World Cup - How to bore an American

While the rest of the world celebrates the World Cup, Americans for the most part don't want to be bothered with the ho-hum bore.
Shame, as one brought up on soccer from my German father, and latter participating in local Cincinnati German soccer clubs, and having a chance to play against German teams in Germany (never mind our team consisted of hung over Army GI's looking for an excuse not to work), the game seems so much more exciting to watch now with the incredible pool of talented players on the world scene.

I can understand for the most part why soccer is found to be boring. How can one stay excited during a 0-0 game only to have the game settled by one goal? And they don't use their hands like a real mans game, eh? Well let me see if I can help you appreciate the game a bit more.

• Physical Contact - It's a contact sport, leave no doubt about it. You are continually running and moving into position, and there will be contact and broken bones. But I do have to admit one embarrassment with the game. The Europeans and South American teams are fantastic Actors. Watch how a slight clip will send the player flying off his feet, slamming him into the ground as he thrashes around in pain. When he gets the penalty call in his favor, it's amazing how they stand right back up and full sprint back into the game action.
• The fans - We are talking about a sport that is truly a World series event. There are matchups that just don't take place anywhere else. I like how FlakMagazine puts it "This year's first round features such atlas-bending pairings as Japan against Belgium, Croatia against Mexico, the Germans taking on Saudi Arabia and the Slovenians against Paraguay. Sometimes the clash of cultures is fascinating or full of political subtext, as when England and Argentina square off this time around (winner gets the Falklands).". But this also leads to the insane hooliganism that is found in the sport. But that's another article for another day.
• A Team like France can actually win the World Cup?!!! Yes, it's twue!!!
• The US actually has a team that can compete at the world level. Their first game is on June 11 against the Chechs.

One more thought from Flak Magazine to help your viewing pleasure.

Opportunities in soccer arise unexpectedly, and often after long stretches of essentially even play. Suddenly, one team finds a crease, and often the game boils down to what happens in the next few seconds. Things go from a dead heat to a death knell very quickly, and that can be pretty compelling. You just have to keep paying attention to see it.