#ElClásicoMásAntiguo

One year ago today, JM posted a note about our Río de la Plata culture:

Here’s what everyone needs to know:

If Messi plays tonight, it will be the two friends and Barcelona forwards (incidentally, two of the best soccer players on the planet) Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Luis Suárez (Uruguay) facing each other. Suárez will play next to Edinson Cavani, backed up by Diego Godín, both of them also among the best in the world.

Argentina has been second for the last three international competitions (two Copa Americas and one World Cup). Before that, they lost the 2011 Copa America (held in Argentina) to their rival across the river (that would be Uruguay). Messi has never won an international competition playing for Argentina. After the last Copa America he left the team. But he came back. The game tonight is part of the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup.

And that’s what’s going on tonight in this part of the world.

Last night (one day short of one year later) at our own Estadio Centenario, we relived “el clásico más antiguo” as Uruguay again faced Argentina in a World Cup Qualifier.

Photo credit: Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol

Plans are underway for Uruguay and Argentina to co-host the 2030 (100th Anniversary) World Cup!

Photo credit: Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol

I’m personally satisfied with the 0 to 0 tie (and with going to a match just to watch the plays) as well as with the privilege of taking E and DJ to see some of the world’s best athletes in person – for an amazing average price of $11 dollars per person!

Soccer is one of my Good Shepherd’s good gifts to me!

And I was also very happy to “get away” from current pressures surrounding the college project, to spend time as a family.

Tomorrow marks four years since our arrival in Uruguay...

SO thankful!