It’s called “football” in the rest of the world but “soccer” in N.A. Just another example of how insular and inward looking the USA is. Heard today that 1.1 billion people worldwide will watch the Euro Cup. In contrast 150 million watched the NFL SuperBowl. If a 150,000 Americans are following the Euro Cup seriously I’d be surprised. Sort of like Formula One vs NASCAR.
Throw this analogy into the political sphere and think about it. You can’t be separate from the rest of the world and expect to be influential. GWB are you listening.
Let’s see those football giants play their hearts out on a daily basis. I love the British squad this year, although it seems like the French team is playing very well so far. Question though, why is Patrik Kluivert not playing for Holland? I don’t get it. The number one goal scorer in the countries history internationaly and isn’t playing. GO Great Britain!
I once won a bet with my roomate who stated, after several beers, that more people watched the Super Bowl than the World Cup. After choking, I told him more people in ASIA watched the SB, 5 times over!
Why worry about it? I have come to the conclusion that I must be a freak since I’m an American that loves soccer and wears lycra shorts to bike (and swim!), AND am not afraid to tell my wife that I love her in front of people.
The Euro is the BEST friggin tournamentin the world! Better than the World Cup, better than any Olympic sport, better than, well, you get the drift.
My predictions:
France-Portuga…France
England-Greece…England
Germany-Sweden…Sweden
Holland-Italy…Holland
England-Sweden…I…must…pick…England…doy
France-Holland…Holland (yes, the Dutch rule!)
Just watched the replay of Italia vs Sweden. My people (the Italians) really threw that one away. They need to blow Bulgaria out or it’s an early exit…again. England needs to get it together, they have been quite lackluster. My picks are Czech Republic and Sweden. This tournament is so much fun.
ffs, can’t you just enjoy the tournament without turning it into a half-assed critique of the entire US?
It’s called “football” in the rest of the world but “soccer” in N.A.
“soccer” is occasionally used in the British press
every English speaker in the world will know exactly what you’re talking about if you use the word “soccer”
Heard
today that 1.1 billion people worldwide will watch the Euro Cup.
what exactly does that mean? that 1.1 billion different people will tune in to at least part of 1 game? or does it mean that each game will average 35 million or so vieweres?
If a 150,000 Americans are following the Euro Cup seriously I’d
be surprised.
I would take that bet if we can agree on a way to measure this.
Sort of like Formula One vs NASCAR.
hm
wasn’t formula one traditionally a more upper-class pursuit, whereas NASCAR is more proletarian? thus making NASCAR a much closer cultural cousin of soccer than Formula One would be?
Throw this analogy into the political sphere and think about it. You can’t
be separate from the rest of the world and expect to be influential. GWB
are you listening.
it’s a bad analogy
you’re potentilly undermining valid critiques of us politics & policy by whining that the US doesn’t use the right word for soccer or that the US doesn’t embrace the sport the way it “should” be embraced
BTW, I’ve been following the Euro Cup.
me, too!
v. high drama in both of France’s games
plenty of other exciting games as well
great stuff
For the same reason that Venice in English is “Venice” and not “Venezia”, and that cheese is “cheese” and not “fromage”. That’s the English word for it. (And it’s not just the US that uses “Brazil”)
The rest of the world can figure it out why can’t we.
Bullshit. You should check out the German, French, and Italian words for it before making a claim like that (and that’s just Europe; is it “Brasil” in Mandarin, too?)
It’s not a Great Britain team, but an English team. The mighty Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland didn’t qualify. In football we play as 4 separate nations (to give other countries a chance :-))
Guys, if you look at my signature you will know I am qualified to respond to this thread!
It is spelt Brasil because thats how they speel it in BRASIL!
There is no Great Britain team England is the only home nations team to qualify for the tournament.
The trouble caused in Portugal was not caused by England Fans but by a bunch of dick heads who travelled out to another part of Portugal to drink beer and fight. They were no where a fottball match and are not fans. Sadly they are English.
