Every four years soccer comes around in full force. To the rest of the world, the World Cup is just the cherry on top of the soccer sundae they eat everyday. For America, soccer is the melted ice cream at the bottom of the bowl. If we’re really hungry, we’ll lick it clean. If not, we’ll toss it out. But what about American interest in the World Cup?
It’s not an unknown fact that soccer has never caught on from sea to shining sea. It’s more than just the oceans that divide the world’s passion for soccer and American’s apathy for the sport. Could ESPN’s extended push to cover the entire World Cup event cut into the major sports death-grip they have on American athletic attention?
This time around I decided to give the sport a “kick” (I couldn’t say “shot” now could I?) and what follows are a few of my thoughts on the experience. Keep in mind I am an uneducated Philistine when it comes to the art of soccer. I know little about the rules. I watched the full England v USA match and listen to the rest when I am working through the day, but osmosis has begun to fruitfully impart a little knowledge about the mystics of a game I used to categorically deny.
First, I must admit, it’s not that bad! I don’t think there is any way it will dethrone my favorite sports, but every four years I’ll tune in. The beauty of this sporting event is the passion each and every country has for their respective representatives.
In my uneducated opinion, the biggest reason soccer will never catch on here is the scoring. Most people just don’t understand a tie because winning decisively is integrated into American DNA. If you cannot deftly win, do not bother to win at all.
If a persons only knowledge of the sport is what they caught during the few highlights on Sportscenter, it’s impossible to see what could be interesting about a game that ends 1-1 or nil-nil. “What? They played 90 minutes and didn’t score!”
But when the entire game is watched live, excitement is apparent and the overall feeling is one of intrigue. One team can dominate the other by scoring just once. One erroneous goal can shatter the confidence of the players and bring a media blitz of negativity washed up pop starlets couldn’t even comprehend.
A few aspects that are unique to this sport that I enjoyed: ties can be wins, less is more, patience is key. Skill trumps power conditioning or doping (cardiovascular conditioning is highly recommended though).
At its basic form, soccer is the most primal of competitive gamesmanship that requires the most miniscule investment to play. It’s no wonder the rest of the world loves it, everyone should be able to get invovled.
The way the clock is managed is magnificent. They don’t mess around on the soccer pitch, the clock runs without stoppage. The clock runs while players hurry to grab balls that go out of bounds or act injured like they were just ran over by a truck. Torrential downpours and freezing weather? No problem! Even the stadium is still packed in spite of the conditions. Halftime is snappy, there isn’t even much time for commercial interruptions. I like that. Other sports can drag on with stoppage and commercials can derail my interest in the game.
Even penalties add little time to a soccer match. Add up the time spent standing at the free throw line in basketball games and I’m sure it’s more than the typical +3 or +4 they add to soccer games. And time referees spend under the hood in the NFL? Sometimes it can feel like it’s 3 minutes a pop.
The passion of the fans is not much different from other sports, except for the vuvuzelas. Maybe this is local to South Africa, but once the buzzing burns its way into the head it becomes unnoticeable.
In the end I have other sporting allegiances that will always be higher up on the importance order. There just isn’t room for the MLS while I’m waiting on the next World Cup. NFL and college basketball are locks despite disappointing greed in football, MLB takes up my summer and NHL hockey fills in the brief leftover moments. However, I have a newfound appreciation for the sport of soccer. It’s hard to completely ignore something the rest of the world so arduously loves.
Tags: Sports
I agree. The lack of instant gratification is very frustrating for many people I talk to.
I love it, though it takes a while to get used to the patience it takes to watch it.
That’s a great point Jameson. Maybe the “instant gratification” is what turn many in this country away. The goals are exciting, they just come fewer and further between… at least in this tournament. I hear it’s on pace to be the lowest scoring World Cup in history.
The 1-1 games or less wouldn’t bother me so much if it weren’t for the soccer purists who automatically start the “You’ll never understand our game!” rant. The point is still to win the game is it not? Bah!
Rooney,
I am a purist, and while I won’t tell you “you will never understand our game” I will say that yes, the point of the game is still to win. But allow me to explain that for some teams, take New Zealand for example, a 1-1 draw is an enormous victory for them. It’s all about context, which grows with an understanding of the circumstances of the teams involved and the game.
