Why USA isn't a world power in soccer (yet)

[3TrueFans]

The thing about soccer that I think I love the most is that you never know when a goal is going to come. The end of the US-Portugal game is the perfect example, 30 seconds left, ball is at midfield and 20 seconds later a goal is scored. Or Messi scoring at the end of the Iran game that almost surely looked like a draw. Yeah, maybe they don't score a lot sometimes, but I love that tension of never knowing if this is going to be the cross that finds the back of the net, or maybe this corner kick will be the one (hello John Brooks), maybe this time the through ball will be right on the money. You sit down and it's just 90 minutes of game time, not 5 minutes of game, then a commercial break, then an injury and another commercial break, then a timeout and another commercial break.

Maybe the kind of action isn't your cup of tea, maybe you think it's boring when the ball is passed around the midfield, or back to the keeper, but to me it's all part of the buildup to what could be a game changing play. I liken it to football when a running back takes it up the middle, yeah maybe he'll take it for 50 yards, when odds are he's going to get a few yards and that's it, but man those couple times a game he breaks one are awesome.

 

[brett108]

I don't follow it closely, so I may have my stats wrong, but it appears that no losing team has scored more than 2 goals in a game in this World Cup so far and the entire 2010 World Cup.

There have already been 8 shutouts in this World Cup. Of the 128 final team scores in 2010, 43 were 0, including six 0-0 matches. The shoot-outs are fun, but not a whole game of no scoring.

Apparently, this is what the world wants to see, but I don't get it. It seems that more scoring would be more reflective of the quality of the offenses and allow for greater differentiation between teams with superior offenses and defenses.

One of the great things about soccer is maintaining that composure and level of play so a team doesn't breakthrough at the end. Soccer is the closest thing to a giant chess match between the players of all major sports. There are no breaks where players can sit down and get coached into the right positions. It is game on. A good players is measured as much by the quality under the skull as much as his striking ability with it and his foot.

I dont see soccer as a sport that is about to go high scoring. The game has had the same basic rules its entire existence. Basically 11 dudes, one of which who can use his hands, trying to get the ball in the other net, and keep it out of theirs. Rules on contact are no contact. Zero. Every time contact is made a foul could be called. Its not, but it could be.

 

[Clonefan32]

The thing about soccer that I think I love the most is that you never know when a goal is going to come. The end of the US-Portugal game is the perfect example, 30 seconds left, ball is at midfield and 20 seconds later a goal is scored. Or Messi scoring at the end of the Iran game that almost surely looked like a draw. Yeah, maybe they don't score a lot sometimes, but I love that tension of never knowing if this is going to be the cross that finds the back of the net, or maybe this corner kick will be the one (hello John Brooks), maybe this time the through ball will be right on the money. You sit down and it's just 90 minutes of game time, not 5 minutes of game, then a commercial break, then an injury and another commercial break, then a timeout and another commercial break.

Maybe the kind of action isn't your cup of tea, maybe you think it's boring when the ball is passed around the midfield, or back to the keeper, but to me it's all part of the buildup to what could be a game changing play. I liken it to football when a running back takes it up the middle, yeah maybe he'll take it for 50 yards, when odds are he's going to get a few yards and that's it, but man those couple times a game he breaks one are awesome.

To me, this is what makes soccer exciting. There may not be non-stop action, but the lack of scoring makes every pass, every decision so meaningful. Other sports, a mistake here or a great play there isn't really going to effect the outcome. Soccer intense, and keeps me on the edge of my seat the whole game.

 

[NATEizKING]

Not according to this. The Finals averaged a higher rating than the the USA/Portugal game had. It's also important to remember that the World Cup is much more like the Olympics than anything our other sports offer. 20 million people might tune in to watch the men's 100-meter butterfly finals, but that doesn't make swimming more popular than baseball or hockey, either. Plus, events like this bring out more bandwagoners who just want to get wasted and have an excuse to chant "U-S-A!" for a couple hours straight, than any event other than the Olympics.

You just described every football and baseball fan.

Where's your Finals link saying NBA Finals averaged higher rating?

Here's my link from the NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/24/b...tch-outdoes-world-series-in-ratings.html?_r=0

"While not near the totals scored by the N.F.L. playoffs or, certainly, the Super Bowl, the American audience for the World Cup game on Sunday easily eclipsed the N.B.A. finals this year, which averaged 15.5 million viewers, as well as the 2013 World Series, which averaged 14.9 million viewers. The N.H.L. playoffs are not even remotely as popular as the World Cup, having averaged only five million viewers this season."

ESPN reported Monday that the game was its most-watched event outside of N.F.L. or college football.

 

[klamath632]

Isn't boxing a little similar to soccer, in that there is no "official" clock on a scoreboard somewhere? There's only the bell. I guess I don't see where the big deal is in having the official be in charge of the clock. It adds a little to the suspense, if you ask me. I guess my point is nobody had any problems with boxing being an "American" sport, why quibble about it with soccer?

 

[Cy$]

[video=youtube;6KeG_i8CWE8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KeG_i8CWE8#t=39[/video]

because most people think like this.

 

[Cycsk]

It's all a personal preference. I was on the edge of my seat the entire US-Portugal game. Especially when we tied it 1-1, that last 30 minutes was great.

Watching a football game, outside of last play or game winning drive, I am not on the edge of my seat. I love watching both don't get me wrong.

I guess in my view, a soccer goal is equivalent to a late touchdown in the 4th quarter to put your team ahead. It is so exciting. The Portugal goal was like a 75 yard hail mary that got tipped around and fell into the WR hand's as the clock struck 0. It completely sucked from our end, but I don't think there is much more exciting action then what happened there.

And I realize it ended in a tie, and the "extra time" confusion, but from a pure excitement standpoint, second to none.

Indeed, there is the excitement of "anybody can win" for most games. I think this is a big part of the national craze of support for team, in addition to the athleticism and strategy. Perhaps it is akin to our eternal hope that ISU football can win against Oklahoma. Just that we have a less realistic chance than most World Cup teams.