World Cup

[herron]

South Africa 1, Mexico 1

Uruguay 0, France 0


Tomorrow, USA vs England

I'll apologize now to all our UK members, but I'm (naturally) cheering for USA! 20 years (and 70 pounds) ago, I was a certified FIFA ref, doing 16-19 boys travel-team games and our local men's leagues. Loved center for the Irish-Caldean club teams (not)!

[daveh]

Well the USA won the game in 1950: they might just do it again.

Everton have a had a few US players: Joe-Max Moore and Brian McBride a few years ago, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard recently.

[herron]

Jun 11, 2010 15:55:28 GMT -5 daveh said:

Well the USA won the game in 1950: they might just do it again.

Everton have a had a few US players: Joe-Max Moore and Brian McBride a few years ago, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard recently.

Around the soccer world, that 1-0 US win over England in 1950 is still referred to as the "shot heard round the world!" Despite being one of the early joiners of FIFA (the international soccer governing body), the USA has never been considered a strong supporter of the game.

However, I went to all the games played at the Silverdome here in Michigan during the 1994 World Cup!

[herron]

Forgot to mention, I was also a keeper in the local men's leagues. Broke 9 of 10 fingers during that playing time, and quit about the same time I stopped being a FIFA ref ... my knees gave out!

[Deleted]

Sorry. I grew up with American football. I love U.S. college football. You are excited about the World Cup. I'm excited because my favorite college team just received an invitation to join a better conference. Although I have made an attempt to understand the soccer (your football), I have never figured out how millions of people can get so excited--even trample each other--watching a bunch of guys running around in shorts kicking a ball. I'm sure you feel the same about American football. Isn't it nice everyone doesn't have the same tastes?

BTW, I feel the same way about baseball that I do about soccer.

Wayne

[daveh]

Sport can be even more touchy a subject than religion. I prefer rugby union to football of the 'kicking a ball' games. There is, however, no doubting that association football is the pre-eminent world sport.






Unless it is angling.

[GeneW]

Canada is a bit more European than the US when it comes to World Cup.

In the richly multicultural city of Toronto, World Cup is a BIG event. Although I'm not normally a soccer fan, I am during World Cup. I love the passions and the ambiance and all the beautiful flags flying all colours. It's a lot of fun.

Gene

[Deleted]

It's interesting in the U.S soccer is a big sport for kids. But is has never managed to break out as a major adult sport. I suspect that's because it must compete against football, baseball, basketball and hockey--sports that have been intrenched since the early 20th century. I suspect that as the younger generation matures soccer will develop more of a following, on par with some other sports. But I don't think in the near future it will reach the importance in the U.S. that it has in the rest of the world.

[herron]

Jun 11, 2010 21:10:14 GMT -5 wayne said:

It's interesting in the U.S soccer is a big sport for kids. But is has never managed to break out as a major adult sport. I suspect that's because it must compete against football, baseball, basketball and hockey--sports that have been intrenched since the early 20th century. I suspect that as the younger generation matures soccer will develop more of a following, on par with some other sports. But I don't think in the near future it will reach the importance in the U.S. that it has in the rest of the world.

It is the fastest growing sport in the US, and has a real following in this country - particularly since the advent of the pro soccer league here. Major League Soccer (MLS) was established in 1993 as part of the US bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. The league currently comprises 16 teams, 15 in the U.S. and one in Canada, and is scheduled to become 18 teams by the beginning of the 2011 season and 20 by 2012.

But I think the main reason it has been slow to catch on here is because advertisers couldn't figure out how to fit traditional TV ads into a game with no time outs or stoppages of any kind.

That, and the fact it takes real endurance to play (and to referee), instead of behemoth size or abnormal height.

[daveh]

I had heard it said that soccer (although many in Britain try to avoid using that word) was the next most played sport after basketball, but the fact that it had never caught on as a professional sport meant that it never had the profile of basketball, gridiron or baseball.

Normally the opening games at a world cup are pretty poor: teams appear not to want to risk losing their opening game.

[John Parry]

At last its back! Most of the world has stopped dead for the next few weeks - me too! Good luck to the USA (after tonight's game !), also to Australia (I drew them in the works sweep !). Whatever happens - may the best team win.

Regards to all football supporters everywhere (and those who aren't too keen should take a look - you may grow to love 'the beautiful game').

John

[photax]

Sorry John, I guess i am no typical European, i am not interested in football at all. Even synchronised swimming is more boring. Possibly this depends on the fact, that we had not played football in school and Austrias Football Team is one of the worst in Europe ( some years ago beaten by the Faröer Islands ). I just watched the start of the 24h sportscar race in Le Mans. This may be boring to a football fan...
But at the WM-finale i keep my fingers crossed for England

MIK

[mickeyobe]

Exciting?

Ho Hum.

Time for a nap.

Mickey

[herron]

England 1, USA 1

Many thanks to the English keeper!

[PeterW]

England 1, USA 1

Many thanks to the English keeper!

I've seen worse goalkeeping ... but it was so long ago I can't remember when.

Where are the successors to Peter Shilton, Ray Clemence, David Seaman, Gordon Banks ... ?

PeterW