“Cultural Implications of the Soccer Phenomenon in America

[Dan D]

Resistance to soccer is futile! :P

Interesting and fun -but long- read, originally published in 1986 (=“soccer phenomenon� ? ):
http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/culture.html

Extract:
„…Soccer in many countries cannot be understood apart from the country's culture, traditions, class structure, geography, and values. Soccer reflects a nation's culture because it permeates all levels of a society. There are probably climatic reasons why South Americans in their warm climate play at a different pace than the English, who play right through the winter and have to keep running to combat the cold. Brazilian soccer, so well documented by Janet Lever (1983) in Soccer Madness, is "alegre," soccer to a Samba beat-joyous, unpredictable, spontaneous, "poetry and motion." (A Sao Paulo psychologist once observed that Brazilians have lost their self-esteem, and "soccer comes in as a saving element-the sensation of taking part in a collective undertaking . . . rich in emotions" [Hoge, 1982, p. A-2].)

England's "Dunkirk style" is tenacious, with hard tackling, fairness, and a "let's-get-the-job-done" attitude.
West Germany's highly disciplined, mechanistic, orderly "systems soccer" was called by Pele on TV in 1982 "ten robots alongside Rummenigge" (Europe's "player of the year").
The superbly conditioned Soviets engage in "technical soccer," by the book, but often fail against the flamboyant South Americans and the gritty, determined English.
Italians may learn acting before soccer, treating the sport (as in most Latin-language countries) as a matter of life and death. In fact, one Italian coach was overheard to remark that "some say football is a matter of life and death. Well it isn't-it's more important than that!"…

Side note: “one Italian coach�, gosh! It was the ex-Liverpool manager Bill Shankly who had said that.
Some more Bill Shankly quotes:
„What a great day for football, all we need is some green grass and a ball.�
“Me having no education. I had to use my brains.�
***
Will the American soccer create its own style? What will it look like?
A chess-like system soccer a la American football combined with elements of Brazilian-Dutch individualism and British-German fighting spirit? God help us!
***
Also interesting:
„Epic clash of the logos“:
Nike (USA-Brazilian Nike squad) vs. Adidas (Germany),
http://www.slate.com/id/2139940/?nav=tap3

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"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." (John Heisman)

[Sixpack]

USA, don't hurry.

The rest of the world can do without USA in terms of football. It always could, and we are just fine as we are.

Dan, move to Europe if you like our football so much.

[Konovalov]

I keep getting told off here for calling the game soccer and not football.

[Sixpack]

Football is not handegg !

[jumpy]

David Coleman (sports commentator)
"The game (football) isn't over yet, but I thought the best team won."

Yer Konovalov, it's football not soccer... pffft.. lol

Originally Posted by Sixpack

USA, don't hurry.

The rest of the world can do without USA in terms of football. It always could, and we are just fine as we are.

Hehe, well, they got the 'World Series' (baseball?) so why do they need to join the rest of us in playing a game that they'll have to add padding to? lol
Incidentally, why is it called the 'world series' if it's only an internal american event?

[Konovalov]

Originally Posted by Sixpack

Football is not handegg !

Back home I played Aussie Rules football (handegg as you labelled it), all during my childhood and teens. For one we don't bloody well take "dives" all the time. We don't fall to the ground after a tackle as if we have been shot with an assault rifle. We just get on with it. In Aussie Rules you can kick it or use a handball. Both are equally used. I suggest you pick up a Aussie Rules football and have a go. You will find it takes a heck of a lot of skill to kick it be it just a simple punt, let alone a torpedo kick or a drop kick. Really the only eggs are those soccer players who have the fragility of an eggshell.

[Dan D]

Meanwhile: News from the Western Front

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Revealed: England’s black magic counter-strike against German voodoo to weaken England’s players .

***
News and video update on 2006 world cup storm-trooper helmets:
Hearsay says: “The manufacturer of the helmets said the German police recently informed him they intend to allow fans to wear the helmets during the games, because they were not adorned with Nazi symbols.�

What? The Dutch manufacturer said German police said they �intend� to allow" ?!!
Honi soit qui mal y pense.

Helmets will be supplied to all participating nations:
“The helmets are now mass-produced in different colours and bear slogans to fit the different countries attending the tournament.�
The German helmets are in gold colour , England white, Italy blue, Brazil green, Australia yellow, Spain red.
The helmets are of good use, if you can't find a toilet.
Watch the video here:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7...220706,00.html
The helmet fabrication reminds a bit of the star wars clone trooper factory scenes.