Soccer in your country.

[Nachos]

"Futbol" - Soccer
I found this today, pretty interesting:
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/argentina/100701/soccer-argentina-football

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — In the Oscar-award winning movie "Secreto de Sus Ojos," there's a quote that pretty much sums up what it means to be a soccer fan in Argentina.

“A man can change anything. His face, his home, his family, his girlfriend, his religion, his God. But there's one thing he can't change. He can't change his passion."

And the passion in Argentina is club soccer. Here you’ll find some of the world’s most fervent soccer fans and spectacular club rivalries. A soccer team here isn’t just about sport, it’s a social identity. And I, as a newly arrived American in Buenos Aires, haven’t picked a team yet.

"It is your most important decision in this country,” Eduardo Sacheri, author of the book "Secreto de Sus Ojos," tells me, concerned. But how to decide?

So I had to ask some questions:

is soccer important in your country?
Do you like it?
Play it?
Do you think it is better than American Football?
than baseball?

Here in Argentina is the most important thing. Even more than your mother.

Some pics:

 

[gRaViJa]

Oh, he means football :tongue:
I'm from belgium and club football is pretty important here. Our teams aren't the best anymore (well they are better than 5 years ago, we really sucked back then lol), but football is part of every day life here too. My mommie more impotant though :haha:

 

[Jason]

Lol yeah I know, I just hate when people call it Soccer when Football is more fitting, since you hit the ball with your foot, lol. Soccer sounds like a word a guy would use to persuade his mate to beat his wife...

is soccer important in your country?
I would think it's important in any country that competes in the world cup, although to be honest, England played shit this year. Personally I don't think it's important though.

Do you like it?
No, not really, although I'll watch the euro and world cup.

Play it?
Nope, used to as a kid, but grew out of it when I was like 12-13

Do you think it is better than American Football?
I don't like either of them, but atleast Footballers don't wear armour whereas those pufters in American Football have bodyarmour, I mean seriously, if you're going to copy Rugby, atleast copy the rules and wear nothing but shorts, shirt and boots, now Rugby, there's a mans sport!

than baseball?
Baseball is boring, I don't even get half of the rules, and besides, we don't play it in UK... it's one of those yankee things I guess. (Although there's teams around the world obviously, but it's more popular in US than anywhere else)

 

[Ellie]

Soccer isn't really big in my country.

 

[Venetia]

I've never been very interested in any sports outside random passing fancies in hockey. I know a number of dudes who get pretty excited about NFL (amer football) ... A couple of people who love hockey ... One guy who devotes 90% of his conversations to baseball (ugh) ... But no one I know pays attention to soccer at all ;x

 

[dadevvtsvre]

I don't know if it's just a local thing but soccer is the second most popular sport where I live, after hockey. I personally think it's great - soccer is one of my favourite sports, leagues better than hockey or football imo. My family is really big on soccer (we have British roots so) and everyone in my family has played it for a long time. I played it for a while as a kid but stopped once I got into high school - kinda wish I'd kept it up for the athletic aspect but I'm just not competitive enough.

We had FIFA streaming on our TV every day when it was on a few months ago, although tbh I don't think it was that great of a world cup. Seeing an underdog win was pretty cool but a lot of the big names (France, Brazil, England, etc) didn't do all that great.

 

[luv_kitty12]

Pretty important in Egypt. With the two important teams, red Ahly and white Zamalek, you won't find a person in the street who doesn't belong to one of those two. lol

I personally like it despite being a female (and that's weird here), and I watch matches interestingly although only those that relate to me (Zamalek, Egyptian national team) but I do watch the world cup as well, and the European stuff.

I obviously don't play it unless you count running with the ball around by myself or playing with my brother. =P

 

[Ares]

is soccer important in your country?
Yeah, it's the most popular sport here. You should've seen us during the World Cup, every other street turned completely orange O_o. (lots of furious neighbours when we lost the finals, lol)

Do you like it?
Well, I don't dislike it, but I'm not into it as much as a lot of others here are. I do enjoy to watch the World Cup and European UEFA cup. I don't watch other competions of football (Champions League, etc). I think it's ridiculous how much those football players earn, those millions of euros could be spent way better.

Play it?
No, not in a serious way, I sometimes play it with family or friends, but that's about it.

Do you think it is better than American Football or Baseball?
I don't neccesarily think it's better, I just don't care for either American Football or baseball.

