Football is the world's sport. No, not the American version, which might better be termed "Tackleball," but the more aptly named game that enthralls billions. Some of us here in the US of A are fortunate enough to understand the reasons for the love of the game, even if we do call it "Soccer." Here are a few.
It is a simple, simple game. With the exception of the offside rule, nothing takes much explanation. People do not need to speak the same language to play on the same team. In the formalized rules provided by FIFA, the world's game-governing body, there are only 17 "laws," and several are procedural, relating only to organized games. The essence is this: Get the ball into the other team's goal without using your hands.
No equipment is necessary. Yes, in fortunate places, we use cleats and shinguards and goalie gloves and uniforms and regulation size goals with nets into which we try to place the regulation size ball, but none of this is really needed. On beaches and in alleys and in fields all over the world, people kick a ball (or even a substitute like rolled up socks) back and forth between each other, trying to get that object between the dual discarded shirts or other debris that make the goals.
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| Law enforcement goalkeeper. Beat the Man? |
The people of all ages who play the game need not be of any particular size or shape. The game does not discriminate against those of us who might not be particularly tall or wide or muscular or fast or graceful. Over the years, many of the world's best players have been quite small. Lionel Messi is the current embodiment. Yes, quickness and speed are certainly beneficial, but not absolutely required in the way that size is demanded for so many sports. Even with speed and quickness being advantageous, the game has a place for those who tower over the small and quick as long as they learn to use their strengths to advantage. And for us more average physical specimens, intelligent play can be at least as effective as physical prowess.
Excellence in football is not limited to rich or powerful or large countries. In 2018, the slightly more than 300,000 citizens of Iceland were proud to cheer on their team in the Cup, while the teams from the Netherlands, Italy and the USA stayed home. Croatia's total of 4 million people root for their team in the final. Every country has a chance!
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| Coolest postage stamp sheet ever, but they should all be soccer balls. |
It is an inclusive sport. All countries are welcomed, but each has to prove its worth to make it to the world's stage. The qualifying process takes 2 years with multiple rounds and games, so it is very unlikely that any team making to the final 32 of the World Cup is not deserving. The matches in the 2018 Cup are particularly demonstrative. Previous winner Germany did not make it out of the round robin stage. Perennial power Brazil did not get to the semi-finals. Japan came Oh-so-close to eliminating powerful Belgium.
Every fan in every country can unabashedly support his or her national team. In 1994, when the tournament came to the US, the joy of watching one's team play was obvious. The Argentinians came painted and caped with flags. The Bolivian fans chanted Bo-LEEE-via as one of their own pounded out the rhythm on an oversized blue and white drum. When the Italians scored, fans came from all over the stadium to kiss the meter-tall Madonna statue carried by the man a few rows in front our seats.
Politics matter little, if at all. Once the whistle starts the game, your national side must prove its value. And any team that makes it to the final 32 is just that...a team. Star players can help, but there is no substitute for teamwork. Though players on the roster for each country may be separated by geography, language, religion, race or any of the other wedges we use to divide ourselves, if the players are not working as a team, defeat is inevitable. All must be singing from the same hymnal, even if it is not the one preferred.
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| The trophy. Not everyone gets one. |
And there is no shame in defeat. All understand that not everyone can win, and that an inch here or there can decide a close game. Every "weaker" team knows that if they can stay in the game until the very end, there is a chance that they can do something brilliant and win. The only way that any team or player need be ashamed is if they did not bring their absolute best effort to the field. If they've done their best, they've represented their nation as well as they possibly can.
So while there is only one cup winner, fans all over the world have every reason to be proud when their players represent their nation with a great effort...a united effort where all are elevated by incorporation into an effective team. An effort that is the best they can produce.
The world beyond football has much to learn from the World Cup.
Having played football (American version is CTE ball) for 50 years I think I can safely comment with some authority. First of all I have heard and read all the sniping from the critics. It's too slow. Not enough scoring.Draws?
ReplyDeleteI see them all as a lack of understanding of the beauty of game. I also, from years of debate, come to believe there is some fear. Fear that this game that is so popular everywhere in the world will replace the games they know.
For me playing was a joy. I enjoyed being a part of a complex team. A group of 11 who had to work as a unit with, except for set pieces, only a general overall plan and no set plays. I loved it when possession was gained and then maintained to attack with multiple passes to multiple teammates to score a goal.
Individually it was rewarding to read the game to anticipate where the ball was going to steal a pass or score a goal. It was rewarding to have the skill to control the ball then to see the run or see the opening to the goal to make the pass or to score the goal.
It's my favorite sport because I think it is the sport, more than any other, that how smart you are and how well you see the game can make you a better player than someone bigger or more skilled with the ball. It is a sport in which 11 players playing as team can beat an opponent with more skilled players who can't or won't play as a team. I've seen it many times.
Football IS a simple game but more than a sum of it's parts. Like chess with simple rules but complex to play well.
Exactly!
DeleteHaving played the game for my high school, I must admit that I enjoyed playing the game very much.
ReplyDeleteHowever, now some +60 years later, having watched two of the quarter-final games of the World Cup in 2018, which went through "overtimes" + penalty kicks to decide the win, were two of the most dragged out displays of frustration known to man kind, just plain BORING!
Also, FIFA has led the world in sports corruption, at all levels of the game and organization!
This is my opinion of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of the game! Fun to play, Boring to watch, and where there is money to be made -Corruption!
Mr. Blatter is gone. Perhaps we're on an upward vector regarding corruption. Agreed on the penalty kicks. We need to find a better way. But in the Quarters, Semis and Final, there was only one game decided by PKs (Croatia vs Russia), so I'm thinking you mean at least one previous game. I found this cup to be the most entertaining ever, and while I never want to see PKs, many of us don't discount the value of the rest of the game if it comes to that.
DeleteMy skinny 13 year old daughter was the goalie. Our final game came down to PK's. While the coaches on the other side ignored their goalie, I coached Ellyn to spread her hands out and make yourself look huge, while Jerry coached our kickers. Ellyn stopped two kicks and we won.
ReplyDeleteOne parent told me that their daughter had never won anything before, and that we were amazing.
The hardest part about coaching, was the day after the last game of the season, when you realize that there were no more practices or games until next season.
To this day, Beth, Erin, and Ellyn all still play.