Help me love The World Cup
June 22, 2010 4:08 AM Subscribe
Help me appreciate The World Cup... I want to, I really do.
I just got back to the US from Europe where people are crazy for the World Cup. It's all anyone talked about in checkout lines, on the streets, on TV. The passion for this game outside the US is unlike anything that we experience here.
Then I come to the US and no one even cares. The games are being shown on some third rate ESPN channel like "The Ocho".
But I want to watch it - I want to enjoy it. Here are my questions:
- What should I watch for in a game. How can I become familiar with the strategy and flow of the game so that I begin to appreciate it's beauty?
- Where can I go to get a full review of the rules? Sometimes something happens and I don't understand why (like off-sides rules, what constitutes a foul, etc).
- Why do you love it? Why should i love it?
Thanks.
I just got back to the US from Europe where people are crazy for the World Cup. It's all anyone talked about in checkout lines, on the streets, on TV. The passion for this game outside the US is unlike anything that we experience here.
Then I come to the US and no one even cares. The games are being shown on some third rate ESPN channel like "The Ocho".
But I want to watch it - I want to enjoy it. Here are my questions:
- What should I watch for in a game. How can I become familiar with the strategy and flow of the game so that I begin to appreciate it's beauty?
- Where can I go to get a full review of the rules? Sometimes something happens and I don't understand why (like off-sides rules, what constitutes a foul, etc).
- Why do you love it? Why should i love it?
Thanks.
Best answer: I've spent my whole entire life playing soccer. That doesn't mean I'm any good at it---but 30 years in I can't help but love it. I can really only answer the third part of your question, regarding why I like it (compared to other sports.)
Soccer games last 90 minutes plus extra-time. Extra time is the sum total of all the seconds the ball is out of play (from penalties, out of bounds, whatever.) The game literally lasts an entire 90 minutes. The field is 120 yards long by 60 yards wide. There are no "substitutions on the fly", meaning you can (generally, with some exceptions) only substitute players when it's at a disadvantage for you to do so. (Like it's your throw-in, for example. You can't sub on someone else's possession.) Then you've got athletes who can do an 80+ yard two-step punt. Or a 60+ yard goal kick.
Lots of basketball and football hate that a 90+ minute soccer game can have a final score of 0-1 and it be considered a great game--but that's just it, that's an EXCELLENT game. It's all defense, strategy, position, and athleticism. That goal is 18 feet wide and 8 feet tall, a huuuuge target, but actually getting the ball IN the net is much more difficult.
So far we've got raw athleticism and skill.
So then you've got the physical nature of the game. Minus offsides, fouls in soccer (in FIFA, anyway) are called based on "advantage." Meaning---"Did the player truly go for the ball? Did the foul interrupt the flow of play?" If those answers are "yes" and "no" respectively, there is generally no foul. (Again, with some exceptions. A slide tackle from behind, for example.)
So in a good game, you can go 5+ minutes with no stoppage of play. People destroying each other, sprinting 20-80 yards at a time, a series of crisp, clean passes, and ball skills that are just phenomenal. Just like how baseball is soooo much better in person, it's hard to recognize all that's happening at field level when you watch on tv. Those feet are so fast, those movements so precise...nuts.
In football, you get a stoppage of play every 10 seconds or so, in baseball every 5. Basketball goes a little longer, but (in my world), there are soooo many basketball fouls that it seems like play stops all the time. In a soccer game, you might be watching and need to use the bathroom or refresh your drink---but in that 0-0 or 0-1 game, you CAN'T. Everything comes down to one last possession or one perfect cross, and it can come at any time. Only something like 1 of every 15 shots makes it in the net, so you get the "oooh ooooooh ooooooh! awwwwwwwwww!" 14 times for every time you say "GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!"
So you take all that, and you wrap that into a sport with hundreds of millions, probably billions of fans worldwide. You only allow 32 teams into the championship that only happens every 4 years. 32 dream-teams of the best players in the world (generally, there are some exceptions) who leave it all on the field for the chance to make it to the next round. There is no "we'll go easy today because we have a harder game thursday"---it's balls to the wall.
