USA Soccer

[IABucFan]

I couldn't possibly care less about soccer for 47 out of every 48 months.  But, I am certainly two things:  I'm an American, and I'm a sports fan.  Thus, I root for the United States.  That goal from Landon Donovan was one of the most memorable sports moments I can ever remember. 

Also, I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but I have to wonder if there isn't some coordinated effort against the United States.  They've now had two goals taken away from them, definitely costing them one win, and it could have cost them a second win and advancing to the second round.  Robbie Findley was given a yellow card for a "handball" that actually hit his head, which earned him a suspension for this game.  Again, like I said, not a conspiracy theorist, but the reality is that the rest of the world does not tend to like the United States.  I have to wonder why two crucial goals, which people far more knowledgable about this sport than me say should not have been, were both disallowed.  I could see one just on a bad call, but two, in back-to-back games?  It's fishy, that's all I'm saying.

[gamecckfn]

Yea, I think I know why I am not a soccer fan now.  The calls really make no sense. I just caught a part of the Germany Ghana game, and one of the players for Ghana hit the hand of a German player that looked to graze the Ghana player.  The player from Ghana flew back like he was shot in the head, and sat on the ground for 5 minutes as play continued.  I can see some strategy there, but why is it not a penalty for blatantly trying to get a foul.

[81omar]

    I sometimes wonder while Im watching hockey,wouldnt this be so much better if there was no fighting or checking,more whining and diving,less scoring and shots on goal,and the players ran instead of skated and the ice was much bigger and the crowd made an annoying noise all game....that would be great! 

   I dont like soccer at all,its amazingly boring,and before anyone says,you dont understand it or give it a chance Ocho Uno!....I was born in Kearny,NJ,wikipedia the town's nickname and get back to me

[PMike]

I will respectively disagree with the previous posts.

I went to Germany 2 years ago during the EURO 2008 tourney.  It is a soccer tourney for all of the national teams in Europe right in between each World Cup.  As a huge sports fan, being in Germany during those 10 days was one of the most amazing sports experiences of my life.  We weren't there for soccer (actually a church trip) but you couldn't help but be inundated with the soccer stuff.  The passion that the Germans had for their national team and for the game of soccer was both overwhelming and then infectious.  To see the game through their eyes completely changed it for me.  By the time we left Germany, I knew every player on the German team and was an avid soccer fan.  Honestly, the passion that the Europeans had for their soccer teams made the excitement surrounding the Super Bowl look like a JV high school football game.  It was amazing.

Since then, I have tried to learn about soccer and about the club systems in Europe.  I picked a team to root for and followed them over the last winter.  I had been looking forward to the World Cup for two years.

This has been really fun to watch.  I don't know all of the teams well and I'm still learning the intricacies of the game.  The level of play and the intensity of nearly every game has been surprisingly great.  It was even fun to watch the French play South Africa the other day and I don't know anyone on either team.

I will say, from my novice eyes, the refereeing has been surprisingly subpar.  There have been a lot of bad calls for all teams.  Even the big boys.  Those were definitely bad calls against the US.  The Germans got a really bad call in their second game when their best player got sent off with a red card in the 38th minutes.  He missed all of that game (which they lost) and then missed the next game.  He did not deserve the red card.

I guess I would say, try watching the game with someone who loves it and understands it.  After I did that, I had a whole new appreciation for it.  It is a great game!

Mike

[81omar]

   Sorry,PMike,you cant disagree with me on this.I'll quote wikipedia for you,from the page titled Kearny,NJ:

<<<<Professional soccer players John Harkes, Tab Ramos, and Tony Meola all grew up in Kearny, giving the town the moniker of "Soccertown, U.S.A.", especially after they played together on the United States team at the 1994 FIFA World Cup>>>>


   Also born in Kearny,NJ:
   Dots Miller,2b from the World Champion 1909 Pittsburg(no H then) Pirates
   Ocho Uno Omar,Pirates fan who has a few relatives in common with one Dots Miller AND not a soccer fan despite the fact I was born in Soccertown,USA

[scrapiron]

You mean Dallas, TX the home of Kyle Rote, Jr. isn't the self-proclaimed Soccertown, USA? 

[81omar]

   Anytime Kyle Rote Jr wants to come to Kearny to try and take the title tell him to bring it!

[scrapiron]

He'll bring Pele and Franz Beckenbauer and go three on three.

[81omar]

He'll bring Pele and Franz Beckenbauer and go three on three.

  He can bring Josue Peley and they wouldnt win

[scrapiron]

ok, what if he brings the all-star soccer cast from the movie Victory,too.  No way you guys would win with Stallone in goal!   

[cakmakli]

    I sometimes wonder while Im watching hockey,wouldnt this be so much better if there was no fighting or checking,more whining and diving,less scoring and shots on goal,and the players ran instead of skated and the ice was much bigger and the crowd made an annoying noise all game....that would be great!   

I like soccer and enjoy watching it but that is so true and it cracked me up.