The great thing that came out of this tournament is that there is a great surge of national pride at the moment with flags with the Cross of St. george flying from many cars and displayed on houses. IT is great to see this in a country that is always being internally critised for having national pride as it is considered an insult to the Scots, Irish, Welsh and other nationalities and religions living in England. I cannot understand why it is ok for other nations to be proud of their heritage and country whilst the English are not allowed to be.
I am neither a racist, bigot or xenophobe by merely a patriot!
England for the cup (or at least the knock out stage!) '-).
It would be great if England won! I’m getting a bit tired of hearing so much about 1966.
I’ve always felt one contributor to the lack of US support for soccer is the hooligan factor. It’s stigmatized the game, and until it’s under control, non-game highlights will be more discussed than Ronaldo or Figo.
I agree that “hooliganism” is more of an isolated issue born more out of unemployment and asshole-ness, but couldn’t it be sanctioned as a form of terrorism? Of course it’s not the same thing as alQueda, but the 0.1% of fans do terrorize/hold hostage towns and stadiums when outbreaks occur.
Isn’t it about time that countries like England, Germany, Turkey, etc. get serious about these thugs? I’ll bet after a couple cases of guys thrown in jail for 15 years, there’d be A LOT LESS problems.
Yeah, forgot the Dutch. Ringleaders are great, but I think they need to get ANYONE who participates, and not for 2 years but for 10.
On the field rule changes: CRACK DOWN ON CHEATING, and punish those who fake fouls and injuries. Do you see guys rolling around in the Premiership (well, there are some Italians playing!)…NO
The #1 rule change needs to be “IF YOU TOUCH THE REF, RED CARD.” And a 5 match ban. It’s horrible to see how the refs are manhandled. Sure soccer is emotional but no more so than hockey and when is the last time you saw a ref touched there (and they are allowed to fight!).
The great thing that came out of this tournament is that there is a great surge of national pride at the moment with flags with the Cross of St. george flying from many cars and displayed on houses. IT is great to see this in a country that is always being internally critised for having national pride as it is considered an insult to the Scots, Irish, Welsh and other nationalities and religions living in England. I cannot understand why it is ok for other nations to be proud of their heritage and country whilst the English are not allowed to be.
I am neither a racist, bigot or xenophobe by merely a patriot!
England for the cup (or at least the knock out stage!) '-).
And if the rest of us Britons/Irish sneer it’s only because you like to inform us all on the television at least once every weekend that you won the World Cup in 1966. Our sneering is confined only to matters footballing!
Save your “thoughts”. Why do continually think anybody gives a rats ass about your dopey opinions? This is a triathlon forum, how about some more posts about why you only do sprints? I love those.
“think anybody gives a rats ass about your dopey opinions?”
Obviously you do because anytime I post here sooner or later you’ll crawl out of your hole and take a shot at me.
All I can say Slick is that if your bedside manner is anything like your online personality it sure is a damn good thing that you went into radiology. You sure don’t come across as the type of doc that could attract very many patients.
C’mon Slick, take another shot. I can give back just as good as you can.
"how about some more posts about why you only do sprints? I love those. "
Slick, is triathlon only about IM length? You’ve never heard of the Olympics or ITU? You’re totally myopic if you think it’s only about IM.
I’m more interested in shorter length tris because that’s what I’m better at. My background was as a 100m sprinter in high school. At my age I can still show up with our running group at the track with people that are younger and much faster than me over 5/10 kms and can still beat many of them over a 100 or 200m sprint. Beyond that my running sucks.
Actually it is my plan to do an IM in two years , probably LP, just so you can be there to cheer me on! I chose that date because I move up an AG that year. I’m really not all that interested in IM length tris but it’s a way of getting a monkey of my back with morons like you that think that tri only revolves the IM distance. Then I can say I’ve done one, will be one of the boys and then can go back to the shorter distances that I enjoy.
The “OT” at the very start of the subject stands for “off topic”. If non-triathlon topics upset you, you should avoid clicking on anything starting with “OT”.