Comments on: The Other Football http://www.americanmadness.com/2007/06/19/the-other-football/ Intelligent Criticism in the Service of a Better Nation Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:43:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: MattC http://www.americanmadness.com/2007/06/19/the-other-football/comment-page-1/#comment-102610 MattC Wed, 20 Jun 2007 22:48:34 +0000 http://americanmadness.com/?p=363#comment-102610 Okay, I won't argue about whether the US has a chance to win a World Cup or not in the next 10 years or so (but I do have my doubts), I would like to back up Jason's point on Soccer's popularity in the US though. Last year, while the US was playing the Czech Republic, approximately 85% of televisions had tuned in for the game... Impressive numbers. I know first hand that bars (and even tiny pizzerias) that broadcast any of the World Cup games were packed. It was quite a site to behold. Okay, I won’t argue about whether the US has a chance to win a World Cup or not in the next 10 years or so (but I do have my doubts), I would like to back up Jason’s point on Soccer’s popularity in the US though. Last year, while the US was playing the Czech Republic, approximately 85% of televisions had tuned in for the game… Impressive numbers. I know first hand that bars (and even tiny pizzerias) that broadcast any of the World Cup games were packed. It was quite a site to behold.

]]> By: Jason Ihle http://www.americanmadness.com/2007/06/19/the-other-football/comment-page-1/#comment-102532 Jason Ihle Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:37:21 +0000 http://americanmadness.com/?p=363#comment-102532 I was, of course, being hopelessly optimistic that Landon Donovan's playing alongside David Beckham will make him an internationally feared striker. I think it will make him a better player, but of course it will take much more than one well-developed player to make it anywhere in the World Cup. But I have to address Matt's view that popularity of soccer in the US is dead in the water and also that the US never goes anywhere in the World Cup. (if you're not interested in a World Cup history lesson, skip to the last two paragraphs) A quick recap of our World Cup history will reveal that the US is not a perennial loser going out in the first round. Leaving aside Italy '90 to which we sent a team of college players, we have fared better than expected and better than most people seem to remember. USA '94 saw the US unexpectedly reach the Round of 16 after defeating Columbia, drawing with Switzerland and losing to Romania. We unfortunately faced Brazil where we put up a respectable fight and lost 1-0. In that match we lost a key midfielder to a dirty elbow to the head (that was Tab Ramos who, incidentally, used to play for Real Betis here in Seville). France '98 was a disaster of massive proportions (although we found ourselves once again in a tough group with Germany, Yugoslavia and Iran). We lost all 3 matches, scoring only 1 goal in the tournament. Japorea '02 was a highly successful World Cup for our side. Again, we were in a nearly impossible group to get out of. Portugal was considered a favorite to win the tournament, Poland had a formidable team and South Korea was a host nation. In the history of the World Cup no host team has ever failed to get out of the group stage. We defeated Portugal 3-2 in the opening match (and we were up 3-0 at the 35 min. mark). We simply took them by surprise because they expected nothing from the Americans. We drew with Korea and we lost in an ugly way to Poland. A little luck in the Korean win over Portugal put is in 2nd place and a 2nd round match against Mexico who we handily defeated 2-0. Then our quarterfinal against Germany was a loss of 1-0, but anyone who watched that match will tell you that the US outplayed Germany. Unfortunately the Germans are stellar on set pieces and they scored off one. Last year was a big disppointment, but our group was a monster: Czech Rep. (favorites to win the tournament); Italy (favorites and ultimate winner of the tournament); Ghana (best team out of Africa at the time). It was considered the Group of Death last year - a group in which each team was as likely to reach the next round as the others. The loss to the Czechs was embarrassing. The draw with Italy was astounding (we had two players sent off in that match). I was at the loss to Ghana - a very sad day in Nuernberg. As for popularity - FIFA (the world gorverning body of soccer) had more requests for "follow your team" tickets from the US than from any other country. There was more US attendance at last year's World Cup than ever before. There was more Red, White and Blue flying in the streets of Nuernberg than in Washington, DC on the 4th of July. The atmosphere among the American fans was great and the support was tremendous. To their utter disbelief, I keep telling the people here that the US WILL win a World Cup in my lifetime. It's just a matter of time and building. It probably won't happen in 2010 or even 2014. But the US plans to bid to host in 2018. It is distinctly possible by then. Europeans are very skeptical. Even my girlfriend believes that her own Switzerland will win a World Cup before the US. Fat chance! Soccer will never be as popular in the US as some other sports, but it doesn't have to be to win on the world stage. I was, of course, being hopelessly optimistic that Landon Donovan’s playing alongside David Beckham will make him an internationally feared striker. I think it will make him a better player, but of course it will take much more than one well-developed player to make it anywhere in the World Cup.

