Loving World Cup Soccer

There has been quite a buzz this summer about the FIFA World Cup Soccer matches held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Huge crowds from all over the world turned out in cities and towns to watch the televised games. I went with my family to Parkview Field in downtown Fort Wayne to watch the United States versus Belgium on the stadium's Jumbotron. The U. S. lost in overtime, and yes, soccer usually is rather low-scoring. But I have loved watching it.

There're lots of haters out there, actually saying that soccer is boring, just a bunch of men running around and batting a ball around a big field. They somehow think that white ball is just bouncing around haphazardly. I'm kind of amazed people actually think that.

I have loved watching the few games I have been able to see. The players are amazingly athletic. The cultural and ethnic differences between counties is wonderful to watch. I really enjoyed the final game between Germany and Argentina. Even hearing the differences in the two countries' national anthems was fun. The German anthem is Teutonic, classical. The Argentine started slowly, solemnly, and then eventually broke into something upbeat and cheerful, such as a salsa or samba or whichever beat it was. The people in the stands held up flags, shirts, towels or whatever cloth they had and danced and sang along.

I was routing for the South Americans, and it was an exciting game. But the Germans scored with a sweet chest-drop-to-foot goal, and Argentina never came back. The Germans really are incredibly strong as well. Bastian Schweinsteiger was hit more times and had medics called for him on the field than anyone I have ever seen. Blood was pouring out of this guy's face, they'd patch him and he played on. Yeah futbol, bigger than football.

Not only did the U. S. have its disappointments. Former World Cup victors England, Spain and Italy all were done after the first round. And the World Cup in Brazil had its bizarre moments as well, such as when Uruguay's Luis Suarez bit the shoulder of an Italian defender. Considering Suarez has been suspended for doing this in Europe twice before, I'm wondering why this is still ok. But hey, I did not make the rules.

So all you soccer haters out there: please stop harshing my mellow. Soccer speaks all languages and crosses all barriers. It was fun to walk into a Mexican restaurant in Phoenix and see a random game playing, with all the patrons laborers watching the game while having lunch and getting out of the heat. The game was on Univision and not broadcast in English, but that did not matter. Everyone watched it, and when the announcer gave out the classic, excited, extended, " GooooooooooaaLL.." we all knew what happened. Get over yourself, U. S. and American football. This is bigger than you. Now, we need to see the next step - this kind of accolade world-wide over women's soccer too.