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World Cup 2010: A Tale of Two Brackets for Argentina, Uruguay

On June 25, 2010, In arts & entertainment, competitiveness, lifestyle, by InvestBA
World Cup Round of 16

Argentina and Uruguay are both four wins away from getting a third star for their jerseys.

“Europe in Decline While Latin America Shines” was the headline three days ago, as France, Italy and Greece were on the verge of elimination from the 2010 World Cup. Meanwhile local favorites Argentina and Uruguay took care of business in unselfish, workmanlike fashion, as did other Latin American teams: Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Paraguay will all make the cut.

Now Argentina and Uruguay find themselves in Round of 16 brackets that couldn’t be more dissimilar: Argentina’s reads like the Pantheon of Futbol Legends (England, Mexico & Germany) while Uruguay’s reads like a random seating chart at a Model U.N. conference (Ghana, Korea & U.S.A.).

One group has tallied 56 World Cup appearances, 17 Top 4 finishes and 6 World Cup victories; the other group’s stats are padded by Uruguay’s World Cup appearances (10) and wins (2). Since InvestBA focuses on investment opportunities in Argentina and Uruguay, we find the level of local fan confidence going into this weekend intriguing to say the least.

Despite their Pantheon positioning, confidence runneth over among the Argentine press and fan base. Pictures of Maradona sporting shades, headlines like “Vote of Confidence” and stories of fans of the Albicelestes already pushing back their return flights abound. In stark contrast, the Uruguayan fan base seems more reserved and respectful of their future foes. In fact, you can’t find a single story about the Seleccion Uruguaya today on the sports page of El Pai­s.

While Argentina speaks with the swagger of the ‘Canes, Uruguay settles for the occasional tweet from Forlan. Two different teams. Two different approaches. Two different chances to make history. We wish them both well and offer our predictions for this weekend of all weekends.

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Argentina Sponsors Pray for World Cup Miracle

On June 8, 2010, In arts & entertainment, foreign investment, us companies, by InvestBA
Argentina Futbol Miracle

With 7-1 odds of winning it all, Argentina's sponsors are hoping for a miracle in South Africa.

Being an Official Sponsor of the Argentine national team has its highs and lows. Just ask The Coca-Cola Company. The Atlanta-based soft drink maker’s corporate logos were visible everywhere at the Estadio Monumental that October night when Martin Palermo scored the miracle goal against Peru in the rain.

A Shawshank moment and dream publicity to be sure. Thirty minutes later in the post-game press conference, head coach Diego Maradona sat at the dais covered with strategically-placed Coke bottles and cordially invited his media critics to give him oral pleasure.

It’s that combination of on and off-the-field unpredictability that raises the stakes for the corporate sponsors going to battle alongside Argentina and the 31 other teams in South Africa. Wharton gives an excellent overview today titled, Why and How Brands Hope to Score at the FIFA World Cup. The hierarchy of World Cup sponsors is explained in detail as are the number of clothing companies vying for team sponsorships “to raise consumption and sales at an exponential rate.”

As always, Argentina suits up with Adidas, while Nike is betting the farm on Brazil and eight other teams. Meanwhile U.S. advertisers will probably get more coverage than the U.S. team: Continental Airlines, McDonalds and Budweiser will collectively invest over US$60 million between now an 2014. In the end, Wharton says, those brands that are most successful are the ones that generate “an emotional connection between the sponsored team, the public and the brand.” For our money, it’s hard to top Argentina beer sponsor Quilmes. Talk about emotional bang for your peso. (YouTube Video)

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A Week Away, EA Sports Says The World Cup is Already Over

On June 4, 2010, In arts & entertainment, technology, us companies, by InvestBA
EA Sports FIFA 2010

EA Sports' World Cup simulation has Uruguay out in Group Play and Argentina losing in the Semis.

While the 2010 World Cup doesn’t officially start until June 11th, U.S. video game giant EA SPORTS is already declaring Spain the winner.