And there are some perennial favorites (say, Argentina) and some surprise underdogs (Say, South Africa) and some teams expected to go far who kinda fail (Mexico), but worldwide, anyone can take the cup. It's anybody's game. And it's awesome.
posted by TomMelee at 4:30 AM on June 22, 2010 [19 favorites]
Soccer games last 90 minutes plus extra-time. Extra time is the sum total of all the seconds the ball is out of play (from penalties, out of bounds, whatever.) The game literally lasts an entire 90 minutes. The field is 120 yards long by 60 yards wide. There are no "substitutions on the fly", meaning you can (generally, with some exceptions) only substitute players when it's at a disadvantage for you to do so. (Like it's your throw-in, for example. You can't sub on someone else's possession.) Then you've got athletes who can do an 80+ yard two-step punt. Or a 60+ yard goal kick.
Lots of basketball and football hate that a 90+ minute soccer game can have a final score of 0-1 and it be considered a great game--but that's just it, that's an EXCELLENT game. It's all defense, strategy, position, and athleticism. That goal is 18 feet wide and 8 feet tall, a huuuuge target, but actually getting the ball IN the net is much more difficult.
So far we've got raw athleticism and skill.
So then you've got the physical nature of the game. Minus offsides, fouls in soccer (in FIFA, anyway) are called based on "advantage." Meaning---"Did the player truly go for the ball? Did the foul interrupt the flow of play?" If those answers are "yes" and "no" respectively, there is generally no foul. (Again, with some exceptions. A slide tackle from behind, for example.)
So in a good game, you can go 5+ minutes with no stoppage of play. People destroying each other, sprinting 20-80 yards at a time, a series of crisp, clean passes, and ball skills that are just phenomenal. Just like how baseball is soooo much better in person, it's hard to recognize all that's happening at field level when you watch on tv. Those feet are so fast, those movements so precise...nuts.
In football, you get a stoppage of play every 10 seconds or so, in baseball every 5. Basketball goes a little longer, but (in my world), there are soooo many basketball fouls that it seems like play stops all the time. In a soccer game, you might be watching and need to use the bathroom or refresh your drink---but in that 0-0 or 0-1 game, you CAN'T. Everything comes down to one last possession or one perfect cross, and it can come at any time. Only something like 1 of every 15 shots makes it in the net, so you get the "oooh ooooooh ooooooh! awwwwwwwwww!" 14 times for every time you say "GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!"
So you take all that, and you wrap that into a sport with hundreds of millions, probably billions of fans worldwide. You only allow 32 teams into the championship that only happens every 4 years. 32 dream-teams of the best players in the world (generally, there are some exceptions) who leave it all on the field for the chance to make it to the next round. There is no "we'll go easy today because we have a harder game thursday"---it's balls to the wall.
And there are some perennial favorites (say, Argentina) and some surprise underdogs (Say, South Africa) and some teams expected to go far who kinda fail (Mexico), but worldwide, anyone can take the cup. It's anybody's game. And it's awesome.
posted by TomMelee at 4:30 AM on June 22, 2010 [19 favorites]
Where can I go to get a full review of the rules?
The laws of the game are the rules of football according to FIFA. See the Wikipedia articles on offside, fouls, and misconduct to understand 95% (statistics improvised) of the referee's calls. The remaining 5% cannot be explained.
posted by pennybacker at 4:42 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
The laws of the game are the rules of football according to FIFA. See the Wikipedia articles on offside, fouls, and misconduct to understand 95% (statistics improvised) of the referee's calls. The remaining 5% cannot be explained.
posted by pennybacker at 4:42 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Thank you for "the ocho!" reminder. Made for early morning chuckle.
posted by pearlybob at 4:44 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by pearlybob at 4:44 AM on June 22, 2010
Where in the US are you?
Pretty much every major city in the US has its football fans.
If you're in the middle of nowhere, then perhaps your claim makes sense. Otherwise, it doesn't.
posted by dfriedman at 4:50 AM on June 22, 2010
Pretty much every major city in the US has its football fans.
