World Cup 2010

"Soccer" doesn't need anything. It's fine as it is. It doesn't have to conform to "the American way". This is one of the few situations that Americans have no influence over. You can't use your economic might to change things because FIFA is loaded already. You can't use political power because FIFA doesn't allow political interference in footballing affairs. And of course bombing FIFA is out of the question ;) FIFA doesn't need the USA and therefore won't be making any rule changes to cater to an American audience. It's that simple. Of course, whether or not the USA needs football is another question; I would suggest not, but still it's good to see the sport setting down roots in the US. As for the attraction of international football, I really think this is something you'll never quite understand (bear with me, this isn't a dig at you). My team, Northern Ireland, is tiny, and we'll never win a European Championship or World Cup. In fact, winning a game is quite an achievement for us. As fans, the black dog of depression follows us everywhere ;) But when we achieve any success, it is the best feeling in the world. Yes, better than sex. When David Healy scored against England a few years ago, the feeling was undescribable. I don't think anyone who is from a huge country like the US (or even England, Gernany etc) can ever know quite that feeling. But of course you get your kicks in other ways, which is fine too. Not trying to put down Americans or the US, just trying to describe it for you from a different POV.

If FIFA is loaded, why the fake trophy?  I appreciate your point of view, though, Holly2003.  You are a true sports fan, if you feel that way about Northern Ireland... no doubt about that.

I think it comes down to us Americans need for excitement.  There's just too much standing around the middle of the field.  And I'm sorry, it just looks silly when they use their heads to hit the ball.  And why can you use all parts of your body EXCEPT your arms? 

Right now, I'm trying to stay awake watching Argentina vs Korea.  Ha Ha!!!  Korea just knocked in a goal for Argentina.  That'll be damn funny if the final is 1-0 Argentina, with the only goal being scored by a Korean player.

Micrówave wrote:

Right now, I'm trying to stay awake watching Argentina vs Korea. 

How about now ;)

Micrówave wrote:

"Perhaps Sir GH (and others) can tell us WHY soccer is so popular."

It's popular simply due to its simplicity and its accessibility.  Like I said, all you need is a ball.  It doesn't need to be exciting every 30 seconds to maintain the interest of 90% of the world's population.  Most people in this world have 90 minutes of patience.  In our western world of "gimme gimme" and sense of entitlement (which now has high speed internet where anything we want arrives in seconds), most of us don't have it.

"Sure you can say its because we Americans "consume consume consume".  But then I could argue that most soccer fans can't afford to buy a jersey.  Most soccer fans are from third world countries."

And maybe that's a good thing.  Maybe we can learn from people who don't need to buy stuff in order to have a good time.

"Also, if you win the World Cup there's one thing the winning nation can't possess...  The actual trophy!!!"

It's about playing for one's country, and the genuine sense of competition in itself.  Soccer runs far deeper than a trophy.  Once again, your sense of materialism rules the day.

"Are they thinking a ref with a stopwatch is more reliable than an actual game clock?"

It's not about reliability.  Your association with a precise clock comes from the western idea that everything needs to be rigidly scheduled.  In the majority of the world, it isn't.  Soccer is a reflection of that.

"Make the game exciting.  Adopt the shoot-out."
They do have that - in knock-out matches.

"Short hand a team after a penalty."
They have the red card.  Amazing how you're condemning a game without even knowing the basic rules.

"Use the clock the right way....  countdown to zero."
Yes, Microwave.  The American way is the only way.  We get it.

Excellent posts by Holly.  Soccer is perfect as it is.  The sense that the US can control anything they want to control pervades their politics and a very fair portion of their population.  The US will never enjoy this beautiful game that is cherished by billions because they do not know how to adapt.  They want to change and control anything that contradicts their way of life ("the American dream - you must be asleep to believe it," once said George Carlin).  However, soccer is one thing the US will never, ever control.  Thank goodness.

Why is football also called "soccer" ?

The Agrentina - South Korea game made me very happy.

I support Argentina, but was unsure of their capabiltites, considerig the way they peformed in the qualifiers. But their performance today was pretty good. They totally dominated the game through out, and the goalie hardly had anything to do. The only goal the Koreans scored was because of a mistake by the Argentinian defender; it was not like as if the defense was beaten by the striker.

ParisNair wrote:

"Why is football also called "soccer" ?"

It is an American term for football, because they have their own game of football (a bastardized version of rugby).

Indeed, Argentina's victory today was very convincing.  But I do admire South Korea for holding it together as long as they did.

Sir GH wrote: ParisNair wrote:

"Why is football also called "soccer" ?"

It is an American term for football, because they have their own game of football (a bastardized version of rugby).

Indeed, Argentina's victory today was very convincing.  But I do admire South Korea for holding it together as long as they did.
Thanks, I knew that. I was just wondering if there's a story behind the term. Maybe I'll google it sometime.

Regarding Argentina...I am especially heartened becos I was afraid they'd be like the English - world beaters on paper, but very low on actual acheivement. I dislike the English team so much for the hype created about them...I'd be almost equally happy if they get beaten in every game.

