenos Aires, the news is attracting the attention of all the news channels. The biggest daily paper Clarín has even launched a vote asking: 'Did Maradona do the right thing by asking for an apology from the English for the goal he scored with his hand?' Predictably the results stands at 65 per cent saying he shouldn't have asked for an apology. An incredible 2000 people voted within half hour of the poll being. If you want to add your vote head here.

Daily sports paper Olé have already posted their shocked reaction: 'In an exclusive interview with the sensationalist newspapers The Sun, the best player of all time ASKED FOR FORGIVENESS for the goal baptised La Mano de Dios,' it quivered. (Just in case it's not etched in your memory here it is again. And just in case you wondered why he still matters see this.)

Diego also revealed that he was considering a move to the country of Argentina's arch footballing enemy, and admitted 'informal' talks with Premiership bosses including Chelsea's Avram Grant.

Maradona, sorry, God holds a unique status in Buenos Aires. Although the 47-year-old is recognised as a flawed character, he is idolised and every word he says analyzed ad infinitum.

And as I listen to BBC 6 Music (an upset sounding) Steve Lamacq is asking for songs to commemorate the story. Suggestions so far have included Touched by the Hand of God by New Order, All Apolgises - Nirvana, It's Too Late - Carole King. Any ideas?

Monkey man and the crap clasico

2008-01-29T20:47:00Z

Featuring: A not very clásico clásico; Monkey man goal referred to FIFA; God watch: Look who Maradona has upset now; Team focus: Independiente; Sporty girls in very short skirts

A not very classic clásico
Racing versus Independiente is Argentina's second most important derby. Their home stadiums are literally a stone's (or bottle's or coin's) throw away, something tested on a regular basis. And as the security controls and lack of away tickets at Boca versus River increases, along with the sheer number of Boca and River fans (most non-football fanatics offer allegiance to one of these teams) the Racing-Independiente clásico certainly has the most intense, and yes, violent, atmosphere.

But last night, the Clásico de Avellaneda, named after the poor neighbourhood in which the teams are situated, held none of its usual emotion or tenseness. Partly because it was a friendly, but mostly because it was being played 800 miles away from Avellaneda, in Mendoza, more known for its wine than footballing heritage.

Those who did make the journey were left bitterly disappointed. Nil-nil draws are rarely fun, and with football of this standard there was little reason to celebrate. The most impressive part of the game was the Racing barra brava's terrace-sized flag, under which they spent most of their time.

In fact so dull was the game, the daily sports paper Olé didn't even mention it – and remember, this is a derby that attracts almost as much attention as Boca-River. Instead, they ran a picture of Boca striker Martin Palermo having his photo taken with excited River fans, something that would usually get more frowns than sleeping with your sister after shooting your grandmother.

The story of Racing in the last two weeks is an upcoming post in itself, meanwhile have a look at the 'Team of the Day: Independiente' below for a run down on one of the top five clubs in the country.

Monkey man goal referred to FIFA

Yesterday we showed the goal scored by Martin Palermo, briefly re-nicknamed El Mono (the Monkey) against River by heading the ball in while hanging off the crossbar. Today we learn that it has been referred to FIFA just in case there is some arcane rule that swinging off the crossbar while scoring a goal is punishable by playing rush goalie for three weeks, or something. Apprently the decree says that it is against the rules if the player uses an element to elevate or support to gain an advantage. You be the judge…

God Watch

Big mouth strikes again. Maradona this time has incurred the wrath of Buenos Aires's large Jewish community (the most populous in Latin America) by sending a signed Argentina shirt to Mahmud Ahmadinejad, Iran's president.

"The hands that received Maradona's shirt are stained with blood," Sergio Burstein, a spokesperson for the families who lost loved ones in the unsolved bombing of the Israeli embassy in 1992 and a community centre in 1994, told the daily paper Clarín.