If you're in the middle of nowhere, then perhaps your claim makes sense. Otherwise, it doesn't.
posted by dfriedman at 4:50 AM on June 22, 2010
I was in US during 06 World Cup, and it was awful, the coverage on tv, the audience, it was just awful. It might be good idea to watch the games in a Irish pub, that should be fun.
Well, I love it because this is what I played growing up and I don’t mean in a team or anything, we used to play on the streets and we used to call ourselves whoever was popular that season, in that sense it was pretty much like this ad (from last world cup)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkm86AfI48I
As for the strategy, to tell you the truth, only few, very few really understand the strategy part, even the people on tv get things wrong from time to time. Though there are some interesting websites that I follow regularly which you might find useful,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/default.stm
I think this would be a good starting point in terms of rules and (probably) strategies
http://www.zonalmarking.net/
They give a review of pretty much every world cup game.
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/sports/soccer/index.html
Surprisingly New York Times has a really good coverage of the games.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/default.stm
Well just general football news.
Finally, you can start betting on games to ignite your passion! :)
posted by caelumluna at 4:51 AM on June 22, 2010
Well, I love it because this is what I played growing up and I don’t mean in a team or anything, we used to play on the streets and we used to call ourselves whoever was popular that season, in that sense it was pretty much like this ad (from last world cup)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkm86AfI48I
As for the strategy, to tell you the truth, only few, very few really understand the strategy part, even the people on tv get things wrong from time to time. Though there are some interesting websites that I follow regularly which you might find useful,
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/default.stm
I think this would be a good starting point in terms of rules and (probably) strategies
http://www.zonalmarking.net/
They give a review of pretty much every world cup game.
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/sports/soccer/index.html
Surprisingly New York Times has a really good coverage of the games.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/default.stm
Well just general football news.
Finally, you can start betting on games to ignite your passion! :)
posted by caelumluna at 4:51 AM on June 22, 2010
"I was in US during 06 World Cup, and it was awful, the coverage on tv, the audience, it was just awful."
In the US, we have every game broadcast in HD on either ESPN or ABC. During the next few days when two games are played at once, ESPN2 will be used as well. The commentators are from England, Scotland, Holland, Germany, Spain, and a couple from the USA. I don't see how you should have any difficulty enjoying the game to its full extent in terms of the coverage.
The coverage was virtually the same as this in 2006 -- it was not awful.
posted by kosmonaut at 5:24 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
In the US, we have every game broadcast in HD on either ESPN or ABC. During the next few days when two games are played at once, ESPN2 will be used as well. The commentators are from England, Scotland, Holland, Germany, Spain, and a couple from the USA. I don't see how you should have any difficulty enjoying the game to its full extent in terms of the coverage.
The coverage was virtually the same as this in 2006 -- it was not awful.
posted by kosmonaut at 5:24 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: I do live in the "middle of nowhere" in a small college town in the Midwest. When I said "no one cares" I wasn't lying. I haven't met anyone who cares in the two days that I've been back in the States, while in Europe it was unavoidable no matter where you went. Maybe this isn't true in larger US cities - but it's true here.
I have been home for all of 48 hours and have seen only a couple of games, both on ESPN2 - so I wasn't lying, even if I was mistaken, about where the games were being broadcast either.
But to everyone else, thanks for the thoughtful responses. I'll check those links. I really like TomMelee's description of why it's exciting - I think the low scoring is hard for me to get used to, but I like the baseball parallel. A live baseball game is amazing - and if you understand the game you love it on TV too because you know what it takes to score or keep the other team from scoring.
I'll keep watching and I'll check out the links -- good stuff. Thanks.
posted by crapples at 5:28 AM on June 22, 2010
I have been home for all of 48 hours and have seen only a couple of games, both on ESPN2 - so I wasn't lying, even if I was mistaken, about where the games were being broadcast either.
But to everyone else, thanks for the thoughtful responses. I'll check those links. I really like TomMelee's description of why it's exciting - I think the low scoring is hard for me to get used to, but I like the baseball parallel. A live baseball game is amazing - and if you understand the game you love it on TV too because you know what it takes to score or keep the other team from scoring.
