Let The Games...Begin!

I have an confession to make...

I'm a soccer junkie.

 It just so happens, right now is the worst/best time for a soccer junkie.

This week the World Cup began in Qatar. Because not everything revolves around America or its fans, the games are broadcast early in the morning here and run until the early afternoon. If I want to watch the first game of the day in the opening round, I have to get up at 3am. 

I mean, I'm a junkie, but not that much of a junkie.

I'm a fan of two different teams, the Americans and the Danes. The Americans have played two games--two draws--and need to beat Iran to make it to the knock-out round. The Danes play France tomorrow morning. Don't know if they'll beat the defending reigning World Cup champions. Then again, I thought America would be blown out by England. 

Shows you how much I know.

Even the most crazy soccer fans in America can't hold a candle to your average fan across the world. They're nuts, but in a good way. I wish we supported our national team the way other countries support theirs. 

There's a good chance, both of my teams don't advance. It's very possible. Of course, watching the tournament isn't as fun, but being a junkie, I've got to keep watching until the final whistle sounds and then goes quiet, not to be heard again until four years have passed.

Alas, the life of a soccer junkie.

Watching The Best Soccer In The World...Absolutely Amazing!

I know. I've heard all the knocks before. Americans don't like soccer and there's as many different options why as to people who believe it. It's boring. It's slow. There's not enough scoring.

I know.

I get it.

And even though all those who diss soccer might be right in their own minds, for me (and most of the world...), they're missing out on an incredible sporting experience. Now, I'm not saying all soccer is good, just like all baseball (peewee, T-ball and the like...) or football or any sport is great. But when you get an opportunity to watch the world's best compete against each other...well, it's beautiful.

Yesterday and today the semi-finals were held in the UEFA Nationals League. I'm not such a soccer geek that I know all about the UEFA or the Nationals League tournament, but whenever I get a chance to see national teams play, it's on a different level. It's like watching the olympics, but for just the one sport. I came to love watching national teams play while living in Denmark. There's just nothing like it over here--nothing.

I wish more Americans enjoyed it, too. Good thing there's enough of us out here that they will broadcast the games to us Americans.

Before yesterday, four teams were in the hunt. Now, only two remain. Portugal and the Netherlands will play June 9th, and if the semi-finals are any indication, the world will see more of the best players in the world. Hopefully, some Americans will be included in that number.

Norway Vs. Sweden...I Love National Team Soccer!

Right now in Europe nations are at war. Instead of guns, they use their feet. In the place of tanks, planes, ships and bombs they use their heads and corner kicks. Though they don't have casualties, they have winners and losers.

It's soccer, at a national level.

For me, there is nothing, nothing, like national teams soccer. There are several reasons why Americans don't embrace this level of the sport like the rest of the world does, the biggest reason is that it's one of the few sports Americans don't dominate--at least, the men. We get beat by countries with 1/100th our population. We tie tiny Caribbean countries. We didn't even qualify for the last World Cup.

Then there's the game itself. It's not necessarily packed with goals. I get it...I understand. I admit, it's not for everyone. But on the internet they're playing qualifying games and tonight I caught the end of the Norway vs. Sweden match. 

It was a thing of beauty.

Norway was up 2 - 1. Things looked grim for the boys in yellow and gold. Then A Norwegian player tried to deflect a Swedish shot late in the game. He deflected the ball into his own goal.

Tied.

Then Sweden scored again with only minutes to go. The Swedish fans in the Norwegian stadium were going nuts--ahead as time was running out.

Extra time.

Three minutes were added. A Swedish player goes down so they add a few minutes more. Norway earns a corner kick--their only corner in the game as the final extra minute ticks down. All eleven Norwegians--goalie included--rush the Swedish side. The kick flies toward the box and the ball finds its way in the net. 

Tied as the game is called.

There's so much more on the line than a game. It's national pride and sports and there's nothing in America that can compare. The closest thing might be the first Olympic USA Mens Basketball Dream Team in 1992. If you remember how you felt as an American watching the world's best represent the sport and the country, then you're understanding how the fans feel about their national soccer teams.

Yes, the battles will continue until, at a time in the future, the last team standing will raise the trophy signaling to all that the war has ended, at least temporarily, until the next war begins.