Maradona stated his intention to visit the country after a recent Showball match in Buenos Aires, where he met the Iranian consulate after the game. The anti-imperialist former genius (current God) reportedly said, "I have met Fidel and Chavez and now I need to know your president. I'm with the Iranians with all my heart." He didn't, however, express any wish to meet Gordon Brown.

Team focus 1: Independiente

Full name Club Atlético Independiente
Website www.caindependiente.com
Founded January 1 1906
Nicknames The Red Devils, King of Cups
Ground Currently playing in the stadium of hated rivals Racing while a new stadium is being built on the same spot.
Manager Pedro Troglio
Barra brava Los Diablos Rojos (The Red Devils). They are ferocious, violent and their leader is currently being investigated for involvement in a murder of a River Plate barra member.
Titles Independiente has won the domestic title 14 times (third after Boca and River) and the Copa Libertadores (the holy grail of Latin American football) seven times, including an unprecedented four in a row. They are called King of Copas for the number of international titles they have won.
Star player German Denis was one of the top goalscorers of last season. He played two World Cup 2010 qualifying games for the national squad.
Useless but quite interesting Independiente changed into their trademark red and white strip after playing, and losing, to a touring Nottingham Forest in 1907. According to the Independiente website, Forest are almost as proud of this as their invention of the goal net.
Useless and not very interesting They were formed by workers in a department store called 'The City of London' in 1904.
Rivals No doubt here. Racing, whose stadium is a couple of hundred metres away, are despised. The game is known as the Clásico de Avellaneda after the poor neighbourhood they are from.
Recent form Not good. The last season was disastrous for one of the best supported teams in Argentina. They finished ninth despite remaining on top for the first half of the season. Nevertheless hopes are high among fans who registered the most game receipts for any club last season.
If they were an English team Tottenham. Always have a good range of passionate and attacking players, but perennial underdogs.

Girls in short skirts
Being in Argentina we can't, of course, forget their women's hockey team, Las Leonas (The Lionesses) who beat Germany yesterday to win gold in a four nations cup in Mendoza. Oh yeah and they are all gorgeous and wear short skirts.

River vs Boca (plus bizarre nudity)

2008-01-28T10:16:00Z

Boca Juniors versus River Plate. The Superclasico. Perhaps the most fiercely fought derby game in the entire world. Yesterday these two teams clashed in the five-team 'Summer tournament' in the seaside resort of Mar del Plata, a gaudy city where many citizens of Argentina's capital debunk for the summer.

It was little more than a friendly, but in the world of derby games there is no such thing. In recent years this regular summer meeting between Boca and River – and the clubs' barra bravas (hooligan groups), Boca's 'El 12' and River's 'Borrachos del Tablon' (Drunks of the Terrace) – have been violent affairs culminating in the death of one fan.

But yesterday's game, which kicked off at an utterly unreasonable 10.15pm, passed off with little incident and was all about the battle on the pitch. Both teams have undergone major changes in the off-season and, being the first Superclásico of the year, this was a test and chance to prove themselves.

For a start, there are two new managers. Diego Simeone, who worked wonders during his brief tenure at Estudiantes de la Plata, was drafted in by a desperate River Plate after an appalling season. And having instructed his players, including the energetic Ariel 'El Burrito' (Little Donkey) Ortega, to 'fight with a knife between their teeth', Simeone's team were favourites.

Boca (www.bocajuniors.com.ar), also coming out of a mediocre domestic season, (though they did win the Copa Libertadores, the most sought after title in Latin America), promoted Carlos Ischia or El Pelado (the bald one) to manager, much to Maradona's dismay.

Yet on paper Boca have a winning team. Captain Martin Palermo – aka 'El Loco' (the Crazy One). Everyone has a nickname in Argentina – is now the second highest goalscorer in the club's history. Rodrigo 'La Joya' (the Jewel) Palacio, with his much-copied rat's tail, has had a couple of great seasons. But it is the arrival of one Juan Román Riquelme on a permanent basis that has given Boca a solid standing. The 29-year-old is the best player in Argentina right now (if in doubt watch this), and his experience and leadership has steadied Boca's pitching ship.

