On Argentinians invading southern California
from MVN Soccer,
Although it is a well-known fact that San Diego and California once belonged to Mexico, it is only one of seven countries whose flag flew here.
Very few people know that the flag of Argentina flew over Cali briefly in 1818.
Wednesday night, we will once again see a battle for supremacy, on the California-Mexico border; at San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium, Argentina will try to wrest power away from the home team of Mexico on the pitch, in front of an all-time record crowd for soccer in the region.
In late 1818, a pirate - or privateer, depending on how you look at it - named Hipolite Bouchard from Buenos Aires, Provincias Unidas del Rio de la Plata (now the country of Argentina), who was sailing around the world on a ship named The Argentina, and pillaging everywhere he went, had just taken on another ship and supplies in Hawaii, before coming to the southern California coast. Once he arrived at our shores, he attacked and burned, then declared the terra firma for Argentina and raised the flag. The missions he attacked were in the now- urbanized coastal areas of southern California.
San Diego is the oldest mission in all of California, and was also the first declared by Mexico, which at the time belonged to Spain. Bouchard had been specifically targeting Spanish-held territories as he sailed around the world, an after he attacked the missions here, he stayed just long enough to repair the damage to his ships.
Not long after, Mexico declared its independence from Spain; San Diego and all of California then officially belonged to Mexico...
The Mexican heritage of San Diego will be well-represented at Wednesday night's international friendly; the area is after all nearly 40 percent Hispanic, a majority with Mexican roots. The international border separates the cities of San Diego and Tijuana, and many residents of both will be in attendance for this match - the second of the annual U.S. Tour by the Mexico men's national team.
Mexico will have their hands full; the usual stage for their matches against the world's number one ranked team is the Copa America tournament, and El Tri has not fared well historically. Still, the throngs of fans in San Diego will be overwhelmingly in favor of Mexico, and the support for their home team taking on the likes of Sergio Agüero and Lionel Messi.
Messi - considered by many to be the very best player in the world right now and the best Argentine since Maradona - was the runner-up in voting for the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year, and was also chosen 2007 Sports Illustrated Latino Sportsman of the Year.
Eduardo Galeano, who founded the Argentinian magazine Crisis, once wrote: “Like it or not, for better or worse, in these days of doubt and desperation, football-club colors are for many Latin Americans the only certainty worthy of absolute faith, the true source of the greatest jubilation and deepest sadness..."
The passion of fans in San Diego was already apparent last year, when on February 28, Mexico took on a much weaker opponent in Venezuela, but still set a new all-time attendance record at the time. Against this opponent - a dream match-up with Argentina, the circumstances will not only include setting a new attendance record, but the weeknight contest and surrounding festivities will certainly be defined as San Diego's biggest-ever soccer event, period.
In the U.S., the national TV telecast is via Telemundo, beginning at 8 pm PDT. =) ENJOY
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