I'll keep watching and I'll check out the links -- good stuff. Thanks.
posted by crapples at 5:28 AM on June 22, 2010
Looks like you are in Ames IA. When I googled Ames and World Cup, this came up:
West Towne Pub
4518 Mortensen Road, Ames, IA 50014
(515) 292-4555
westtownepub.com
Might be some soccer fans there to chat with. In know that going to the bars in the morning during the regular season and meeting other fans helped my enjoyment immensely.
Also, adding that if you are watching at home a minute-by-minute report is great to watch with. Some are very boring, but my favorites are the ones done by the Guardian.
posted by josher71 at 5:37 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
West Towne Pub
4518 Mortensen Road, Ames, IA 50014
(515) 292-4555
westtownepub.com
Might be some soccer fans there to chat with. In know that going to the bars in the morning during the regular season and meeting other fans helped my enjoyment immensely.
Also, adding that if you are watching at home a minute-by-minute report is great to watch with. Some are very boring, but my favorites are the ones done by the Guardian.
posted by josher71 at 5:37 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
If ESPN2 is too "third rate" for your tastes, you can also watch the games online for free via many streaming outlets. The Univision broadcasts are particularly fun to watch, as the announcers are very into the game and extremely excitable.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:40 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:40 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
Also, not sure how far you are from Des Moines but if you can get there for tomorrow's USA game:
Soccer Bars - Iowa
Victor's Sports Club
7500 Douglas Ave
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 278-9575
Victor's is an American sports bar that is soccer friendly since becoming the home bar for the Des Moines chapter of The American Outlaws supporters group and will be open for all US World Cup games. It's also a frequent place for Chicago Fire fans to watch games but all fans are welcome. Just ask for your game. Victor's serves reasonably priced American bar food with tables and booths for families and groups as well.
posted by josher71 at 5:41 AM on June 22, 2010
Soccer Bars - Iowa
Victor's Sports Club
7500 Douglas Ave
Urbandale, IA 50322
(515) 278-9575
Victor's is an American sports bar that is soccer friendly since becoming the home bar for the Des Moines chapter of The American Outlaws supporters group and will be open for all US World Cup games. It's also a frequent place for Chicago Fire fans to watch games but all fans are welcome. Just ask for your game. Victor's serves reasonably priced American bar food with tables and booths for families and groups as well.
posted by josher71 at 5:41 AM on June 22, 2010
Also, you say that you have been in town for 48 hours and both games you saw were on ESPN2. Well, on Sunday, two games were broadcast on ESPN and one game was broadcast on ABC - none on ESPN2. Yesterday, all three games were broadcast on ESPN - none on ESPN2. Here is a television schedule for all games. Again, I don't really get why you're lying, it's very odd.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:44 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:44 AM on June 22, 2010
josher71: thanks for the Guardian suggestion, this looks good.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:49 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 5:49 AM on June 22, 2010
There's also this thread on Metatalk where you can post to see if anyone wants to meet up with you to watch the games; I find watching soccer with someone who's an "expert" can make it more fun. But it's odd that you couldn't find the games on ESPN or ABC; there have been commercials and ads for it everywhere (ESPN, especially, is promoting it heavily). To watch it online, you can see it on espn3.com and at Univision. I was just at a wedding last weekend in the "middle of nowhere" in Wisconsin (hours from any airport), and the bar at the hotel we were staying at was showing the World Cup games. So, I think it's just a matter of going to a place where there are enough people around.
