 | World Cup: who are you rooting for?By Grace Fox |
I was a typical American for most of my life, never really knowing or caring much about soccer at all. I had never heard of the World Cup, had never seen a game, had no knowledge of crazy fans with painted faces waving flags and screaming wildly. I was an innocent little sprite, flitting through life oblivious to the fact that most of the soccer-lovin’ world loses its collective mind once every four years.
Then, I met my girlfriend.
There are soccer fans and there are Soccer Fans. Most people in the U.S. fall into the first category while the rest of the world falls into the latter. My girlfriend is from Portugal so the World Cup is sacred and that means that I have been swept up in World Cup fever since 1994. I am no longer the innocent sprite I once was – I know stuff now. I know about yellow cards and red cards. I know that the ball they are using in this World Cup was specially designed for games played at high altitude and I know that there are always complaints about the ball. I know that certain players have reputations for diving to garner a foul and how unfairly they are treated by referees and opponents alike as a result (Hello Cristiano Ronaldo!). I know that Groups of Death aren’t as ominous as they sound – they aren’t rival gangs, simply tough bracket pairings. My girlfriend and I have Portuguese jerseys and our kids have had full Portuguese uniforms since they could walk. We’ve got the Portugal scarves and flags but, thankfully, no vulvalezzies. More than anything, however, I now know how moods rise and fall like the tides depending upon your team’s performance. Let’s just say that I’m really glad that Portugal at least tied the Ivory Coast yesterday. A victory would have been better, of course, but we survived to sulk another day.
We are Team Portugal all the way and hoping to make it through to the next round. Of course, Brazil is favored to win the group. Did I mention that my ex is from Brazil? She is and she even dropped off a lovely Brazil World Cup tote bag at our house adorned with six stars. For the innocent among you, each star represents a World Cup Championship. They’ve only won five but clearly think they will win their sixth this time around.
So, are you watching? What flag are you waving?
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June 16th, 2010 at 8:09 am
I wouldn’t be too worried about Brazil…they barely topped North Korea, who haven’t played in the tournament since ’66 apparently. I’m partially backing USA and England of course, but based on who is playing best, I’m putting my money on Germany or Spain at this point…
June 16th, 2010 at 8:54 am
I have to watch since I’m from Germany.It’s the only sport that matters in my country and believe me my grandma would ignore me for a month if I don’t watch it.
I’m lucky that we have a great team at least i won’t have to watch losers.
June 16th, 2010 at 8:58 am
I am rooting for all the goalies. GO GOALIES!!!!
June 16th, 2010 at 9:49 am
Brazil all the way! All the greats came from Brazil, Pele, the real Ronaldo… And anyway, in englad it wins people up if you parade around with a Brazil flag tied like a cape
June 16th, 2010 at 10:01 am
Because the US has caught the fever and I can’t stop it, I’m going to root for the following teams in the following order:
(1) USA: duh.
(2) Germany: because they might actually win. also, brazil is already sticking six stars on their products, and that is just arrogant. i would love to see them get squashed by germany.
(3) North Korea: simply because of the WTF factor.
I went to soccer camp as a child, but I don’t remember any of the rules. It seems easy enough to follow though. You get one past the goalie, you get a point. It’s a lot less confusing than football – our football, that is.
June 16th, 2010 at 12:46 pm
soccer isn’t really that big in finland either, it’s all about ice hockey here. and since we suck at soccer so bad we never even make it to world cup, i’ll be cheering for portugal. north korea is one of my favourites too because that would just so random if they won.
June 16th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
i do love you for that post referencing Portugal all the time, because i’m portuguese
love
June 16th, 2010 at 1:44 pm
I’m from Ireland so football here is pretty big, so I watch it with my dad and brothers and am playing at university and with a local team, it’s pretty much as popular here as it is in England.
Thanks to the Thierry Henry cheating(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxw1-Id91lQ&feature=related) Ireland aren’t in the world cup this year, lets just say any pub you go into here while France are playing you should be prepared to hear some nasty comments. Myself and my girlfriend are off to the pub especially tomorrow night to hopefully watch them lose, but we aren’t bitter at all
June 16th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Nomad – Spain didn’t fare so well today.
