The Official World Cup 2010 Thread

OctaneHugo · 06-12-2010, 06:07 AM

The U.S. was still being the 17-year-old skater punk rebelling against their uptight parents when they shunned soccer and made up their own sports.

If the U.S. does well this World Cup I think soccer interest is going to rise quite a bit here. Far away from becoming as popular as American football, but it should see a rise. They've played well recently, and the cheap prices at MLS games (along with teams in places where there isn't anything else to do) really helped. So, yeah, I think that it will really pick up when more cunning business strategies are created, and anyone hoping for that should hope the U.S. doesn't flame out here in the first round.

It helps that in England AFAIK the only other "major" sport is cricket; is that true? Here you have soccer trying to compete with 3 other sports.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 06-12-2010, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OctaneHugo

It helps that in England AFAIK the only other "major" sport is cricket; is that true? Here you have soccer trying to compete with 3 other sports.

Rugby League & Rugby Union both have professional leagues and regularly pull in crowds of around 10,000 or more. Athletics has good crowds too. Then you have things like Darts & Snooker which I played just as much growing up as I did playing football. Those sports are watched in their millions on TV.

There's no way that football is the only sport in the UK.

Thrice · 06-12-2010, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

Well, I can't put my finger on why 'soccer' isn't taken as seriously. Surely it's better than what you deem as 'football'

It should be the nation's favourite sport. Get it sorted Engine. Then again, no one would get a look in if America started WANTING to win, and producing the great players TO win.

My cousin is an extremely nasty soccer player, and naturally, as an American he will be going to college to to kick for American Football.

I got up at 6am today, so excited to watch the games. 4 hours left.

OctaneHugo · 06-12-2010, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

Rugby League & Rugby Union both have professional leagues and regularly pull in crowds of around 10,000 or more. Athletics has good crowds too. Then you have things like Darts & Snooker which I played just as much growing up as I did playing football. Those sports are watched in their millions on TV.

There's no way that football is the only sport in the UK.

Forgot about rugby, didn't know that pool and darts were that popular though. Thought they were just done in pubs, just like over here.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 06-12-2010, 08:09 AM

Not Pool, Snooker

Usually played in special snooker clubs, not pubs.

Guybrush · 06-12-2010, 08:36 AM

I'm such a football newb, but I had a lot of fun rooting for Spain when they won the european championship a couple of years ago. I guess I'll support Germany this time since Norway isn't in (

) and I have a lot of german friends. But - when is all this concluded? Like, is it all over by mid july?

Stinkfist · 06-12-2010, 08:54 AM

Messi is cutting the Nigerian defence to strips every run he makes looks threatening. Arg could well have been 3 up.

Thrice · 06-12-2010, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinkfist

Messi is cutting the Nigerian defence to strips every run he makes looks threatening. Arg could well have been 3 up.

Ya, he is looking nasty. Higuain missed a couple wide open shots.

pourmeanother · 06-12-2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

Well, I can't put my finger on why 'soccer' isn't taken as seriously. Surely it's better than what you deem as 'football'

It should be the nation's favourite sport. Get it sorted Engine. Then again, no one would get a look in if America started WANTING to win, and producing the great players TO win.

America is not capable of liking a sport where the final score can be 0-0 after 90. Serious complaints I've heard: "Too low scoring", "How can it end in a tie?", "There are no commercial breaks so I can't get up to go get a beer without missing the game".

The only way for 'soccer' to be enjoyed by the American masses is to eliminate offsides, implement stoppages in play, and end EVERY game with a shootout. The sad thing is I'm not even joking, and that's a major reason why it doesn't bother me that it's not a major sport here.

As for the comments earlier about many kids growing up playing the sport here... Absolutely true. I live in a soccer region of California. I've played for 17 years now, and most people I know have played at some point or another. However, I've always played at a recreational level with friends. I didn't ever see it as a legitimate professional option, so I never really strived to be some superstar- all I ever wanted to do was play with friends and have fun. Of course, I was competitive and got at least decent along the way, but who knows what could have happened if it was a legitimized sport here.

pourmeanother · 06-12-2010, 10:27 AM

Also, 1 hour until the US thumps the Brits.

06-12-2010, 06:07 AM	#231 (permalink)
OctaneHugo Goes back & does it again Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: philadelphia Posts: 807	The U.S. was still being the 17-year-old skater punk rebelling against their uptight parents when they shunned soccer and made up their own sports. If the U.S. does well this World Cup I think soccer interest is going to rise quite a bit here. Far away from becoming as popular as American football, but it should see a rise. They've played well recently, and the cheap prices at MLS games (along with teams in places where there isn't anything else to do) really helped. So, yeah, I think that it will really pick up when more cunning business strategies are created, and anyone hoping for that should hope the U.S. doesn't flame out here in the first round. It helps that in England AFAIK the only other "major" sport is cricket; is that true? Here you have soccer trying to compete with 3 other sports. __________________ If Any Major Dude Has Yet To Tell You, Click Here

06-12-2010, 08:09 AM	#235 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Not Pool, Snooker Usually played in special snooker clubs, not pubs. __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

06-12-2010, 08:36 AM	#236 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	I'm such a football newb, but I had a lot of fun rooting for Spain when they won the european championship a couple of years ago. I guess I'll support Germany this time since Norway isn't in () and I have a lot of german friends. But - when is all this concluded? Like, is it all over by mid july? __________________ Something Completely Different

06-12-2010, 08:54 AM	#237 (permalink)
Stinkfist Music Addict Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 114	Messi is cutting the Nigerian defence to strips every run he makes looks threatening. Arg could well have been 3 up. __________________ You've claimed all this time that you would die for me. Why then are you so suprised to hear your own Eulogy?

06-12-2010, 10:27 AM	#240 (permalink)
pourmeanother Saaaad Panda Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 852	Also, 1 hour until the US thumps the Brits. __________________ Life is just blah, blah, blah You hope for blah And sometimes you find it, but mostly it's blah And waiting for blah And hoping you were right about the blahs you made And then, just when you think you've got the whole blah'd damn thing figured out And you're surrounded by the ones you blah Death shows up... anddd blah, blah, blah.