I know this forum has a lot of English folk - so let me just make it clear that I am not an England-hater per se...just the football team. My fav cricket team is England, and my fav football teams are Arsenal and Chelsea. It is my dream to tour England someday.

ParisNair wrote:

"Thanks, I knew that. I was just wondering if there's a story behind the term."

Ahhh, the etymology you mean !  It derived from a short form of the word "association".  They could have chosen "ass", but I don't think that would have flown too well. :-)

Sir GH wrote: ParisNair wrote: ""Why is football also called "soccer"?"


It is an American term for football, because they have their own game of football (a bastardized version of rugby)."

That's actually not true. The word soccer, which we in Australia also uses, comes from England and orginates from the term Association Football. The term soccer has been around since the late 19th century and has nothing to do with America.

I stand corrected then, as I am no linguistic expert.  Cheers for the details.

YourValentine wrote:

GratefulFan, I really would like you to come here during the world cup and watch how people gather in front of TV screens during work, how nobody can be seen in the streets when the German team plays but after the match people take to the streets cheering and chanting - and it's much more emotional in Italy, Brazil or Argentina. Of course it's big business and billions are in commercials, sales of merchandising, betting and TV marketing but people do not care: they just support their team and if they win, the whole nations feels like champions :-)
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I understand so well what you describe YV: the nationally shared experience, the potential ecstasy (and agony!) and the communal joy in homes and bars and streets.  It's just that here all of that is experienced through the sport of hockey for most of us. It's so emotional here, just like soccer (please don't perceive any disrespect - I'm just going to confuse myself if I call it football!) in Brazil, and made even more compelling because of the complex relationship of our national psyche with America, who often ends up as the last thing standing between Canada and it's national pride.

When Canada and the US were in the final at the Olympics this year, my heart was so much in my throat I literally could not watch.  I set the game to record to watch later (if the outcome meant I could) and paced around my house doing housework, nervously checking the score now and then.  When there was a few minutes left, and the score was 2 to 1 for Canada, I couldn't even stay in the house anymore.  I went out  on those dead streets you mentioned :) and went to a grocery store having left instructions with my son and my boyfriend to call me if anything happened or when the game was over.  When I pulled into the store parking lot my cell phone rang with the news that the US had tied the game with 25 seconds remaining.  My heart sank to my toes.

So I shopped, or more properly tried to shop by putting a lot of random things in my cart with my mind racing.  As I approached the checkout I saw a young stock clerk looking at his cellphone.  He said simply "We just lost." and a terrible sadness, quiet and bitter disappointment settled on the few shoppers and employees there.   I waited for the call on my phone as I paid for my stupid groceries (everything has suddenly become stupid) but it didn't come.  When I got outside with my cart I became confused.  There were only about 4 or 5 vehicles in the lot and 3 of them had people clearly attentively listening to what sounded for all the world like play by play through the windows rolled slightly open as not to fog up. I called home and asked if the game was over, if the US had won, and why hadn't they called?  My son said "No.  They're still playing."  The clerk who had told us we had lost was outside near the doors and I said "It's not over! They're still playing!" and he said "I know!  I misunderstood the text I got!"  And all of a sudden from nowhere there was hope.  And of course there is nothing more amazing than hope when you just thought there was none.

Within about 10 seconds of hanging up the roar from the audio systems in the cars combined with the people bouncing up and down in their vehicles and pounding on their dashes seemed to tell just one, beautiful story.  I looked imploringly at the closest vehicle and the driver stuck his out out the window at me and said "We just won! Sidney Crosby scored!" Everybody jumped out of their car and everybody inside and outside the store just stopped and celebrated. The guy who told me we won started pounding on the plate glass windows of the store with happiness and the manager came running up from inside and rather than yelling at him pounded right back grinning.  I'll never forget the feeling of sharing those moments with a handful of strangers united by one joy and now forever tied together by time and place and a small piece of history. I think about this little anecdote molded by the hearts and minds of those others who were there, already shared with theirs many times over.

So long (again!).  I'm sorry.  Just wanted to share that because there is so much more that unites us earthlings via common experience (joy and hope and disappointment in sport) than divides us (soccer v. football v. hockey etc.).  If we're all to truly gather around one sport along with other ones we love it's definitely going to be soccer.  And the seeds are there.  Soccer is a hugely popular organized recreation for kids in the summer here.  A coworker's daughter was offered a soccer scholarship at Harvard last year and another coworker who just turned 30 plays in a recreational mixed league twice a week in the evening. So it's already firmly part of the world of at least one generation here.  We'll see what comes. :)

Good. France lost. Justice for the Irish.

Ha ha to the French.

Just be like the thing if Mexico and Uruguay decide to draw their final match.Or if South Africa win against France.Which is always a possibility.

No offence but Frank Rubbery.... sorry Ribbery has got to be the ugliest player ever......

Glad they lost as well as they were shit.