| Ok, you know all about the passion for soccer in | | | | teams would be eligible to take part in the |
| Brazil from Ronaldinho's promo ads, but what about | | | | Metropolitano next year. It would be until 1985 that |
| Argentina soccer? Why is it that a country that | | | | Argentina soccer would hold this structure, after |
| suffers and lives for soccer equally as the Brazilians | | | | which the Nacional became the main championship. |
| don't get their fair share of spotlight time? | | | | In Argentina, football holds two "seasons" as of 1991, |
| Admittedly, one of the reasons is its smaller trophy | | | | named the Clausura and Apertura (the closing and |
| room in comparison to Brazil's (2 titles in 4 finals for | | | | the opening), and played as two distinct single-round |
| Argentina, 5 titles in 7 finals for Brazil) but still...In | | | | championships. Each year, relegation is calculated |
| order to do it justice, I decided to accustom you to | | | | based on a three-year average and the 2 teams with |
| football in Argentina. | | | | the lowest average are relegated, with 2 teams with |
| Argentina soccer was organized in amateur or | | | | the highest three-year average from the lower |
| semi-professional local championships at the dawn of | | | | division are promoted. |
| the 20th century and despite the fact that | | | | I have to admit, this system they adopted for |
| Argentina's national soccer team played its first | | | | football in Argentina was a bit weird at first and |
| match in 1901, don't think it was the same type of | | | | needed some getting used to. But I can also see the |
| national team you would have today. Most of the | | | | advantages of such a system. |
| players, spotted in the semi-professional | | | | There are 5 teams that have dominated Argentina |
| championships formed up that 1930 World Cup finalist | | | | soccer ever since the Metropolitano championship |
| team, after which most of them returned to | | | | was created: River Plate, Independiente, Boca Juniors, |
| mediocrity. | | | | San Lorenzo and Racing Club are fighting for the title |
| In 1931, the first professional country-wide | | | | of Champions each year, for the past 50 years or so. |
| championship was instituted, although not all teams | | | | Unfortunately, it's a case of "rich get richer" and |
| were affiliated to the national association. For | | | | smaller teams have less and less of a chance to be |
| example, only teams from Buenos Aires, Avellaneda | | | | crowned as Argentina soccer champions, with these |
| and La Plata formed the championship structure in | | | | 5 (especially the first 3) dominating and monopolizing |
| the first years, with teams from Santa Fe or Rosario | | | | the competitions. |
| joining later on. | | | | It's these 5 clubs that launched many of the greatest |
| This early championship called the Metropolitano did | | | | Argentina soccer players on the world stage, |
| not allow other provincial teams to join and due to | | | | although most of them transferred to powerful |
| increasing demand, the Argentina soccer association | | | | European clubs after only a few years at their home |
| finally created a fully nation-wide competition in 1967, | | | | clubs. A few noteworthy examples include Alfredo Di |
| called the Nacional. | | | | Stefano (River Plate), Diego Maradona (Boca Juniors), |
| For several years, the Nacional and Metropolitano | | | | Juan Roman Riquelme (Boca Juniors), Daniel Passarela |
| championships were played separately. The Nacional | | | | (River Plate), Esteban Cambiasso (Independiente) or |
| was a 1-group championship, of which the six best | | | | Guillermo Franco (San Lorenzo). |