I love soccer because it's easy to understand, and therefore easy to get into. I think the offsides rule is the only tricky part. It moves much faster than baseball -- the games are over in less than 2 hours! Also, I really like watching the athletic moves of the players -- it's like ballet to me. I think you can only see that on TV unless you have really, really good tickets. Also, with the World Cup, there is a cultural aspect to the games. It's interesting how the different countries cheer, what the regional nicknames are, how their teams get along. The Guardian usually does a really fun play-by-play during the games, also, if you like podcasts, Slate's Hang Up and Listen has really funny, weekly updates on the Cup.
posted by bluefly at 6:05 AM on June 22, 2010
I love soccer because it's easy to understand, and therefore easy to get into. I think the offsides rule is the only tricky part. It moves much faster than baseball -- the games are over in less than 2 hours! Also, I really like watching the athletic moves of the players -- it's like ballet to me. I think you can only see that on TV unless you have really, really good tickets. Also, with the World Cup, there is a cultural aspect to the games. It's interesting how the different countries cheer, what the regional nicknames are, how their teams get along. The Guardian usually does a really fun play-by-play during the games, also, if you like podcasts, Slate's Hang Up and Listen has really funny, weekly updates on the Cup.
posted by bluefly at 6:05 AM on June 22, 2010
Response by poster: Hey Arsenio - I feel foolish even having to explain this because it shouldn't matter, but I just looked at my DVR two seconds ago and the games that I watched were on some channel that it calls "ESNCL", whatever that is. I mistook that for an ESPN2-type channel and I didn't verify the exact name before my last comment, not thinking it really mattered. The fact that I called it by the wrong name (me not being overly familiar with any of the sports channels, and only noticing that it didn't say "ESPN") shouldn't be a big deal to anyone. My reference to The Ocho was a joke - and my basic point was just that the games were not on prime time network TV as far as I knew (and it sounds like I may have been wrong about that in at least some cases).
Thanks for the links and especially the local information. That helps.
posted by crapples at 6:44 AM on June 22, 2010
Thanks for the links and especially the local information. That helps.
posted by crapples at 6:44 AM on June 22, 2010
The games aren't on prime time television because, unlike Europe, we are six hours behind South Africa, so the games aren't occurring during primetime. When the World Cup happens in Brazil in 2014, the games will be on primetime. I see what your problem is now. You are watching the encore broadcasts of the game during the evening on ESPN Classic. The games you are watching aren't live. If you found a sports bar in your area you are still unlikely to get a crowd of people watching at 6 or 8 PM when the results are already known. The games occur (from here on out) at 10 AM and 2:30 PM.
posted by kosmonaut at 6:50 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by kosmonaut at 6:50 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
It's a big pet peeve of mine when people fib or exaggerate in AskMe posts for no apparent reason. Anyway, as kosmonaut points out, you're probably just catching the replays on ESPN Classic. Tune it to ESPN or ESPN2 right now and you'll get a live broadcast of both games that are occurring now.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 6:55 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 6:55 AM on June 22, 2010
It's not on prime time because its on prime time many time zones away and being broadcast live. The times of the games are pretty inconvenient this year, but that's just how it goes.
If you're in a college town, there have to be some soccer fans around. I live in a college town and watching the US vs England game at a bar was a blast, people drank beer and wore crazy looking USA stuff, it was like a college football game with a smaller crowd. There were even some England fans that were dicks, and that really added to the atmosphere. It's also fun to watch it with grad students from outside the US, they really know the game and they really give a crap about their teams.
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 7:06 AM on June 22, 2010
If you're in a college town, there have to be some soccer fans around. I live in a college town and watching the US vs England game at a bar was a blast, people drank beer and wore crazy looking USA stuff, it was like a college football game with a smaller crowd. There were even some England fans that were dicks, and that really added to the atmosphere. It's also fun to watch it with grad students from outside the US, they really know the game and they really give a crap about their teams.
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 7:06 AM on June 22, 2010
Once you've got the rules down pat try finding some forums to read. News sites are great but it can be good to get some alternative opinions.
When I first started following games I would focus all my attention on the movement of the ball and the guy in possession of it. That's only a fraction of what's important. After all, it is a team sport.
It's much easier to appreciate the game once you have an understanding of who is in which position and what their potential roles are. Then you can start to appreciate movement off the ball, an efficient defence, attacking runs into the box, etc.
posted by quosimosaur at 7:15 AM on June 22, 2010
When I first started following games I would focus all my attention on the movement of the ball and the guy in possession of it. That's only a fraction of what's important. After all, it is a team sport.
