What is it about SOCCER??

[mcfbridge]

Okay, this question is for you Europeans. What is it about soccer that makes everyone go crazy over there.

From my own standpoint, it's a terrific game to play, but Dear God is it boring to watch. Nothing ever happens.

So what is it about this sport that will make Europeans give up eating, drinking, or even sex so that they can see it. To say nothing of occasionally losing their sanity.

 

[davidwatts]

Okay, this question is for you Europeans. What is it about soccer that makes everyone go crazy over there.

From my own standpoint, it's a terrific game to play, but Dear God is it boring to watch. Nothing ever happens.

So what is it about this sport that will make Europeans give up eating, drinking, or even sex so that they can see it. To say nothing of occasionally losing their sanity.

As an American, I couldn't agree more with your statement, but it has to be a cultural thing. I love hockey, and people say the same thing about that too. It probably comes a lack of understanding the nuances of soccer like I do hockey. I never minded kicking the soccerball around myself either, but couldn't for the life of me imagine watching anyone else doing it. I can say the same thing about bowling, golf and now poker of all things.

 

[TheEarl]

Okay, this question is for you Europeans. What is it about soccer that makes everyone go crazy over there.

From my own standpoint, it's a terrific game to play, but Dear God is it boring to watch. Nothing ever happens.

So what is it about this sport that will make Europeans give up eating, drinking, or even sex so that they can see it. To say nothing of occasionally losing their sanity.

<ahem> Lifelong rugby fan here.

I like football. It's fairly interesting to watch if you're supporting a team, but I agree that in general it's a dull sport. So much play in the midfield where nothing that happens means a thing. If you miss a tackle, then there's someone to cover. If you miss a pass, then you can win it back. Even if the ball makes it down one of the ends, then the odds will always be towards the successful tackle, the goalie's save or the skewed shot than it will be on the goal.

However, I have to say that basketball is worse. Scoring going from end to end, each point not meaning much in the general scheme of things.

It's why I love rugby so much. One mistake can turn a game and every action means something. Moving forward is an aim; the further forward you move, the closer you are to scoring. Every metre, every tackle, every second means something and every score has to be created so exquisitely, from the 90m 15 man counter-attack, to the 1 metre flop over the line.

To answer your question - I don't know . But then again, it's never captivated me.

The Earl

 

[R. Richard]

Okay, this question is for you Europeans. What is it about soccer that makes everyone go crazy over there.

From my own standpoint, it's a terrific game to play, but Dear God is it boring to watch. Nothing ever happens.

In order to really understand a sport I believe that you have to play the sport at a competitive level. Once you have played the sport at a competitive level you can understand how difficult some of the things you see are to do.

If all you see is a center forward kick the ball in the net, you have likely missed 99% of what really goes on. The ball was worked up through the defense in a sequence of difficult moves. The goal keeper was likely drawn to one side by a threat and then the ball was passed to the guy who actually scored the goal. There is a lot that happens before a goal. However you have to understand what is happening and why.

JMHO.

 

[JohnMorrison]

i think its just the sport that everyone in the world plays. No matter how poor the country all you need is 1 ball and an open area, whereas american sports (football, baseball, basketball, lesser extent hockey) all require equipment. so when everybody plays it its more important. but i have to say it is rather boring to watch, but so is baseball. The only sports i watc (besides the occasional championship game) are Football (american that is, religiously at that) and Hockey. Hockey is somewhat like soccer with the low scores but when you follow a team and especialy playoff hockey is extremely exciting to watch. I watch every football game i can, 4 games on sunday, monday and every playoff game, but i bet europeans don't care about our football at all just like we dont care about their football that they watch religiously.

 

[mcfbridge]

Interesting, still haven't heard from an avid soccer fan. I know some of you must like the game.

Personally, I love baseball, football (American), and hockey. But, even so, when there's a bad call I may scream at the referee or umpire, but I don't have a desire to kill him or maim his family.

Also, I live in St. Louis. We are Cardinal fans. There is a huge rivalry between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. But thousands of Cubs fans come here when the two teams play in St. Louis. Those fans do not have to fear for their safety. They are welcomed and treated as guest. Just the way St. Louis fans are when we go to Chicago to see a road game.

But in Europe, you see time after time where fans break into riots fighting with one another over this game. Aside from perhaps the Yankees and Red Sox, I can't think of anything over here that breaks down like that. And when something does, it's looked on with disgust, not like just another day at the ballpark.

So, soccer fans, please explain this.

 

[Weird Harold]

To answer your question - I don't know . But then again, it's never captivated me.

