**Official 2014 FIFA World Cup Thread**

[Spectrum]

I guess what I'm saying is....there were a bunch of articles saying this exact same thing four years ago when we advanced but I haven't noticed anything change in terms of sports fans interest in soccer.

Let's revisit this two years from now and see what America's interest in soccer is.

I highly doubt the needle moves much, if at all...

Naw man. it's definitely changed. YOU might not have noticed it personally but they track viewership data. This year was pretty massive in terms of viewership. I've always noticed a lot more of my friends talking about soccer who have NEVER discussed it before. That's just anecdotal evidence those. The nielsen figures are real though.

 

[M3MD]

True. But sometime next decade, soccer will at least be even with Hockey. It's only a matter of time. Football is uniquely American and basketball, although global now, was basically an American thing until the last two decades.. but now it's becoming big in other countries. Soccer is coming...every Cup it's bigger and bigger... the game against Germany was the most watched U.S. event all year besides the super bowl.

Until we can start referencing big ratings and interest in non World Cup games, I'm just not buying it.

Not saying it's not going to get bigger because I think it will but I also think it has such a long way to go that it's not even worth much discussion at this point.

When Americans care about the 'game' and not the 'event'....then we'll have something to talk about.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

I coached an all black team in my rec leagues here in 2008 (we got dubbed team Obama) anyways...we went undefeated for 2 seasons in a row. Kept them together until they all turned 18years old over the years (started traveling up to Atlanta, Stone Mountain, Alpharetta) we went a strong 75-4-2 and the damn newspaper did a write up about us. All of them still play and started at their High Schools and 11 received state and local honors here in Georgia. Once we as black men will stop putting the game down and forcing NFL hopes on kids they'll play it and LIKE IT.

 

[ArsenalCannon357]

Until we can start referencing big ratings and interest in non World Cup games, I'm just not buying it.

Not saying it's not going to get bigger because I think it will but I also think it has such a long way to go that it's not even worth much discussion at this point.

When Americans care about the 'game' and not the 'event'....then we'll have something to talk about.

Man you slipping. It's catching on it's just that here we are programmed to only care about American Football and Basketball. All you need is the World Cup to come this way and whoooooooosh

 

[militantmidget]

he could

but let's snatch a kid out of high school with nba level athleticism and teach him how to be a keeper over the next 4 years

a big 2 guard with the reach basketball players have as well as hands.. would do the trick

Kawhi leonard won't give up any goals

it isn't that easy. If it was, don't you think every major futbol club in the world would be recruiting GKs here in the states.

Playing goalkeeper is one of the toughest positions in sports let alone soccer. You gotta be able to make game changing plays and saves within milliseconds. Also, you gotta know the game well enough for when to come off the line for a save or stay back to play the ball.

Also the goal itself is big as hell, even if the GK is 7'0", he'd still have a hard time making saves. Players at the elite level know the angles to beat a keeper.

 

[PinoleroNicoya85]

I just realized that every team remaining finished 1st in their group.

 

[PinoleroNicoya85]

 

[Spectrum]

Until we can start referencing big ratings and interest in non World Cup games, I'm just not buying it.

Not saying it's not going to get bigger because I think it will but I also think it has such a long way to go that it's not even worth much discussion at this point.

When Americans care about the 'game' and not the 'event'....then we'll have something to talk about.

13 million people play soccer in the U.S. It's already the third most played sport in the U.S.! Look the shit up. With an average attendance of over 18,000 per game, MLS has the third highest average attendance of any sports league in the U.S and is the seventh highest attended professional soccer league worldwide. U.S. viewership for the Premier League's 2013-14 season on NBC Sports showed a 70% increase over the previous year.

It's already big here. YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IT.

 

[militantmidget]

Nothing changed?? Really?? Look at the attention the broadcast outlets have given the Premier League, La Liga, and the Champions League....

"Nothing's changed.." is a bit harsh. ALOT has changed in a small 4 years.

Now of course we're not going to have the entire nation on board, but we don't need that. That's not even the goal really. There's some 350 million people here... Give me 10% of that dedicated to the sport, and we're good. There are some top footballing countries in the world that don't have that.

I think Ian Darke said, "Belgium has a population no greater than the state of Maryland."

There are plenty of hotbeds of football in this country, and with every world cup, we bring on more and more people who would rather spend their weekends watching Barcelona v Madrid than watching the Yankees and Redsox.

You just don't know about them because it's no broadcasted in mainstream media, but even that's changing.

This cup is no different. More kids are gonna be playing in the streets more than ever before and so long as they get they can make $$$$ from the game, the sponsors will be there, the coverage will be there, and the talent will pool through.

Look at Yedlin.

The Fifa video game alone has made people into Euro soccer fans. People are watching these matches. The premier league is getting BIG in this country.

Mainstream media right now shows highlights of La Liga and the premier league and the champions league. That was UNHEARD OF 10 years ago. People would've been like Zindane who?

But now even a lot of casual fans know who Messi and Ronaldo are.

 

[militantmidget]

we used to play the mexicans in soccer and get our ass whooped lol

and we'd dog them in basketball

i shouldve stuck with soccer

You know what's crazy about basketball, think of all the guys under 6 ft. who can jump out of the gym and seriously hoop but at best only play D2 or D3 ball.

Imagine those same guys playing soccer from day one. But I mean being taught the game from like age 4 or 5. It's alot of talent there alone. Still wouldn't be at the levels of Germany, Spain, England, but at least the system would have a good influx of american kids battling for spots in the sport.