Julia – Don’t want to upset grandma!
Luisa and Kuismis – Vai Portugal!
Kate – Portugal lost to France in 2006 so I can get behind some bitterness towards the French. That’s how this goes, isn’t it?
June 16th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
I support South Africa, Brazil and Portugal. And yes I was born a South African and I own a vuvuzela!
I never watched soccer when I grew up. I was raised on rugby. But watched about 2 world cups ago and loved it!
June 16th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Where I live [where, btw, we don't even make it to the small time interEuro games, we suck so bad], fanaticism is in our blood. So you’ll find Italian, English, German, Brazilian and Spanish supporters. No French ones though. Personally, I’m with Argentina. Mostly because I really want to visit the country. Solid tactical knowledge, indeed.
June 16th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
Ha I don’t want to spoil the party girls BUT you have all made a BIG mistake… Ever heard of HOLLAND???? Watch out cos they are ORANGE and don’t get peeled or sucked.
June 16th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Hiya (:
my first soccer yeaaar, since I play in the soccer-girls-team of our school, I was kind of… forced to watch.
Ans since I’m a german girl, and since the german team is doing well, hey GERMANY!
oh,…. and I heard about the oranges ones, Lucretialive. You know what “we” think about them…?
yup Grace Chu, I cross my fingers for you to see Brazils asses kicked by Germany. I’d liek that, too /(:
June 16th, 2010 at 6:30 pm
Fox-
Yeah, Spain really didn’t do so hot. I’m very unimpressed. If I was putting money on a team, it’d be Germany in a heartbeat.
June 17th, 2010 at 8:41 am
Germany all the way! Whoohoo!
(I can’t help it. And as long as I don’t have a girlfriend that threatens to leave me for cheering on my own country, I’ll do just that.)
June 17th, 2010 at 9:32 am
I find it very funny that most of the comments go for Germany (who have given the most impresive performance the first week, but were not really expected to be that good). I’ve always been an Argentina fan, and with Maradona (best player EVER) as the couch I think they have a chance to win.
But honestly I would love if Spain won, i know they did a shitty job yesterday but they have the best team and are the European Champions, who’ve never won a world cup and deserve one already!
so good luck to those of you who have your countries in the run…i’ll keep cheering for the my fave teams and the underdogs…
June 17th, 2010 at 9:34 am
oh and sorry Grace but Portugal is not gonna go anywhere this world cup!
prepare yourself for gloom..
no nanni..no figo…yeah, no chance
):
June 17th, 2010 at 10:09 am
GO TEAM CHINA!!!!
wait, what? WHY ARE MY PEOPLES NOT IN THE WORLD CUP?
June 17th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Nix – shhh…Portugal is going all the way
June 17th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
The Netherlands!!!! and the final will be Argentina – The Netherlands.
June 17th, 2010 at 3:37 pm
yip. i find it suspicious that our people are nowhere to be seen but their vewy vewy sketchy neighbor to the northeast – north korea – managed to sneak in.
[insert conspiracy theory here]
June 17th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Watching daily international football carries more than the prospect of my teams success: England have less of a chance than Portugal which hasn’t tempered mass hysteria and media dissection of any decision and angle relating to the team.
Love the homophonic vuvuzela pun. All things vuvuzela are taking up almost as much talk time as football. Word is they require careful lip and tongue action.
June 17th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
I am trying to get into it, since I’m a lover of sports in general but those stupid horns make it soooooo annoying on tv, and it doesn’t play well for novices on the radio. I usually get into soccer more during the Olympics.
June 18th, 2010 at 10:56 am
“There are soccer fans and there are Soccer Fans. Most people in the U.S. fall into the first category while the rest of the world falls into the latter.”
Oh dear! I think you mean “There are soccer fans and there are football fans. Most people in the US fall into the first category while the rest of the world falls into the latter”
It’s only across the pond you have to differentiate between proper football and American football
June 18th, 2010 at 11:00 am
@Grace Chu – American football has more complicated rules than football?
Two words:
Offside Rule. I still don’t understand it!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offside_(association_football)
June 18th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
@Ros
There are all of these rules in American Football that determine how many points you get when you kick the ball through the goal posts (and when you’re supposed to kick the ball through the goal posts period). I still haven’t figured it out. Also, sometimes the refs stick flags down for inexplicable reasons and then the players get unhappy and start stomping around in frustration.
