As a Brit living in the USA I have had to curtail my love for football or soccer and the anecdote of its history, because it’s hardly talked about here let alone shown on TV. With the advent of this years World Cup and the USA making it into the last sixteen, I have renewed hope.
Despite the fact that the Americans were knocked out I felt that the rivalry between the US and England in the first round went a long way towards boosting soccer’s appeal in America.
My only one concern regarding this years championship was the terrible officiating. Two obvious goals were disallowed in two games I watched. The goal that England scored against Germany in the final sixteen at the end of the first half should have counted. Who knows how the Germans would have responded to two quick scores, tying the game and putting England right back in the thick of things.
The disallowed goal was reminiscent of the anecdote surrounding the 1966 World Cup when England beat Germany with a similar goal. The Germans protested but the goal counted so I expect that many in the German camp may feel that the English got their just desserts after the 1966 incident!
In any event the march continues and I am pinning my hopes on the long shot team of Ghanaians but in my heart I believe that it might just be Brazil’s turn – again!
I am a Brazilian who is mad about football. This type of terrible refereeing has been going on since time began in football. I wish that FIFA would do a better job of making sure that they get the call right but it seems that every year it only gets worse!
Agree completely!
Thanks for the comment Jim.
No flopping! Flopping is bad for the sport.
There was a lot of silly flopping in the World Cup with The Netherlands taking on Spain. Spain was a little more gentlemanly and played this sport with better finesse, imv. So hats off to the champs!
Is soccer a sport?
Some would say it’s a game full of pansies floppping everywhere whenever they are glanced slightly…but that’s another anecdote!