World Cup 2022: the Capwell and Guayaquil stadium, in memory of Argentina after winning its third title in December

On obtaining the third World Cup for Argentina, in Qatar 2022, last Sunday, December 18, the newspaper Clarion, from Buenos Aires, publishes this Monday: “The new star is not the only one achieved in the last month of the year, around Christmas Eve and Christmas. There were times when it was also celebrated with sweet bread and cider. Curiously, this (the one from Qatar) was also the third, the previous ones in 1925 and 1947″.

The note recalls that in 1921 Argentina, as the host country, won its first South American championship (a contest called Copa América, starting in 1975). “The second was in 1925 and it was played between November 29 and December 25. Yes, this Sunday the 25th marks the 97th anniversary of that atypical consecration. Only five of the ten countries made up Conmebol at that time. However, only two attended the tournament. Uruguay, defending champion, was absent due to internal political problems, and Chile, due to its disappointing performance the previous year. Only Paraguay and Brazil arrived. For this reason, the tournament was played by match and revenge,” he says. Clarion.

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The decisive match, the newspaper highlights, was played on December 25, 1925, on the Boca stadium, before almost 20,000 people. At 30 minutes Brazil led 2-0 with goals from Arthur Friedenreich and Nilo.

“But Argentina reacted, discounted Antonio Cerrotti at 41 minutes, and at 55, Seoane scored the equalizer that would give the title to the Argentine team. Of course, we had to suffer until the end as against France. At the last minute, a shot from Friedenreich hit the crossbar. Then came the festivities. It was also the only time in history that the national team played on December 25”, mentions the Buenos Aires newspaper.

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However, this last data is wrong. Argentina played at Christmas in Guayaquil, at the George Capwell stadium against Ecuador, in 1947. EL UNIVERSO referred to the duel between the local team and their powerful rival 75 years ago: “They will exhibit their greatest virtues: refined technique, great potential and elegance adorn the people of La Plata. To such great conditions Ecuador opposes the bravery of its men, the tenacity in the struggle and the desire to excel”.

And also: “While one trusts in his merits accumulated in many years of competing, in his presence as a champion; the other has, more than any other case, boldness and justified desire to show himself a worthy adversary”.

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clarin says that the commitment for the South American in Guayaquil was fulfilled on December 26, 1947, but in the various official books published by Conmebol, as well as the archive of this newspaper, they set the real date as December 25 of that year.

EL UNIVERSO even recalled the striking fact in a note that appeared on December 25, 2019: “On Christmas day (in 1947) Argentina, which had won three games by six goals and another by seven, could only prevail 2- 0, with goals from José Manuel charro Moreno and Norberto Mendez. Napoleón Medina Fabre, tricolor goalkeeper, had ‘masterful’ interventions and was chosen the best in Ecuador and received, as such, a Marvin watch previously offered by the representative of that brand”.

On his return to Buenos Aires, the Argentina team, which in Guayaquil had Alfredo Di Stéfano as a figure -after removing the title from René Pontoni-, like the monarchs of Qatar 2022, “those champions were also received as heroes. Just before the end of the year, the plane arrived at the Morón airport and, according to the chronicle of the magazine Court, Many fans missed work to go to receive the footballers. With the same passion as always”, ends this Sunday Clarion. (D)