This is a greeting from Emilio Rocchi, Rosario, Argentina. I met him when I moved to the Netherlands. He started in the same company as me at the same time. We lived quite close to each other the first month in Lunetten Utrecht, and we were regularly socially together. While he moved to Amsterdam together with his good friend, I decided on Rotterdam so after that we mostly just met for work. He is still a very good friend though.

It took him 1 day after reading my site to make a recommendation. You need something about Argentina! He knew I always had admired the Argentinean national football team so I took the challenge. He bombarded me with stuff so I could have written a whole book.


FOOTBALL

Emilio is not as football mad as I am. He says his brothers are though (one pictured here with Emilio), but Emilio is very keen on the Argentinean national side. He was extremely disappointed to see them knocked out in the preliminary rounds of the World Cup 2002 as football means so much to the population. Success would have lifted the people after all the inner problems they have had lately with too much trouble and financial chaos. 

His twin brother Mario is living and breathing football. His love is his own home city club Newell's Old Boys from Rosario and of course the Argentinean national side. Why not click here and have a more in depth look of Newell's Old Boys!             

Without doubt, Argentina have grown the best footballer the world has ever seen, Diego Armando Maradona. Unfortunately is part of his footballing career ruined by drugs and scandals, but never ever in modern football has one single player won the World Cup for his country like he did with Argentina in 1986. The team in itself was nothing special, but Maradona was. OK, he scored with the 'hand of God' against England in the quarterfinals and was called a cheat by many, but his second goal in that match was just unbelievable. I doubt we'll see anything like it. He went on to score two goals in the semifinals against Belgium before leading Argentina to a 3-2 win against Germany in the final.

Maradona did not play exceptionally well in the final, but if you study his handling and passing of the ball on the match winning goal you understand he was something special.

Maradona also made Naples a winning side in Serie A in Italy. After he left it has been a big downfall for them. The side in itself was nothing special, but Maradona's partnership with Brazilian Careca upfront is maybe the best the world has ever seen. I still remember watching their combinations on television some years ago, and it was pure magic. If you can get hold of a video covering his career in Naples, don't hesitate, buy it! 

Women football is also growing in popularity, and here is picture of Argentinean women footballers.

BASKETBALL

Emilio is now also very proud of the national basketball team. In the World Cup of 2002 they became the first nation in history to beat USA when they were fielding players from the NBA league. The American players were shocked and very disappointed. To be on the team losing a match like that is very embarrassing. 

It was not only that they lost, but how they lost. The Argentineans were on top throughout the whole and was never really threatened. When the final buzzer went the Argentine players were jumping with joy, hugging each other and rumors say Argentine radio reporter was on the verge of hysteria when describing the scenes to his fellow countrymen. 

If you want to have a look on some of the players performing the heroics, please click here. For the Argentineans they have done the "impossible" task before any other, and no one can deny it! It will be in the history books forever. 

ARGENTINA - THE COUNTRY 

This picture sums up Argentina. The couple in the middle is dancing TANGO in a very famous area in Buenos Aires (the capital); La Boca. This is in the same area as Boca Juniors have their football stadium, and where Maradona tied his first shoelaces on his football shoes.

Argentina has a population of about 35.000.000 which mostly consist of immigrants from Europe. The big stream towards Argentina was between 1850 and 1900, and 90% of the population is of European origin. Spanish is their official language and most people moving from Europe were from the latin speaking countries like Italy, Spain and France.

The picture of the penguins here is a symbol of all the variety there are in this country. You'll find all kinds of climates from glacial ski resorts, penguins to water fall, jungles, desert and mega cities like Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is compared to Paris, Madrid and even London.

Unfortunately have I never been able to visit this country but there must be a lot to do here. I have always wanted to go, but I have not yet been able to.

 

PRINCESS MAXIMA

Everyone into royalties and celebrities will know that Maxima Zorriegueta just recently married William Alexander Prince of the House of Orange (Prince of the Netherlands). I know from my time in the Netherlands that she became very popular even though she was not of Royal family. She learned the language very quickly, and easily adapted into the Dutch lifestyle. Unless she divorces Prince William she will become a queen when the current queen, Beatrix, abdicates.

 

EMILIO'S FAVORITES

Emilio loves his country, and for one reason or another he sent me loads of pictures with birds from Argentina. If you click on each of these pictures you will get a better view:

                 

 

That should be about it for time being. Later there might be some changes. Who knows? Well, I should know, but it is loads of work. It takes time, but it's funny. Here are certain web pages Emilio highly recommends if you want to learn more or plan a visit to Argentina:

Emilio would be very if glad you could drop him a mail on his address efrcw28@hotmail.com. He is capable of understanding writing to him in Spanish, English, German, Dutch. Italian or Portuguese. Then you should have many options, but he is unfortunately unable to understand Norwegian! 

I do hope you have enjoyed this journey through Argentina, and I must say in the end I am a bit embarrassed writing positively about another country before I have anything special on my own beloved Viking country, NORWAY. Sometimes you have to do something extra for your friends!