It's much easier to appreciate the game once you have an understanding of who is in which position and what their potential roles are. Then you can start to appreciate movement off the ball, an efficient defence, attacking runs into the box, etc.
posted by quosimosaur at 7:15 AM on June 22, 2010
If I can shill a website (I have no relation to them to be clear) Zonal Marking it is a strategy blog that will help neophytes like you and I learn a ton about how strategy plays out during the games. I'm learning a ton from it.
posted by JPD at 7:39 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by JPD at 7:39 AM on June 22, 2010
It's already been mentioned, but if you're able to get some time off in the morning and go to a local soccer bar (or a bar that respects the World Cup enough to open early for it), do it! Even if it's for just a couple of games. It'll help you enormously in figuring out why you (and others) love it. Not only will you meet people who are happy to explain the game, but they are also generally pretty passionate about a certain team and so you get to experience their joy and sorrow as the 90 minutes progresses.
Plus, you may meet interesting people from other countries (like a certain Ghana friend who was the hit of my local soccer pub the past few weekends -- many sports matches would be better if we could have djimbes.)
Not to mention that getting up for a 5:30 game (here in the Mountain Time Zone) really separates the avid fans from the casual ones.
Also, this doesn't quite answer your question, but I agree it helps to have others around you who are also interested in the World Cup.
In that regard, if you can't find anyone else who's interested (which I highly doubt exists, no matter where you are), I've found that contagious enthusiasm really helps. I used to be a casual fan, but I've grown more interested and passionate, and strictly through my excited score updates (and friendly rivalries), I've dragged about half a dozen people into the World Cup obsession. People who originally hadn't even thought about watching a game or being invested in a team are now glued to computer updates (since we work while the games are shown) or bug me if I don't send them text updates.
So who knows who you can get hooked on the sport when you're all OHMYGOSH GUYS IT'S THE WORLD CUP!!!! and they're all "the what cup?" and you're all "OH WOW let me 'splain you something that will change your life..."
posted by paisley sheep at 8:16 AM on June 22, 2010
Plus, you may meet interesting people from other countries (like a certain Ghana friend who was the hit of my local soccer pub the past few weekends -- many sports matches would be better if we could have djimbes.)
Not to mention that getting up for a 5:30 game (here in the Mountain Time Zone) really separates the avid fans from the casual ones.
Also, this doesn't quite answer your question, but I agree it helps to have others around you who are also interested in the World Cup.
In that regard, if you can't find anyone else who's interested (which I highly doubt exists, no matter where you are), I've found that contagious enthusiasm really helps. I used to be a casual fan, but I've grown more interested and passionate, and strictly through my excited score updates (and friendly rivalries), I've dragged about half a dozen people into the World Cup obsession. People who originally hadn't even thought about watching a game or being invested in a team are now glued to computer updates (since we work while the games are shown) or bug me if I don't send them text updates.
So who knows who you can get hooked on the sport when you're all OHMYGOSH GUYS IT'S THE WORLD CUP!!!! and they're all "the what cup?" and you're all "OH WOW let me 'splain you something that will change your life..."
posted by paisley sheep at 8:16 AM on June 22, 2010
Dude, you need to watch the games on Univision. I can't understand the commentary, but the sheer enthusiasm of the announcer is much better than the stiff announcers on ABC and ESPN.
I'd say that if you're not into it, then there's no need to force yourself. I'm from Asia, but have never been a huge soccer fan. The only rooting interest I have in this World Cup is against France, but it stems more from a hatred of France than any knowledgeable reason.
posted by reenum at 9:07 AM on June 22, 2010
I'd say that if you're not into it, then there's no need to force yourself. I'm from Asia, but have never been a huge soccer fan. The only rooting interest I have in this World Cup is against France, but it stems more from a hatred of France than any knowledgeable reason.
posted by reenum at 9:07 AM on June 22, 2010
It might help to watch a little of the analysis on either espn or fox soccer net and then embrace the subplots. there are a myriad of nationalistic rivalries, sport rivalries and personal player rivalries that make the games more interesting if you know about them. the interwebs and tv filler shows are chock full of minutia about this kind of thing.
