World cup, World cup, World cup. For some reason this is all that is on my mind when it comes to soccer. Why is that? It is a tournament that happens every four years and, at least in the United States, you do not hear about unless you really try. So why is a tournament with minimal exposure, that happens as often as a presidential election, have me bursting at the seams to watch? Because the world cup is the most effective and compelling tease in the sports world.
Soccer fans wait and follow their national teams through a FOUR year qualifying process often playing teams like Barbados or Trinidad and Tobago hoping, and in the case of the soccer giants knowing, that in the distant future their team will get on the world’s biggest stage and perform for them.
The first time I saw the ESPN, who if you have not noticed have thrown everything they can behind soccer to promote the event, commercial with Martin Tyler’s voice over was during a bowl game in December. My nephew and I literally jumped to our feet and said “I CANNOT WAIT!” That was in December. Santa had not even visited my house and I was ready to watch the U.S. Men’s National Team take down Wayne Rooney and the Three Lions.
This is the world’s game on its biggest stage. It is also an event that drives soccer fans to watch friendlies with other nations and games early in the morning and late at night from overseas obsessing over who is going to be picked to go to South Africa. All for their team to potentially play three games and go home and propel them into another four year wait.
Do yourself a favor; get caught up in the world cup. Read about the national team of your home country if they are involved and make sure to watch. You may not be a soccer fan, you may not know the rules, but you will want to be watching if the Yanks bring down England in the first round. You will want to be watching if Mexico strikes down Thierry Henry and the French.
For the next 110 plus days this blog will follow the U.S. National team on their way to South Africa. Possible players and how they are performing and what could happen. It is fun and honestly it is the same thing we have done for the last three years and the only thing we can do for another 69 days. What a tease.
Matches to watch this weekend:
1. Manchester United v. Chelsea on ESPN2 Saturday 7:30am CT. Rooney or no Rooney this match goes a long way to decide the EPL with the two of the most talented teams in Europe.
2. Seattle Sounders FC v. Red Bull New York Fox Soccer Channel Saturday 9:30pm. RBNY is much improved and who does not want to watch Freddie Ljunberg after his war of words with Petor Nowak concerning his diving and whining?
3. Schalke 04 v. Bayern Munich Sunday 8:30am GolTV. 2 points separate these two teams in the German Bundesliga. How does Bayern keep the momentum and recover from their midweek home win over Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League, should be high drama.
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