But I have to address Matt’s view that popularity of soccer in the US is dead in the water and also that the US never goes anywhere in the World Cup.

(if you’re not interested in a World Cup history lesson, skip to the last two paragraphs)

A quick recap of our World Cup history will reveal that the US is not a perennial loser going out in the first round. Leaving aside Italy ‘90 to which we sent a team of college players, we have fared better than expected and better than most people seem to remember. USA ‘94 saw the US unexpectedly reach the Round of 16 after defeating Columbia, drawing with Switzerland and losing to Romania. We unfortunately faced Brazil where we put up a respectable fight and lost 1-0. In that match we lost a key midfielder to a dirty elbow to the head (that was Tab Ramos who, incidentally, used to play for Real Betis here in Seville).

France ‘98 was a disaster of massive proportions (although we found ourselves once again in a tough group with Germany, Yugoslavia and Iran). We lost all 3 matches, scoring only 1 goal in the tournament.

Japorea ‘02 was a highly successful World Cup for our side. Again, we were in a nearly impossible group to get out of. Portugal was considered a favorite to win the tournament, Poland had a formidable team and South Korea was a host nation. In the history of the World Cup no host team has ever failed to get out of the group stage. We defeated Portugal 3-2 in the opening match (and we were up 3-0 at the 35 min. mark). We simply took them by surprise because they expected nothing from the Americans. We drew with Korea and we lost in an ugly way to Poland. A little luck in the Korean win over Portugal put is in 2nd place and a 2nd round match against Mexico who we handily defeated 2-0. Then our quarterfinal against Germany was a loss of 1-0, but anyone who watched that match will tell you that the US outplayed Germany. Unfortunately the Germans are stellar on set pieces and they scored off one.

Last year was a big disppointment, but our group was a monster: Czech Rep. (favorites to win the tournament); Italy (favorites and ultimate winner of the tournament); Ghana (best team out of Africa at the time). It was considered the Group of Death last year – a group in which each team was as likely to reach the next round as the others. The loss to the Czechs was embarrassing. The draw with Italy was astounding (we had two players sent off in that match). I was at the loss to Ghana – a very sad day in Nuernberg.

As for popularity – FIFA (the world gorverning body of soccer) had more requests for “follow your team” tickets from the US than from any other country. There was more US attendance at last year’s World Cup than ever before. There was more Red, White and Blue flying in the streets of Nuernberg than in Washington, DC on the 4th of July. The atmosphere among the American fans was great and the support was tremendous.

To their utter disbelief, I keep telling the people here that the US WILL win a World Cup in my lifetime. It’s just a matter of time and building. It probably won’t happen in 2010 or even 2014. But the US plans to bid to host in 2018. It is distinctly possible by then. Europeans are very skeptical. Even my girlfriend believes that her own Switzerland will win a World Cup before the US. Fat chance! Soccer will never be as popular in the US as some other sports, but it doesn’t have to be to win on the world stage.

]]> By: Purple Lemon » Blog Archive » Why so many recent Buffy refs? On Feminisms and Fandom: http://www.americanmadness.com/2007/06/19/the-other-football/comment-page-1/#comment-102471 Purple Lemon » Blog Archive » Why so many recent Buffy refs? On Feminisms and Fandom: Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:12:45 +0000 http://americanmadness.com/?p=363#comment-102471 [...] The Other Football So, as you may have heard, David Beckham is coming to America. For those of you who haven t heard, he s a soccer player, or as the rest of the world calls it football. American Madness s friend and frequent commenter Jason had this to say from his expat home in Spain: On Sunday David Beckham and Real Madrid won their 30th Championship in the [...] [...] The Other Football So, as you may have heard, David Beckham is coming to America. For those of you who haven t heard, he s a soccer player, or as the rest of the world calls it football. American Madness s friend and frequent commenter Jason had this to say from his expat home in Spain: On Sunday David Beckham and Real Madrid won their 30th Championship in the [...]

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