I remember reading a George Orwell piece where he argued against the idea of having international sporting events. He said they only served to exasperate any existing nationalist tendencies on the part of the fans instead of creating the intended goodwill between nations. But in truth, that's what lends the World Cup of Soccer so much of its interest to an outsider like myself: the passion the supporters have for their teams.
Sometimes Mr Orwell's fears come true as there have been some horrific riots in the past during international soccer games. Examples of that type of silliness came to the foreground this year when downtown Stuttgart became something of a war zone.
But it's that same passion that first got me hooked on the World Cup back in 1982, when the Italians won. I don't think Toronto had ever seen anything quite like it before; tens of thousands of people pouring into the streets and celebrating. With each victory, the celebration grew louder and more exuberant until their joy was so infectious that people who had never watched a soccer match in their life were sitting in front of their television screen, desperately trying to figure out what was going on, while cheering for Italy.
Ever since then, I’ve been hooked. I have even started following the results of the qualifying matches two years ahead of the Cup. That's the time when every country still believes they have the opportunity to be one of the 32 sides that will qualify to compete for the right to say they won the World Cup.
Maybe that is part of the appeal of this event as well; it is genuinely a World Cup with countries from all around the world competing. Soccer does not require any special expensive equipment, just a ball, shin pads, and shoes, so even the poorest of countries has the chance to field a reasonably competitive team.
Look at this year for example where teams from Togo, The Ivory Coast, and Trinidad and Tobago all made it to the round robin. Although there was the occasional blowout, most sides offered quality competition for their opponents. In fact, African teams have been responsible for some of the bigger upsets in recent history. One has to only look back to the last World Cup where Senegal beat France, ensuring they wouldn't be repeat winners, let alone make it out of their own group.
It seems like everybody loves an underdog, except, of course, if your side has to be playing them, and will cheer them on hoping against hope for a victory. All of us were able to share in the Senegalese joy of defeating their former colonial masters.
Article comments
1 - Douglas Mays
Yeah, the whole thing about the USA is getting it in the bloodline. I did some bitchin' in a comment on the article 'Unlike the Scoring, World Cup TV Ratings Are Way Up'. I mention, being from the Northwest USA, we have been playing the game on an organized level since the 50s. So kids have grandparents that have played the game around here (if they didn't move out due to Boeing layoffs or something).
You mention 'dives'. I have always hated that. One thing that USA soccer I hope will change in the sport. Oh man, I wish I had $25,000,000 to purchase an MLS team for the area. I definately have a system of play that would be as innovative as the Dutch coming up with 'total soccer' in the 70s.
Anyway, I crave the game deep. I just have to comment on any World Cup article here on Blogcritics. And hey, there seem to be quite a few. That says something about it's growing popularity in this country, eh?
2 - Richard Marcus
All well and goodbut I 'm a Canuck. Although we have a simillar problem whithe the bloodlines thing. But like I said in an earlier piece, the second generation kids of famlies from Italy, Portugal, and other European and South American countries have made soccer a big sport in urban centres in Eastern Canada for a while.
Now that the cost of hockey has gone through the roof there are actually more young kids playing soccer then hockey. Canada will be hosting the under twenty males World Cup soon, and just hosted the under twenty woman's world cup. (or was it the Woman's world cup I can't remember.) Our problem is that we have only one professional soccer team in the whole country so any of our good players have to play abroad and aren't available for practice with a national team.
Unlike Hockey and Baseball where we have national associations with some power, soccer is still a poor relation. Althought the governments are finally waking up to its potential as all levels have contributed sizably to the construction of a new stadium in Toronto for the above mentioned Under twenty world cup (it must be 2010 or around then anyway)
Hey at least America's team goes to the world cup and occasionaly wins a game or two. The last time we were in, we couldn't even score a goal, let alone win a game. Oh well maybe 2014.
3 - Douglas Mays
Damn! Gotcha. I remember being here in Seattle and the Vancouver B.C. area had it going on as much as we did. True, Canada has 3 USL teams (the league below the MLS). Toronto, Monteal and Vancouver. Good teams that can compete against MLS teams.
Canada has put out some great players like Tony Chursky, Ian Bridge, the Lenarduzi brothers, etc. and sometimes the national team plays great matches against other countries....BUT, I see what you mean about needing more national support and developement, etc....
hhhmmm...I'm not sure what the answer is. I went to bed late and need coffee realy bad...
OK, I'm with you on that Canadian dilemma.