Uruguay v. Bolivia (5-0)
Go Uruguay! Today we went to watch the national Uruguay team play Bolivia in futbol (soccer). I have never been to a soccer game of this scale and the experience was fantastic. The stadium, Estadio Centenario, where we watched the game has historic significance. In 1930, Uruguay won the first ever World Cup, defeating Argentina, in this very stadium. While I would not have given this a second thought before coming here, the experience and the culture here has defined this signficance for me.
Imgagine this, the day is beautiful, the stadium is imposing, it is a scene of light blue, yellow and white, and the fans are chanting…Uruguay (clap, clap, clap) Uruguay (clap, clap, clap) Uruguay (clap, clap, clap). It’s contagious, right? (I know you’re chanting.) The players take the field and within the first five minutes, Uruguay scores!!!!!! Hoorray!
The game continued this way, with Uruguay defeating Bolivia 5-0. One shot below was taken just before Uruguay scored their last goal. The Uruguayan player’s nickname is “loco”, so after he scored, the whole crowd stood and, waving their blue, yellow and white flags in the air, began singing, “Ole ole ole ole…Loco….Loco”. To the rhythm of…oleeee, ole, ole, ole (clap clap) loooocoooo (clap clap) loooocoooo. You’re singing again, right? I know that I am.
In this moment, looking around and listening to the fans, there is a reality check. I am in Uruguay, in a culture where futbol is the sport of choice, a passion is how everyone describes it. Amazing. I can’t wait for the next game!
October 13th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Absolutely amazing!
October 13th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
I was singing.
October 13th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
P.S. – Nice jersey. I’m a medium.
October 13th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
I just read you post out loud to Carly while we were driving on 394. We’re pumped up. Great post.
October 13th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Not to fear – I was driving; Ed was reading, but we were both chanting! Sounds like a fantastic experience at the futbol game! It looks like a beautiful day from the pictures!
June 6th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Hi! I’m french but I’m a big fan of URUGUAY NATIONAL TEAM!
I want absolutly the Uruguay national team jersey but I don’t found…
Can you give me a link, where there are a national uruguay soccer team???
my mail: da_silva_arnould_loic@hotmail.fr
June 18th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
I´m uruguayn and i know what it’s like to be in that stadium. now i’m in mexico and i see the diference between the 2 countries.
the diference is that every single uruguayan person that is born, inmediatly loves the “skyblue”, has a great day if the team wons and cries if it loses and here is just another sport, and with all my respect the mexican team sucks. hope you go see another match.
i wonder if you went to the last match, we beated peru 6:0.
June 25th, 2008 at 5:59 am
I completely agree on the “skyblue” Uruguayan love! No matter what local team you like, when it comes to “skyblue”, the country unites!
April 9th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
Buenas ! seria mucha molestia brindar un poco mas de info sobre este tema ??? esta muy bueno el blog, un saludo y arriba el futbol !
April 9th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Futbol: ¿Qué tipo de información es lo que quiere? Mientras en Uruguay fui a dos juegos y les encantó! Pero no sé mucho acerca de fútbol.
April 6th, 2011 at 7:09 pm
Hi there,
By the time you read this you’ll probably be back at home, but I just came accross your site (today) and have read all of your posts/comments and loved it!
Watching the pictures of “Estadio Centenario” brought a few tears to my eyes and a lot of fond memories from the time when I was a teenager (and when Uruguay REALLY had good soccer).
I remember those sunny summer afternoons watching my favorite team (Nacional) play and after the games going to a local bar to eat a “Chivito Canadiense” washed down with a cold soft drink, mmmm (I was too young to have a beer then)
Come to think of it, may be that is why I ended up in Canada? hehehehe
As you can tell by now, I am a native Uruguayan who left the country when I was 19 years old and made my home in Toronto, Canada ever since.
It has been almost 40 years now (seems like yesterday) and I still get that “proud feeling” when someone who hails from a different part of the world talks (nice things) about the old country.
Thank you for letting the rest of the world know about our beloved tiny nation which was once known as “The Switzerland of South America”
Congrats on your wonderfull work and sense of adventure, not too many people have the courage of quiting their work and do what you did!
All the best..
Ed