It was his calm in the midst of the storm that led Boca to a wonderful victory. River certainly came out with the 'knife between their teeth', especially Ortega who went into every tackle hard and ran after every ball, inspiring his team-mates. But the frenzied attacking, contrasted with Boca's composed, almost relaxed, approach.

Boca struck first through man-of-the-match Sebastián Battaglia's thumping shot (watch it here), taking advantage of poor defending and exposing Simeone's much-questioned 3-3-3-1 formation. And by the second half (when the Borrachos del Tablon finally turned up for a scrap between themselves again), Boca were in charge, the shouts of 'Ole' echoing after every successful pass.

Martin Palermo sealed River's fate with a scrappy goal after a stunning Riquelme free-kick by heading the ball in while hanging off the crossbar – leading this morning's papers to change his nickname briefly to 'El Mono' or the Monkey. Watch it here, and keep an eye out for a well-aimed bottle from River fans.

But with only the infighting that characterises the River supporters (it's a long story that I'll go into soon), the year's first Superclásico passed off without any major incident and a great game of football.

And just in case you thought Boca versus River was all about the game, here's a clip of the gratuitous semi-naked shenanigans that makes TV great in this country.

Tonight is Argentina's second most important, and probably most intense, derby, Independiente versus Racing.

It's all kicking off

2008-01-22T21:11:00Z

Hola, y benvenido to the first ever blog for Four Four Two solely dedicated to everything related to Argentine football, directly from, a frankly sweltering, Buenos Aires. One thing's for sure, we're never going to be stuck for news.

They say football in Argentina is a religion, in fact it is much more important than that. It seeps into everyday life in a way I have never seen following the game around the world. In how many other countries can think of, where everyone knows which team every politician supports - and votes accordingly? (Is it a surprise the chairman of Boca has just become the mayor of the city?).

Hell I even know which team my elderly lady next door neighbour supports (River Plate – but she is a bit posh). It’s guaranteed to be the first subject that comes up in conversations. And now more than ever, there is a lot to talk about.

To look at football in Argentina you have to see it from three main angles: the clubs and players, the barra bravas (powerful hooligan, sorry, fan groups) and el Diez, el Dios – Diego Maradona, who every time he opens his mouth, plays a game or farts he is on the front page.

Our first God Watch is below – and if you doubted his deity status, check out the Church of Maradona .

The Argentine season is split up into two halves: illogically, but this is Argentina, el apertura (the opening) is played between July and December while la clausura (the closing) between February and June.

We are just about to head into the clausura. I'm probably not exaggerating when I say the apertura was probably one of the most exciting seasons, well, ever. I will go into more details in another post, but the season was dominated, for the first time, by the smaller clubs, no paying out on Boca before the season has even begun.

Club Atlético Lanús (see www.clublanus.com for a particularly proud slide show – and a very excited presenter) won the title for the first time in their history. And then, to confound all expectation, the second place went to the tiny Club Atlético Tigre playing their first season in the Primera since 1980, and third place went to Banfield another small club from the southern suburbs.

No River Plate, no Boca Juniors, no San Lorenzo and no Independiente. But it was also a season marked by violence, as they all are, particularly the murder of a River Plate Los Borrachos del Tablon (the Drunks of the Terrace) barra brava (check them out on YouTube), allegedly killed because of in fighting to fill a power vacuum (and again here). And yes they do all support the same team.

All of these subjects will be looked at over the coming months. We'll start with a run down over the main teams, players and barra brava stories while we are in the off season and they are all fannying playing beach football and the odd friendly, and of course God Watch, including, in the next blog, a mini diplomatic crisis he caused last week. But just in case we forgot why Diego matters, watch this.