I have seen my fair share of live football games (yes I am done calling it ‘soccer’) in my day. World Cup quarterfinals and semifinals. MLS. Italian Serie A. Those just being a few examples. I have seen the collective heart of a nation broken when I saw Germany lose while in Frankfurt. I have seen the intensity of fans when I saw Roma play. It is hard to top some of the football experiences I have had the pleasure to participate in. In Germany, I saw the host country play all the way to penalty kicks and win. Talk about intensity. However, the World Cup venues are very sterile environments. Very controlled. The game in Rome was insane with the fans lighting up road flares in the stadium. This game did not have the country on edge, only the fans of Roma.
The other day I had the pleasure of watching Ecuador play Argentina in Quito for World Cup qualifying for South Africa in 2010. The atmosphere of the game was a mixture of the two environments of the games I have seen in Germany and Rome. Intense fan and national pride at stake. Ecuador was needing a win to secure the fifth spot in the South American qualifying group (CONMEBOL). Being the underdog against Argentina, the outlook was not too positive. Two late goals in the second half by Ecuador sent Argentina and Maradona home losers.
The significance of the game and the enormity of the win were not what impressed me about the game. It was the electric atmosphere of the stadium for hours before the game. In true Latin American style, the game felt like a fiesta. Also, true to Quito form, the weather wreaked havoc, making it even more interesting. Two hours before the game, it was sunny and hot. Once the clouds rolled in, hail came, giving way to rain for the rest of the game. No one cared. La Seleccion was playing and going to beat one of the best teams in the world (I know arguable these days).
In America, we have American football as a sport that fans are unbelievable to their teams. However, as a nation, there is no sports team we stop our daily lives for in order to support. During the Olympics we show little national pride. From what I have witnessed in my football adventures, it makes me sad we do not have this intense passion for our country on the athletic stage. I guess I will stay with the minority of Americans and keep routing for our national football team. Maybe eventually we will win the World Cup and then our country can open their eyes.
I would share some pictures, but my camera was stolen during the game! It was good enough of a game for me not to be too upset about it.