The Earl

Do they still have the Pool in England?

The prospect of winning several million pounds is what intersted the American GIs when I was stationed in England in the mid-seventies. Watching the game of the week to catch the results led to an appreciation of the game itself for many of us.

I enjoy watching a well played soccer match even though I've never played beyond the level of choosing up sides for Phys Ed games, and MY interest started with a couple of Pool entries each week.

 

[TheEarl]

Do they still have the Pool in England?

The prospect of winning several million pounds is what intersted the American GIs when I was stationed in England in the mid-seventies. Watching the game of the week to catch the results led to an appreciation of the game itself for many of us.

I enjoy watching a well played soccer match even though I've never played beyond the level of choosing up sides for Phys Ed games, and MY interest started with a couple of Pool entries each week.

They do indeed, although it's never caught my attention that much. My interest in football came from Euro 96. Alan Shearer, England 4 - Holland 2, putting Scotland out in the first round, Gareth Southgate and that scuffed penalty.

I enjoy it and I understand it very well. Where it loses me is that an individual player can run 60 metres, beat 5 defenders, burst into the penalty box and then lose the ball. That ball is then spanked 60 metres up the pitch by a bit of Stuart Pearce style defending. What's the gain? What's the purpose? I understand it if the player runs 50 metres and then scores, or even if a player runs 1 metre and the ball bounces into the net off the goalkeeper's arse. I understand it if he runs and then wins a corner. All are tangible rewards for his effort. No, in my scenario, he's just lost everything in one move. His team are no closer to scoring and the opposition are no farther away.

With rugby, a player runs 60m and then loses the ball. What has he got out of it? 60 metres. Distance is everything in rugby and, okay, the opposition team can kick the ball back down the pitch, but they're losing something in doing that. Every metre counts, must be fought for and earned and even if you run 60m and lose the ball, that's still put the opposition 60m further away from scoring than they were before.

I think you posted this q at the wrong time. If you keep it bumped until Tatelou and Lauren come online, then you'll get an afficiando's opinion. as I said, I'm no fan. Just an interested observer.

The Earl

 

[elsol]

My dog plays soccer... that's all I need to know to understand the popularity of it.

He's very good at it too; my girl and I can usually beat him but if I'm on my own then the dog trounces me.

He doesn't do much goal-scoring, but that's moot if he manages to pop the ball.

Sincerely,
ElSol

 

[TheEarl]

But in Europe, you see time after time where fans break into riots fighting with one another over this game. Aside from perhaps the Yankees and Red Sox, I can't think of anything over here that breaks down like that. And when something does, it's looked on with disgust, not like just another day at the ballpark.

So, soccer fans, please explain this.

Just noticed this. In England, it's because the football fans who start fights are fucking wankers. The majority of fans are nice, normal sensible people, who I'd be happy to welcome to Welford Road, the Rec, Kingsholm or the Stoop. A minority are fuckwits who react to opposition fans in the same way that the BNP react to Asians. In fact, I'm willing to bet money that the fight instigators are signed up members of the BNP.

Their sickness has nothing to do with the game. It's an excuse, like Islam is to Al Quaeda and I am embarrassed for my country every time these fuckwits start something whist pretending to be England football supporters.

I've often said, even with the popularisation of rugby, that it'll never happen at our grounds. The reason why is that they must come in one at a time and our grounds are already full with 18st, 6ft tall, 6ft wide men who used to play and still love the game. And will be quite happy to enforce peace and quiet if anyone tries to start a riot at a rugby match. I wish football could have mixed crowds too, but unfortunately, that's the sport that's these pricks have infected.

The Earl

 

[R. Richard]

Just noticed this. In England, it's because the football fans who start fights are fucking wankers. The majority of fans are nice, normal sensible people, who I'd be happy to welcome to Welford Road, the Rec, Kingsholm or the Stoop. A minority are fuckwits who react to opposition fans in the same way that the BNP react to Asians. In fact, I'm willing to bet money that the fight instigators are signed up members of the BNP.

The Earl:
From what I have read about soccer fans in England and the rest of Europe, it is the same problen we have here in the USA. The idiots causing the problems are drunks. They get drunk and begin to cause trouble. The trouble escalates into fights and even riots.

I strongly suspect that the crowds at rugby matches are, by and large, small enough that the real fans put a stop to the drunks. Unfortunately, crowds at the footy are too large for that sort of enforcement.

JMHO.

 

[Xelebes]

I enjoy watching football (soccer) on the televion as much as I enjoy watching rugby. But they still don't beat Canadian Football. Edmonton Eskimos woot!