 

[moog]

soccer is fucking HUGE down here but thats cause im pretty much in little mexico. all during the world cup when i was in class they wouldnt shut the fuck up about VIVA MEXICO etc. most of my friends here play it, and its pretty cool but a little more popular in matamoros.

 

[Venetia]

Oh yeah that's true, when I lived in So Cal, soccer was a much bigger deal--really due entirely to the huge hispanic/latino population. Hell I don't think anyone in the boys' soccer teams all throughout school spoke english as a first language ;x

In Tampa, popularity comes and goes with fairweather fans. When our hockey team does well we're all wearing Lightning Jersies. When the Bucs win a few games all the cars are sporting pirate flags. When the Rays aren't the #1 worst team in MLB people are watching the games in every sports bar. That's probably true of any city that owns a few sports teams.

In California I always lived in smaller towns outside large cities so I saw quite a bit less of the "diehard" local fans crowd.

 

[Ellie]

People from all over the country (world) support Manchester United. Even people in Wolverhampton.

Bah, people only support Wolves now because they're now a premiership team.

I've always supported them because they're my home team and it's bloody cool that we're so poor that every time they win the city gets a new bus stop or something from the hugely unforseen boost in money :x

 

[Nachos]

People from all over the country (world) support Manchester United. Even people in Wolverhampton.

I used to support MU lik 5 years ago when i didnt know anything about football.

i hate it now.

 

[luv_kitty12]

I don't like MU so much either. If we speak about English league, I am pretty much a fan of Arsenal, for some reason. Hasn't been exactly good lately despite having quite a coach, but yeah.

 

[Calibre]

Seeing an underdog win was pretty cool but a lot of the big names (France, Brazil, England, etc) didn't do all that great.

Spain were pre-tournament favourites and player for player are by far the best International team in the world. It also helps that 10 of their 11 starting players all play for either Barcelona or Madrid - they already have that bond with each other. England lack the technique to compete on that stage and the French are too busy planning mutinies and soap opera.

I still play competitively but my legs and fitness are starting to waiver, 24 and over the hill! I play Left Midfield but am looking more likely to slot back into the fullback spot in seasons to come.

Football is the holy grail in my opinon so better than the tripe that is baseball. I think NFL is actually pretty good but American sports seem to be based around Brands and Advertising rather than the actual sport.

I just hope the USA / Canada don't judge the sport of football by watching MLS games because the standard of that is just abysmal. I also hope you don't think that these Beckhams and Henrys are playing how they once did, they are basically in the US for a Hollywood life style and a ridiculously massive salary and go there once their proper careers are finished.

 

[action]

Nobody is into soccer here. At least 2/3rds of Wisconsinites or Minnesotans don't even know we have a team.
I don't pay attention to the U.S. teams myself either.

Of course, in Germany, things are different. Soccer effects the weather. It is the heart of Germany. It's HUGE.
Especially FIFA. I don't know what else to say about it, but you get the point.

 

[Nachos]

Spain were pre-tournament favourites and player for player are by far the best International team in the world.

I beg to differ, that one my sir, is Argentina. As a team we suck (ALTHOUGH WON A FRIENDLY MATCH AGAINST SPAIN 4-1 TODAY) but individually, best team in the world.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGxK0sf4ah4

 

[Calibre]

We all know a friendly game means nothing.

Spain have lost 3 games in 4 years.

Player for player by my approximation:

Casillas (Spain) better than Romero/Andujar (Arg.)

Capdevila (Spain) equal to Heinze (Arg.)

Pique (Spain) better than Burdisso / G.Milito (Arg.)

Puyol (Spain) better than Demichelis (Arg.)

Sergio Ramos (Spain) better than Gutierrez / Otamendi (Arg.)

Iniesta (Spain) worse (not by much mind) than Lionel Messi (Arg.)

Xavi (Spain) better than Veron/Banega (Arg.)

Xabi Alonso (Spain) equal to Cambiasso (Arg.)

Busquets (Spain) worse than Macherano (Arg.)

David Villa (Spain) better than Tevez/Milito (Arg.)

Torres (Spain) equal to Higuain (Arg.)

 

[Ellie]

On paper Rooney is a good player, just goes to show stats don't mean shit :box:

 

[Calibre]

Well now you're just being silly.

 

[Mega Flare]

socor or "football" is big every were in the world but like canada and usa.