In a clever PR campaign, not likely to sit well with local fans of Argentina and Uruguay, EA ran a simulation of the world’s largest sporting event using its popular 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa video game. The simulation had Uruguay eliminated in Group Play after a 1-1 tie with France and back-to-back losses to South Africa and Mexico.

Argentina fared much better in the simulation by winning Group B with three consecutive victories over Nigeria, Korea and Greece. However, convincing wins over Mexico and Germany were followed by a 2-1 loss to Spain in the Semifinal round. The simulation had Spain advancing to and winning the Final over Brazil by a score of 3-1.

We can only hope this EA prediction is a curse akin to the kiss of death for college football teams featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated or NCAA basketball teams getting the net-cutting nod from Dick Vitale. For Argentina’s fans, the only bright side of losing the World Cup, either in a video game or the actual event, is being spared the sight of Diego Maradona running down 9 de Julio Avenue in his birthday suit. Video game or not, that’s one visual we can all do without. (Full Story)

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World Cup: Anxiously Awaiting Argentina

On March 23, 2010, In arts & entertainment, foreign investment, lifestyle, real estate, tourism, by InvestBA
Argentina hopes to play more than one game at Johannesburg's Soccer City Stadium.

Argentina hopes to play more than one game at Johannesburg's Soccer City Stadium.

With only 79 days remaining until the start of World Cup 2010, it seems confidence runneth over among fans of the Selección Argentina.

So far Argentine fans have purchased more match tickets than fans from any other Latin American country, even fierce rival and overall favorite, Brazil. This is quite an emotional turnaround considering the doom and gloom surrounding the club only five months ago when they were on the brink of elimination.

According to La Nación, the 25,188 tickets purchased online from Argentina are more than Brazil (18,179), Chile (18,050), Paraguay (8,863) or Uruguay (4,739). Some of the local confidence may stem from headlines in Argentina trumpeting the recent European goal-scoring binges by Lionel Messi and Gonzalo Higuaín. Last Saturday both players scored 3 goals apiece in the Spanish League, and Messi is being referred to as “Dios del Futból” by several media outlets .

Off the field, confidence bordering on arrogance was evident when the always-subdued Coach Diego Maradona’s list of remodeling demands for the player’s rooms in Pretoria was made public: Jacuzzis in every bathroom, new LCD televisions, fresh paint and a “perfect” practice field.

When asked how the renovations were proceeding, Pretoria General Manager Colin Stlier said, “The work is almost finished, and we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the great stars from Argentina…although I actually believe it will be easier to keep Messi happy than Maradona.”

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The Brand Called Argentina Coming to the U.S.

On February 24, 2010, In arts & entertainment, foreign investment, us companies, by InvestBA
Former player & current coach Diego Maradona in a 1978 ad for long-time sponsor Coca-Cola.

Former player & current coach Diego Maradona in a 1978 ad for long-time Argentina sponsor, Coca-Cola.

While some say beef is Argentina’s finest export, most European soccer club owners would politely disagree. The rosters of Europe’s legendary club teams are stacked with young players from Argentina like Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero and Gonzalo Higuain.

And while these talented twenty-somethings are gearing up for a match next week in Germany and this summer’s World Cup in South Africa, a recently announced agreement should raise the team’s profile and following in the United States. The Argentina Football Association (AFA) just inked a deal with a Chicago-based marketing group committing the National Team to four “friendly” matches in the U.S. between now and 2014.

AFA agent Guillermo Toffoni explained the branding significance of the deal to Reuters: “We want to open the market for the national team which is a very strong brand. It’s a brand that is as strong as or stronger than that of Real Madrid or Barcelona.” (Article)

The global appeal of Argentina’s National Team is evident in the current roster of multinational Official Sponsors including Coca-Cola, VW, Adidas, Quilmes, YPF, Italcred, Standard Bank and Claro. While Brazil, Spain and England are more favored to win this year’s World Cup, odds are good the brand called Argentina will broaden it’s U.S. appeal beginning with the first friendly this September.

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