Personally, I catch whatever I can - I have no allegiance. It's just interesting for me to watch. I wouldn't know how to explain why I enjoy it so.

 

[mcfbridge]

Ok, so are there any real soccer fans here?

Do any of you live and die with your teams.

 

[Belegon]

like it was said above, keep bumping....

I think some of the popularity of football/soccer in the rest of the world also has to do with tradition and family. You may not have parents who are Cardinal fans, but I'll bet a lot of those around you at games do if you don't.

Baseball is the game I discussed with my grandfather (and grandmother). There is a measure of shared feeling and experiences with my parents...and of course, I have played the game since I was very, very young and now my son is doing the same.

I do believe I experience the game somewhat differently because of the level of competition I managed to play at. However, because of how it permeates american culture, I do not feel it is necessary to have played at that level to understand the game. Baseball is woven into the very fabric of our past and is being woven in our present.

The game is losing some "presence" to other sports, but is drawing more fans to ballparks than ever.

I suspect football/soccer is similar, especially in Europe and Latin America.

 

[TheEarl]

The Earl:
From what I have read about soccer fans in England and the rest of Europe, it is the same problen we have here in the USA. The idiots causing the problems are drunks. They get drunk and begin to cause trouble. The trouble escalates into fights and even riots.

I strongly suspect that the crowds at rugby matches are, by and large, small enough that the real fans put a stop to the drunks. Unfortunately, crowds at the footy are too large for that sort of enforcement.

JMHO.

It's strange though. Rugby fans get drunk. Hell, we're famous for it. Yet we seem to cause no more problems than the occasional chandelier down after someone bets the prop forward that he can't tarzan-swing across the room on it. No fights, no animosity, no nothing.

And it's not even like it's small crowds. Twickenham sells out for 90% of the international matches (74,000 people) and the last time I was there, I was sitting, mingled in with the French supporters, watching England trounce the French, singing my heart out with the best of them. Leicester filled a 32,000 seater stadium for a European Cup match and there was no violence there.

No police, no barbed wire between the fans, and no restrictions on drinks. Rugby fans are allowed terracing, alcohol at their seats and stadium bars open after the match. All of those things are banned in football. I feel sorry for them; not to know the camaraderie of sitting down with the Canadian supporter next to you and having a chanting contest to see who can shout Ca-na-da or En-ger-land the longest? That's depressing to me.

The Earl

 

[snooper]

... no barbed wire between the fans ...

Now this is an unusual thread. The Earl and Snooper in total agreement.

My good friend The Earl (who, through no fault of his own, was born English rather than Welsh) has put his finger on it when he points out that rugby fans are not segregated. The mistake was segregating the opposing fans at soccer matches and thereby turning them in to mutually antagonistic mobs. If the fans are all mixed together, they can't form massed groups of troublemakers.

Of course, it is too late now to undo the damage, even in all-seater stadia where the tickets could be doled out evenly. The expectation of trouble is firmly in the soccer fan's mind, and therefore trouble happens.

 

[Liar]

Ok, so are there any real soccer fans here?

Do any of you live and die with your teams.

I don't live and die by any team, but I do like the game. It's versatile. It's a perfect balance between skills, physics and tactics. And the fact that there are few goals as opposed to say basketball is an added bonus. It means that scoring actually means shit, calls for some real celebration. You said nothing ever happens? Shennanigans. Stuff happens all the time, as opposed to American football where stuff happens in short bursts constntly interrupted by timeouts, lineups and people getting out of piles.

And yes, the fact that any bunch of people, a ball and a parking lot is all it takes to play it yourself, means it's easy to relate, as well as appriciate the talent of the good players.

The fans are a bit scary sometimes though.

 

[Guest]

Ok, so are there any real soccer fans here?

Do any of you live and die with your teams.

Yes, but there were some big games over the weekend and we all got wasted.

Us real fans would rather watch footy than post on the boards.



And it's not SOCCER, it's FOOTBALL!!!! We invented the damn game, we should know what it's called.

I'll say one more thing on the subject...

GOONERS!

Actually, I'll say a little more... We had a good discussion about football and rugby on the recent meet up. Most of us agreed that football is a very tribal sport: true fans of it have their team, who they show alliegance to, above all others, and nothing gets in the way of "the beautiful game". It really is a beautiful game, btw, you just need to know all the rules and follow it.

Rugby, we all agreed, is more of a social/club thing. Yes, the supporters are passionate, but with rugby there is none of the tribal conflict. Supporters of opposing teams will have a drink together after the match, all in good spirits.

