Whoever's not jumping is Paraguayan! [Ecuador v. Paraguay] (Slideshow at the end!)

I've officially lived in Latin America--I went to Ecuador v. Paraguay yesterday.

It was amazing and fun and all of that...minus the waiting 3.5 hours before the game started in the stadium (to guarantee seats). I don't think I've ever been so early for any kind of game.

I've figured out that fútbol is the ONLY thing Ecuadorians are on time for--even early! Trust me when I say this is astonishing. They'd show up an hour late (at least) to their own weddings, I'm pretty sure.

There was also more beer than I've ever seen in my entire life. It was kind of like an A's game, except the cups were about twice that size and $2 each, and refilledwith such high frequency I wasn't sure how the people around me were still conscious.

Anyway, the game was a ton of fun...the energy of the entire stadium (filled with yellow jerseys) singing and screaming together was just fantastic. I don't think there are many times in the U.S. that I've seen an entire stadium so emotionally into the game and their team. I mean, Cal football is super exciting, but outside the student section people can be lame sometimes (not you, Dad & Uncle Matt!). In Ecuador, being a fan of the Tricolor (their nickname--yellow, red, & blue) is not even a question--everyone is and to the death, I'm pretty sure. I suppose in the U.S. it's different because of our roots as a country of immigrants, but still. It's just awesome to see that unity and to see the entire city just bursting with energy and love the whole day.

One of the cool things that happened in my section was that they have this ENORMOUS Ecuadorian flag that can cover up the entire section (read: the whole north end of the stadium) and from underneath we sang the main Ecuadorian soccer song: "Vamos ecuatorianos, esta tarde tenemos que ganar!" (Let's go Ecuador, we have to win!) or jumped and shouted about whoever wasn't jumping being Paraguayan (well, a crude way of saying it).

Ecuadorians don't tend to swear in general, but it seems as if they save it all up for football games. While the Paraguayans were introduced (and the refs for that matter), the entire stadium erupted with "Son of a bitch!"...which basically continued through the whole game when the Paraguayans knocked over an Ecuadorian or a penalty was called against Ecuador. Among other friendly name calling and shouts of "shit!" or "what the f*** do you think you're doing?!" among other things.

The game was fun to watch and scream at, and the energy of the crowd was super intense. The first half Ecuador controlled the ball well, but they don't play like a team, which means they don't combine to use their space and score goals well. The second half they were pretty bad, I can't lie. They didn't control the ball particularly well and then their goal came off of a solid combination (for once!). But the energy of scoring that goal just before the game was to end meant that they were pretty sloppy after that, leading to Paraguay's goal to tie it in injury time. We were so frustrated!!!!!!

With Alegría, my little sister and screaming partner

I wish that goal were one big April Fools' joke...argh. Bye-bye World Cup 2010 hopes...

At least the U.S. owned 3-0 on Trinidad & Tobago, thanks to the 19-year old superstar we've got.

But really, it was super fun. It was just sad leaving the stadium--the whole city was just sad, after being so alive during the day leading up to the match. Oh, well.

SLIDESHOW! Woo I'm fast!