I'm quite looking forward to the World Cup in Germany (official site).
Its about the only time i can stand to watch multiple soccer games on tv without falling asleep.
i mean, yes, there are shameless displays of nationalism that i always feel uncomfortable with. but its always different in this game. Its festive. Not that this ameliorates the blindness nationalism produces. But its fun to watch. Plus, the US national team is not respected by people around the world, not to mention people in the US. So my attention to them has more of an underdog leaning, more than just beating my chest bloody screaming USA! USA!
I'm curious about how they'll do. they've been getting stronger since World Cup 94 that was held on these shores. Now they are #5 in the FIFA world rankings. Actually down 1 notch from earlier in the year. Higher than Argentina, Italy and Germany. I want to see if they've really earned that complement. In the last tournament, they made it all the way to the quarterfinals before losing to the monster that is Germany.
I wish em well. Get in on the ground floor with this USA thing i've been hearing about.
I also am keeping an eye on England. Also known as ENG-GER-LUND!!! Those English seem to be attached to this game. Whenever their squad makes it to the Cup, there's a big contest amongst bands to produce the Official Anthem of that year's World Cup team. This year its unfortunately gone to boring band, Embrace with some horrid and no-fun-at-all song (here). Unless you think his earnest lyrics about "going all the way" are some plea to a 16 year old girl to get into bed, then its kinda funny.
In the past, New Order and others have put together some stomach churningly awful and wonderful anthems to cheer on the team.
Here is New Order's "World in Motion"
Plus they got this tall guy, Peter Crouch, with the best celebration dance:
2 comments:
I don't think England is the only country who gets excited about the World Cup. In fact, the US are about the only country in it who don't really care what happens to their team.
I've seen Germans, Spanish, Argentinians, Brazillians, Italians, Chinese, Frenchmen, Koreans etc... openly weep when their team gets knocked out Australians celebrated like they'd won the competition this year when they qualified for the first time in their history.
It's big. But it's not American.
i'm definitely aware of the impact of football on the world vs the US. its the main reason i struggle with wanting America loving their World Cup squad. i've seen the fools chanting USA! for other sports and i think its horrid. do i want the same for the US?
but for some reason its fun to watch the other countries support their team. are they less obnoxious? i don't know.
the England thing was more of a rambling pretext to play the Crouch dance and World in Motion. England just excites me the most when it comes to this blend of "team spirit" and pop culture.
the US mainly cares about American football than any other sport unless big cities are playing in baseball, basketball or hockey championships.
i personally think football is a great sport, but it will be a long time until i feel as strongly about our New England Revolution they way i do about the Boston Red Sox.
but for Americans, the talent is growing and being encouraged. in a few decades, i'm sure things will be more promising.
The World Cup and the game of football are not American, and perhaps thats what i like the best. there is not the sense of ownership of the game that comes with other sports with possible world tournaments like baseball and basketball. (Americans didnt really care about the World Baseball Classic either and we lost, perhaps there was a national premonition). we are amongst many who battle it out. perhaps this is why the common American doesn't care.
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