Football has replaced tribal warfare for the average footy supporter. That sounds a bit strong, but you try being on the terraces on a Saturday afternoon. Or even in a pub after a game.

Lou - not quite that extreme.

 

[TheEarl]

I wouldn't say rugby isn't as tribal. I have my Zurich Premiership side and I live and die with their matches. It's not as antagonistic, but club supporters are still very passionate about their teams. My rugby comes above everything but love and even then I try to organise it so I can have both.

The Earl

 

[Colleen Thomas]

They score in soccer games? How novel.

Seriously, the game is a horror to watch. That goes from pro games on TV all the way down to watching your nephew's game. I think it's biggest drawback here in the states is probably the relatively low frequency of scoreing. Most U.S. sports have been tweaked to allow for more scoring. It really destroyed basketball, but it has been a boon to Baseball and Football. Fans like excitement and there isn't much exciting when nothing is happening. The occasional pitcher's duel can be fun as a change of pace and the occasional defensive showcase in football can too. But in soccer, it's always a defensive struggle.

I agree with whoever said simplicity is the sports biggest draw. It's worldwide because it's cheap to play and easy to get a game up. Because there is no big expenditure needed everyone plays and you get a lot of stars in the sport who come from extremely humble backgrounds, making it a very egletarian sport.

It's easy to get behind hometown heros and I suspect Americans miss a great deal of it because we don't know the players or their stories. Still, it's just painful to watch, because it's so low scoring and there is relatively little excitement.

 

[TheEarl]

They score in soccer games? How novel.

Seriously, the game is a horror to watch. That goes from pro games on TV all the way down to watching your nephew's game. I think it's biggest drawback here in the states is probably the relatively low frequency of scoreing. Most U.S. sports have been tweaked to allow for more scoring. It really destroyed basketball, but it has been a boon to Baseball and Football. Fans like excitement and there isn't much exciting when nothing is happening. The occasional pitcher's duel can be fun as a change of pace and the occasional defensive showcase in football can too. But in soccer, it's always a defensive struggle.

I agree with whoever said simplicity is the sports biggest draw. It's worldwide because it's cheap to play and easy to get a game up. Because there is no big expenditure needed everyone plays and you get a lot of stars in the sport who come from extremely humble backgrounds, making it a very egletarian sport.

It's easy to get behind hometown heros and I suspect Americans miss a great deal of it because we don't know the players or their stories. Still, it's just painful to watch, because it's so low scoring and there is relatively little excitement.

God, no wonder you guys don't get cricket.

That's a game and a half by the way. If rugby and football are battles, then cricket is a war, a whole campaign played over 5 days - a true battle of wits between two generals and the soldiers at their disposal.

The Earl

 

[R. Richard]

It's strange though. Rugby fans get drunk. Hell, we're famous for it. Yet we seem to cause no more problems than the occasional chandelier down after someone bets the prop forward that he can't tarzan-swing across the room on it. No fights, no animosity, no nothing.

And it's not even like it's small crowds. Twickenham sells out for 90% of the international matches (74,000 people) and the last time I was there, I was sitting, mingled in with the French supporters, watching England trounce the French, singing my heart out with the best of them. Leicester filled a 32,000 seater stadium for a European Cup match and there was no violence there.

No police, no barbed wire between the fans, and no restrictions on drinks. Rugby fans are allowed terracing, alcohol at their seats and stadium bars open after the match. All of those things are banned in football. I feel sorry for them; not to know the camaraderie of sitting down with the Canadian supporter next to you and having a chanting contest to see who can shout Ca-na-da or En-ger-land the longest? That's depressing to me.

The Earl

It is said that rugby is a hooligan game played by gentlemen. On the other hand, soccer is a gentlemens game played by hooligans. Maybe the characteristics of the players spills over into the spectators.

 

[TheEarl]

It is said that rugby is a hooligan game played by gentlemen. On the other hand, soccer is a gentlemens game played by hooligans. Maybe the characteristics of the players spills over into the spectators.

True. It's one of few games in the world where the referee gets the respect that he deserves, the stupid blind git.

The Earl

 

[Colleen Thomas]

God, no wonder you guys don't get cricket.

That's a game and a half by the way. If rugby and football are battles, then cricket is a war, a whole campaign played over 5 days - a true battle of wits between two generals and the soldiers at their disposal.

The Earl

Any sporting event that takes five days better be held in New Orleans or somewhere else with a lot to do besides watch

 

[rgraham666]

Re: cricket

I'm sorry. But I can't get behind a sport where one of the positions is 'Mid Silly'.