For supporters like me, I want others to enjoy the game like I do, not turn them away. But it is hard for many supporters to put up with the constant berating our game receives from ignorant American’s who lack respect and reasoning for their negativity of the game. Many times we overact or group people together unfairly, and I hope to not be one of them.
Hope that gives some incite and is helpful.
You know, I never considered that fact Matt. I guess it’s so hard to get thru the American skull that there are teams out there who feel honored to tie due to their competitive disadvantage, but it makes perfect sense now that you mention it.
Are these World Cup games lower scoring than normal though? I’m seeing a ridiculous amount of 1-1 draws. That said I’ve been tuning in every day whilst drawing (except for the 6 AM game, been missing that one haha).
Thanks John. To answer your question, yes and no.
In general terms, the World Cup brings together a variety of teams from around the world with different levels of skill and ability. For example, this World Cup you have Brazil, Spain, Germany, and a handful of other world class sides competing against Algeria, New Zealand, North Korea and other nations whose low rankings coincide with their lack of talent. Brazil rank: 1 North Korea: 105 (though that match is not a great example because of the surprisingly strong defensive effort from North Korea). In past World Cups we’ve seen lopsided scores such as 8-0, 10-1, 6-2, etc. So with some of the first round match-ups high scoring was expected. But digging deeper, the gap is closing between the haves and have not’s. And the have not’s are growing tactical schemes that make the gap even smaller than it really is.
Is this year’s World Cup, with increasing pressure from supporters, there’s been a strong sense of teams trying not to lose rather than trying to win. In the case of round 1 of the group stage, many teams trying to just get that 1 point out of the first match to get settled and give themselves a chance to advance with 2 matches remaining. This is a tendency with the group stage, just do enough to advance and make sure you don’t concede anymore then you have too. On top of that, you get sides such as Switzerland playing Spain who rely on a strong and organized defensive effort to give them a chance against a highly skilled team like Spain. In the Swiss case, 1 point against the world #2 of Spain is a great achievement, and in the process their strong defensive effort gave them the opportunity to beat Spain, all they need was one great chance to score, and score they did. UPSET! This is life at the World Cup.
Also worth a look, the current FIFA rankings. The highest ranked side not at the World Cup is Russia at #11, knocked out by Slovenia (US opponent on Friday). The North Koreans, lowest ranking in the World Cup, sit at #105 (which will change after the cup to be much higher). Sides rated higher then them currently include the nation of Jordan, Libya, Kuwait, and Haiti, all teams that world powers would be expected to trample.
I’ll save my proper football rant until after a 2nd read. But I thoroughly enjoyed, appreciate, and understand your observations and reasons. Tomorrow, I’ll comment more.
Someone please stop the horns! I tried to give the World Cup a chance, but I’d even turn off the Superbowl if there was the same annoying background noise.
First, you are correct that the game of soccer has never caught on in American, at least as far as the mainstream is concerned. However, the sport is here to stay in the States with a passionate, strong, and growing fan base. The best analogy is one I read a couple years back, soccer in America is like Heavy Metal music. It’s not going to top the charts or create a fad, but it’s passionate and loyal fan base of rebels will continue moving forward regardless of what others think or say.
So, will ESPN’s coverage of the World Cup elevate soccer stature in the States? I would like to think so. But just like the Olympics, I recognize that average American’s are more interested in the Event and supporting American athletes then in the game itself.
Your uneducated opinion on the lack of interest the sport receives in the States is spot on with what other’s have said about why they find the game “boring.” How can a game end 0-0 and be enjoyable? Well, you hit it right on the head with your perspective that followed. Soccer is not a game where you can just watch the highlights and suddenly have a full conversation with a friend that watched the entire 90 minutes unfold. The former person is why the later person gets so frustrated and responds defensively. You didn’t watch it, you we’re there, so you don’t know what happened! That’s how it is. American fans, in general, want everything condensed down into highlight form, and when a match ends 1-1 or 0-0, then how can there be more than 2 or 3 highlights from an event that lasted 2 hours? What a waste of 2 hours! How boring! Nothing happened! Nobody Won! Who Cares! This is how to come off as ignorant to a true supporter, one who is always in the stands, watching live, or enjoying the full 90 on his DVR, without fast forward. The anticipation, the hope, the anxiety, and the moments of complete ecstasy when your club scores that elusive game winning goal are just a handful of things that make this game great, and the world’s favorite (I can’t list ever reason so I stop there).
