I have never played soccer. I have hardly watched soccer. Sure, I supported my high school soccer team and cheered from the stands, but that does not mean I was paying much attention. American football? I got you. I am enthralled by the game and I will yell louder than you in support of my Red Raiders. The other kind of fútbol? Yeah, I'm completely lost.
You can see how that would not fly for very long seeing as the world cup is occurring and I am dating a former collegiate soccer player. In the early weeks of June, it felt like he thought we were in the days leading up to the end of the world. There was research done, documentaries watched, discussions had over which player from which country was better than the other.
You get the idea.
The first hurdle I had to tackle was the idea that half the players from team 1 are usually playing with all of team 2 in one league in Europe but team 3 plays in another league also in Europe but solely in Italy… Okay, that was probably completely incorrect, but I promise I understood the gist.
So now, each player is playing for their own country. They have all come home to play for the nation of their birth. Reminiscent of the Olympics, it's incredibly patriotic save one exception. The fans.
Fans in the world cup are on an entirely different level. Blood, sweat, and tears are shed in the support of their nation's teams. It's inspiring to watch, truly.
Soccer itself has been relatively easy to comprehend. I've learned what it means to be off-sides, when you are awarded a penalty and corner kicks, etc. I have yet to embrace the dramatic art of the "flop," but, I doubt I will ever reach that level.
I have to admit, I've caught myself criticizing player mid-game until I pause for a moment and remember that I would in fact trip over my own feet or the ball if I attempted to play the sport they are professionals of. All in all, I have gotten thoroughly swept up into the world of fútbol and its culture. It is an incredibly fun sport to watch, and when you choose a team to root for, the enthusiasm of the crowd is contagious.
One last thing, I am rooting for Iceland. Any team that makes up 1/10th of its country's population deserves a little extra love!