for me, sport is about the real-time drama, the unexpected, like North Korea scoring against Brazil, or the fact that they might have hired chinese nationals to act as N Korean fans. Root for the underdog if you are a neutral. wear a soccer jersey and other soccer fans will chat you up.
posted by OHenryPacey at 9:56 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
for me, sport is about the real-time drama, the unexpected, like North Korea scoring against Brazil, or the fact that they might have hired chinese nationals to act as N Korean fans. Root for the underdog if you are a neutral. wear a soccer jersey and other soccer fans will chat you up.
posted by OHenryPacey at 9:56 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
To expand on a point touched on in TomMelee's excellent answer: All the posturing that the Olympics does about "the nations of the world united in peaceful competition" is actually more true of the World Cup.
More true because the sport is not only followed every year, it is played on every level of society. The greatest World Cup performance in the last 30 years came from a man who grew up kicking a makeshift ball in the slums of Buenos Aires. There are barefoot kids kicking makeshift soccer balls all across Africa who are dreaming of their own World Cup glory.
posted by Joe Beese at 10:12 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
More true because the sport is not only followed every year, it is played on every level of society. The greatest World Cup performance in the last 30 years came from a man who grew up kicking a makeshift ball in the slums of Buenos Aires. There are barefoot kids kicking makeshift soccer balls all across Africa who are dreaming of their own World Cup glory.
posted by Joe Beese at 10:12 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Football is very beautiful. It's an expression of the pinnacle of human athleticism, grace, intelligence, strategy and tactics. It's also a celebration of humans working as a group, not only on the field but in the stands and across the world, where people support their teams as a deep expression of their culture and identity.
What I enjoy seeing -
the way the fans will identify with the team and get deeply in tune with the psychology of a game - with cheering, attunement to the state of both teams as they play
amazing goals. As you watch you see how attempts are set up and how very often they fail. The goal celebrating is because it's so very hard
tricky passes and footwork to gain possession - it's also very very hard
excellent defence - saves, foilings of sneaky strategy
the different ways teams play and the way this changes against a different opponent
the stories of the players - especially from some non western countries they often came from nothing, playing football with bare feet and stones
posted by By The Grace of God at 10:37 AM on June 22, 2010
What I enjoy seeing -
the way the fans will identify with the team and get deeply in tune with the psychology of a game - with cheering, attunement to the state of both teams as they play
amazing goals. As you watch you see how attempts are set up and how very often they fail. The goal celebrating is because it's so very hard
tricky passes and footwork to gain possession - it's also very very hard
excellent defence - saves, foilings of sneaky strategy
the different ways teams play and the way this changes against a different opponent
the stories of the players - especially from some non western countries they often came from nothing, playing football with bare feet and stones
posted by By The Grace of God at 10:37 AM on June 22, 2010
There was a big discussion on "Why don't Americans like football?" on the BBC World Service a couple of days ago. The conclusion, as drawn by two Brits and an American, was twofold: 1) the game doesn't have enough statistics and 2) Americans hate ties. Two of the most popular American sports, gridiron football and baseball, are constructed around individual plays which are isolated by time, which gives a lot of opportunity for intellectualization and analysis. Basketball, which is the third in the top three, is incredibly high-scoring, which adds grist to the mill for statistical analysis. And of course everything has massive overtime rules to prevent a tie score.
I think the "low scoring" idea that gets trotted out is a bit of a red herring, though: gridiron football is nearly as low scoring. Oh, not in the points at the end, granted, but there's weird score inflation involved to accomodate the concept of a half-goal. (Well, a slightly-less-than-half goal.) By gridiron football scoring, the France / South Africa game this morning would have had a perfectly respectable 7-14 final score.
posted by KathrynT at 10:39 AM on June 22, 2010
I think the "low scoring" idea that gets trotted out is a bit of a red herring, though: gridiron football is nearly as low scoring. Oh, not in the points at the end, granted, but there's weird score inflation involved to accomodate the concept of a half-goal. (Well, a slightly-less-than-half goal.) By gridiron football scoring, the France / South Africa game this morning would have had a perfectly respectable 7-14 final score.
posted by KathrynT at 10:39 AM on June 22, 2010
I liked this shortish preview of to the different teams from N+1 magazine. Knowing why I should be rooting for a certain country's team and what to watch for has made watching the games much more enjoyable.
posted by purpleclover at 5:21 PM on June 22, 2010
posted by purpleclover at 5:21 PM on June 22, 2010
I'm from Australia ... and here football is a third tier sport compared to the two rugby codes, AFL, Cricket etc.