It’s a simple game that anyone can play with a ball and a field, a game that brings hope to those that have nothing, that takes away their worries and troubles, and makes them feel alive. It is, The People’s Game, and the people of the world cherish that ownership.
Oh, for the record, the vuvuzelas are local to South Africa. Every nation, city, and tribe has their own traditions, style, etc. Only South Africa likes the vuvuzelas, the rest of us hate them. The youtube video below is a great explanation of why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl5iQFKygxw
Did I miss anything? Any questions? Ask away.
The vuvuzela’s annoyed me at first and I’m sure they still would if I were in the crowd… then I realized how often South African’s get to enjoy such an event. I figure let ‘em have their fun, they’re there I’m not. Who am I to bash on their cultural 0ddity? It was nice of ESPN to town them down though
Hey Matt, as expected you provided a bunch of top notch information. I like the comparison to heavy metal. A couple questions I have:
1. How many people are showing up to Wizards games? New stadium would imply a good number, but I still have no idea what that number would be. How about the bigger MLS cities? Just curious about turnout.
2. Why do players, when they get hit, act like they’ve been stabbed by the opponent and roll around for extended periods of time? You’ll see dudes rolling around in the background when no one is even paying attention to them. I understand selling a call, it has almost ruined the NBA, but it seems a bit extreme to me.
I like hearing some Spaniard responses to their Swiss defeat – “I can’t believe we lost. They make watches and chocolate!” I always find myself cheering for the underdog, so that was a good match indeed. Thanks for the input!
John,
1. As you may already have heard (possibly from me) the Kansas City Wizards currently play in a minor league ballpark that seats 10k. Which sucks. But has been adequate compared to Arrowhead. The BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW SUPER-SWEET STADIUM in KCK will seat 18k. With expanded capacity, a proper soccer atmosphere, and growing support for the team in the surrounding communities and specifically on the Kansas side, I expect an 18k+ sellout for the home opener and average attendance to hover between 12k-15k. It’s a “Fits Just Right” mentality for the Wizards, who suffer from being in a small market, soccer apathetic city in the Midwest. But their my club and I Love Them!
Great link for up to date MLS attendance http://www.mls-daily.com/2010/03/2010-mls-attendance.html
2. Aaawww, diving, or as it’s officially called by FIFA “Simulation.” First it’s important to understand the soccer IS a contact sport. Grabbing, pulling, kicking, elbowing, “head butts”, chest bumps, and wrestling are all part of the game. But let’s looking at diving first.
DIVERS ARE WANKERS!
But in all seriousness, as someone whose played soccer there have been times when I’ve been kicked in the back of the leg, spiked (slide tackle with cleats up into the leg), and ran over that caused me serious discomfort and pain. It Hurts! It’s not always an act. But after you lay on the ground for a minute, let the pain subside, the adrenaline kick in, and regain your composure then more often then not you can finish out the match before you find the giant bruise on your leg afterwords. Most players have an extremely high pain threshold that kicks in after the initial challenge (the yelling part). Unfortunately, some players use this reality to their advantage to get fouls called on opponents to bail them out of trouble or win a possible goal scoring free kick.
As a player, you’re taught that “if you feel contact and it interrupts your ability to advance the ball, go down and win the free kick.” It is a soccer tactic. But some players take the “let yourself go down” part a little too far, thus the screaming, rolling around, hands in the air, blah blah blah.
Rule of thumb is, you can always tell a diver from someone who is really hurt by how they roll around on the ground. If the player goes to ground and grabs their ankle with a grimace look on their face, it probably really stings and they need a minute for it to wear off. But if a diver goes to ground he will grab whatever limb is easiest to find, roll around 4-5-6-20 times on the ground and scream like a tween girl at a Jonas concert. Or if you’re names Ronoldo you fall over and through your hands up in the air, like a tween at a Jonas concert.
With those basics, hopefully that gives a better understand of fouls and diving in the Beautiful Game. For better or worse, it’s a part of the game and without instant reply (which will never happen in a continuous sport like soccer) the human ref element is always sustainable to making the incorrect call, or incorrect no call.
I have been DVRing games so I can watch them all…I love it…addiction
Well written article very knowledgable, is it possible, though, for you to go into more detail on this subject, I would like to learn more and think it would show up better in google (where I found this article too) if you wrote more on this. Cheers