Tiros Libres: A Monumental Stadium

By: Christian | October 9th, 2009

Argentina will return to the Monumental stadium this Saturday for a must-win World Cup Qualifier against Peru. Please feel free to visit the Argentina World Cup Blog to chat with other fans before and during the match.

It’s a return to the stadium that has been the de facto home for the national team, who played their previous qualifier against Brazil at Rosario Central’s Gigante de Arroyito after head coach Diego Maradona complained, among other things, about the state of the pitch and the distance of the fans to the field. The move to the smaller confines of the Arroyito was supposed to lift Argentina to a win over rivals Brazil.

Of course, Argentina laid an egg and lost 3-1, and with only two games left in qualifying and a real possibility that the country will miss next year’s World Cup in South Africa, the final home fixture has been moved back to the Monumental. After extensive renovations to the pitch and a new paint job, the stadium should be in much better condition to please Maradona. How any of it will help a team struggling to secure even a playoff spot remains to be seen.

If you’re interested to learn more about the Monumental, Soccer Source has a very entertaining and well researched story on the history of the stadium, which they recently ranked number 8 in their list of World Soccer Meccas (one spot ahead of the Bombonera, no less). The article references such historic moments as the 1986 and 1996 Copa Libertadores victories, and tragedies such as the Puerta 12 disaster, where 71 fans where killed in a crush at one of the gates. And for you nervous Albiceleste fans, there’s even a section on Argentina’s 3-1 triumph over the Netherlands in the 1978 World Cup final.

Thanks to Nathaniel Baker for the link.