However I've loved football for as long as I can remember. I work with people from South America and Europe, and my wife is Mexican. What I love about watching football with them is the sense of history, and intricate knowledge of the players, both as how they fit into the national squads, but how that differs from their club, their positions. And also the history, how one player might be referred to as the son of another, as they see them inheriting a title from a past generation.
Then there is the history of nations and how they have competed in past world cups ... for example England vs Argentina will always be a huge match, just due to their history more than anything. This morning I was talking with my brother in law who detailed Mexico's past world cup efforts against Argentina, since thats who they'll be facing in the next round, and he went into formations, player matchups ... I love all that stuff.
For reading, I recommend the Guardian.
posted by Admira at 5:49 PM on June 22, 2010
However I've loved football for as long as I can remember. I work with people from South America and Europe, and my wife is Mexican. What I love about watching football with them is the sense of history, and intricate knowledge of the players, both as how they fit into the national squads, but how that differs from their club, their positions. And also the history, how one player might be referred to as the son of another, as they see them inheriting a title from a past generation.
Then there is the history of nations and how they have competed in past world cups ... for example England vs Argentina will always be a huge match, just due to their history more than anything. This morning I was talking with my brother in law who detailed Mexico's past world cup efforts against Argentina, since thats who they'll be facing in the next round, and he went into formations, player matchups ... I love all that stuff.
For reading, I recommend the Guardian.
posted by Admira at 5:49 PM on June 22, 2010
Finally, you can start betting on games to ignite your passion!
Not to be a wet blanket, but gambling can be dangerous if you're not blessed with a clear head and common sense - I've lost at least US$100 in spur-of-the-moment betting on this World Cup. I probably should have bet less, and more prudently, but rational thinking doesn't always come into play when it comes to gambling. YMMV.
You can still bet, but if you're new to the game, I suggest small amounts, just a tiny flutter, and to place strict controls on the amount you're willing to spend.
And you can still enjoy football without betting!
posted by WalterMitty at 11:59 PM on June 28, 2010
Not to be a wet blanket, but gambling can be dangerous if you're not blessed with a clear head and common sense - I've lost at least US$100 in spur-of-the-moment betting on this World Cup. I probably should have bet less, and more prudently, but rational thinking doesn't always come into play when it comes to gambling. YMMV.
You can still bet, but if you're new to the game, I suggest small amounts, just a tiny flutter, and to place strict controls on the amount you're willing to spend.
And you can still enjoy football without betting!
posted by WalterMitty at 11:59 PM on June 28, 2010
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That's . . . not true.
The games are being shown on some third rate ESPN channel like "The Ocho".
Jesus. Every single World Cup game has been broadcast on either regular ESPN or ABC. Maybe one or two games were broadcast on ESPN2, but that's not exactly The Ocho - both ESPN and ESPN2 are available on the most basic cable packages.
I don't know why you feel like you need to lie to get your point across, but oh well.
I find that it's nice to follow live commentary from sites like BBC or the Telegraph while watching the game. They add some nice commentary and an interesting, non-partisan (well, unless you're watching England) view of the games. Hopefully others have good suggestions, too, because I'd be up for something a little more thorough than the BBC threads. Check out this link and then, when the games are starting, click on the Live - So and So vs. So and So link. It's a good start. Apart from that, just watch a bunch of games. You'll start to figure things out. The only somewhat complicated rule is offside, but it doesn't take long to figure it out.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 4:28 AM on June 22, 2010 [5 favorites]