In soccer, when the ball goes into the goal, the team that kicks it in gets a point. (UNLESS you’re the US playing against Slovenia and the ref is stupid.)
June 18th, 2010 at 12:08 pm
(unless it’s offside)
*gets coat*
June 18th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
@Ros in London
) really isn’t that difficult.
The Offside Rule in Football (Soccer
When the player the ball is played to is behind the last player of the different team (read: physically nearer to the goal) when the ball is played to him, it’s offside. Otherwise it’s not.
Look at my awesome paint skills! *lol*
-> http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/1733/offsiderule.jpg
June 18th, 2010 at 11:35 pm
We’re for Italy 1st, and then Mexico/US… we’ve both got some Italian blood, although I’m mostly Mexican/Portugese… but I have a HUGE goalie crush on Gianluigi Buffon (he HAS to get better soon!!!), and we’re both inspired by the Mexican team; they’re shorter than EVERYONE but they’re some FEISTY little fellas!
And gotta throw out love to the US just because they’re trying to bring some of the true sport to this heathen country.
June 20th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
I just wanna say, WAY TO GO HOWARD!!!!!
I’ve played soccer all my life, 12 years as a goalkeeper and Howard is the only keeper I’ve seen play consistently throughout this tournament.
I cheer for USA, Brazil, Spain, and Germany….but since England is in our group I must cheer for them if they pass us on.
June 20th, 2010 at 3:31 pm
I’ve always had a soft spot for Cameroon – who unfortunately were the first team to be eliminated yesterday:( Just saw not one, but TWO handballs by Luis Fabiano of Brazil to score a goal that counted against the Ivory Coast. However, Kaka was thrown out on a completely bogus call. All-in-all Brazil is looking pretty formidable. Portugal has its work cut out for it, I think. New Zealand is my new underdog team.
June 21st, 2010 at 11:55 am
I feel this website should now be “Grace the Sport”
Also, GtS is very international. Excellent!
June 25th, 2010 at 4:46 am
Okay so.. football (as I prefer to call it!) is the only sport that matters here in Italy, so I’m obviously forced to watch the World Cup. The thing is, Italy sucked so bad I’m even ashamed for having kinda rooted for my own national team…
From now on, I’m free to admit my soft spot for England and Portugal and as an ex-football player (yes, I know: how stereotypical, isn’t it?) I’m just hoping to see some good football..
Who will win? Argentina, because they have the better players out there, despite the one they call coach…
June 25th, 2010 at 9:56 am
I discovered that the US doesn’t suck. Who knew?
June 25th, 2010 at 10:04 am
Being from Spain, I’m quite a football (ok, soccer) fan. But I’m more into the regular league than world cups, european championships and so on… maybe because until we won last European championship we hadn’t won any in 42 years???? maybe…
So, I’m for Spain (hopefully we’ll stop playing as badly as we’ve done in the last game) and I’d love for North Korea to get to the next round if only because they are such a strange and unknown team… And I totally dislike the anti-soccer teams: Italy and Switzerland, they only know how to play defense, nothing else! France has been a complete failure and the craziest thing is that it’s not the only supposedly “big” team to have to pack their bags and go home in the first round… crazy, crazy championship
June 28th, 2010 at 3:38 pm
@Grace Chu It turns out the USA does suck (Go Ghana!). But it’s ok, England suck more and people here get far more worked up about it cos it’s our only football >.<
Here's a great song I heard americans singing against Ghana (to the tune of yellow submarine) 'What we want is another Rob Green, another Rob Green, another Rob Green…' I like that one.
June 28th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
well i’m brazilian and here (as you can imagine) the world cup is like the biggest and more important event on universe. it’s like holiday when brazil plays, everything stops. i mean for real. we breath football everyday and everywhere, it’s like you have no choice you gotta end up being a “Soccer Fan”…
so obviously I’m totally for BRAZIL!!
ok, we sucked at first against north korea, but i think we got what it takes to win the world cup for the 6º time (HEXACAMPEÃO!!!)
finals? : brazil x argentina or germany…