Copa America Day 4 Monday Night Soccer x 2

while waiting for my flight to San Juan yesterday morning, I saw a Mexican fan carrying a very familiar bag.
so I went up to him and said 'chicharito, why are you carrying this bag?'
he answered 'yo vivo en Zurich'
I said to myself  'Joder! I go half way around the world and now I run into someone like him'
his name is Juan.

Hopp GC!

Juan was on the same flight with me to go to San Juan for the Monday Night Soccer Doubleheader: Uruguay vs Peru and Chile vs Mexico

The matches were played at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, a brand new stadium just opened this year. The stadium was quite out of the city and the taxi could only dropped me off 1 km from the stadium.

From there, there was this walk to the stadium with no buildings on either side. But there were a lot of vendors.

vuvuzelas

local meat

wine tasting

and then I ran into this group of children who would perform in the opening ceremony.

inside the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario

opening ceremony

in the first game, Uruguay (the favorite) was held by Peru 1-1. Diego Forlan, the best player of the 2010 WC did not have a good game. The Argentine fans did not like him as he recently canceled his wedding to an Argentine model. This story is all over the pink press here.

the second game was better. San Juan was invaded by some 25,000 Chilenos. It was a home game for Chile but the team did not take the young Mexican team seriously. And Mexico scored first and then played with a lot of poise.

Chile came back in the second half and scored twice on corner kick. Juan was sad.

In a few hours, I am flying back to Buenos Aires. No soccer today. May be I go to the theater to see this musical.

The Sound of Music