 

[Spectrum]

You know what's crazy about basketball, think of all the guys under 6 ft. who can jump out of the gym and seriously hoop but at best only play D2 or D3 ball.

Imagine those same guys playing soccer from day one. But I mean being taught the game from like age 4 or 5.

Yep. And it's going to happen. It's just a matter of time.

 

[militantmidget]

I guess what I'm saying is....there were a bunch of articles saying this exact same thing four years ago when we advanced but I haven't noticed anything change in terms of sports fans interest in soccer.

Let's revisit this two years from now and see what America's interest in soccer is.

I highly doubt the needle moves much, if at all...

Casual sports fan...yes, they really could care less about soccer.

But the added fans who now are converted into soccer fans after this world cup run....it's increased. I've met people who still have the soccer bug from South Africa 2010. There will definitely be new fans of the sport because of this years' world cup.

The key is catching the casual fans' eye. The only sport I can think of that the casual sports fan watches is American football and maybe some basketball. Baseball is becoming more of a niche sport, Hockey is already a niche sport, and nascar/golf/horse racing/boxing are definitely niche sports.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

it isn't that easy. If it was, don't you think every major futbol club in the world would be recruiting GKs here in the states.

Playing goalkeeper is one of the toughest positions in sports let alone soccer. You gotta be able to make game changing plays and saves within milliseconds. Also, you gotta know the game well enough for when to come off the line for a save or stay back to play the ball.

Also the goal itself is big as hell, even if the GK is 7'0", he'd still have a hard time making saves. Players at the elite level know the angles to beat a keeper.

It wouldn't be a center. It would be someone a shooting guard size from like 6'2" to 6'5" Howard is 6'3"

With the agility, the quickness and the wingspan and hand size..learning the game from one of the best in howard? how wouldn't that work?

They'd have to be trained obviously, I didn't say get someone out there with measurements and go do it.. I am saying get an elite level athlete which is what an NBA athlete is..elite across the board.. and teach him ... and watch out.

 

[Game Plan]

 

[AlexanderNevermind]

My dad had no interest in baseball as a sport for me to pursue. He wanted me to play basketball like he did.
I was about 4 and saw some kids playing for a team at a field.. i asked to go check it out and i did.. we watched and i said i wanna play that.. so guess what? the next season I was in baseball and that was it.

That's what's going to happen in hoods across america the only problem is the soccer programs need to be available and cheap to usher more kids in

they say that every 4 years

kids want to dedicate time to play basketball, football, baseball and run track or skateboard. soccer has no chance, you either play football, basketball or run track and you might play baseball

 

[militantmidget]

Man you slipping. It's catching on it's just that here we are programmed to only care about sports that Americans are good at. All you need is the World Cup to come this way and whoooooooosh

FIXED

Americans only care about winning in their sports. If we as America aren't good at it, we could care less. Look at boxing. We used to kill in that sport. Lately, most people could care less about boxing outside of mayweather. Boxing used to be a HUGE sport in this country, but only when it was dominated by great American fighters. Especially at Heavyweight.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

You know what's crazy about basketball, think of all the guys under 6 ft. who can jump out of the gym and seriously hoop but at best only play D2 or D3 ball.

Imagine those same guys playing soccer from day one. But I mean being taught the game from like age 4 or 5. It's alot of talent there alone. Still wouldn't be at the levels of Germany, Spain, England, but at least the system would have a good influx of american kids battling for spots in the sport.

Man soccer is not that complex. It's no disrespect to the game but it isn't.

All that's required when you have the absolute BEST athletes in the world is time.

Take these kids from that 4 or 5 age and teach them and watch the fuck out.

The natural coordination principles that we develop with our hands.. just do it with your feet.. and see what happens.

 

[Brother Blues]

Obviously soccer is getting bigger in the USA....I'm proof of that as the games held my interest.

I remember the line about soccer in the US....''it is the sport of the future,and always will be''...

No longer true...it's coming,perhaps slowly,but coming.

Right now,it's kind of in it the same space as certain Olympic sports...no one here really watches track,or figure skating....until the olympics.

I don't believe because millions tuned into the World Cup that MLS ratings will improve.

But,more and more kids will play...bet parents in the burbs will pick soccer of concussion filled football.

Can it catch hockey as a 4/5 sport...maybe,but even that sport is kinda second rate in this country.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

they say that every 4 years

kids want to dedicate time to play basketball, football, baseball and run track or skateboard. soccer has no chance, you either play football, basketball or run track and you might play baseball

that's what you think.

 

[Spectrum]

they say that every 4 years

kids want to dedicate time to play basketball, football, baseball and run track or skateboard. soccer has no chance, you either play football, basketball or run track and you might play baseball

More American kids play soccer than they do baseball or run track. The problem is that unlike come countries like Brazil, the best athletes in the U.S. have multiple sports to choose from and football and basketball is going to get the best athletes. Your only legitimate professional option in a country like brazil is soccer with volleyball being second place. So obviously all the best athletes are playing soccer.

Every world cup you see the team changing and more color on the team. Klinnsman has already stated that U.S. soccer needs to win "urban America". So you know where he is targeting in terms of building up the program.

 

[militantmidget]

It wouldn't be a center. It would be someone a shooting guard size from like 6'2" to 6'5" Howard is 6'3"

With the agility, the quickness and the wingspan and hand size..learning the game from one of the best in howard? how wouldn't that work?

They'd have to be trained obviously, I didn't say get someone out there with measurements and go do it.. I am saying get an elite level athlete which is what an NBA athlete is..elite across the board.. and teach him ... and watch out.

Within 4 years tho? When he's never played or watched the sport a day in his life? I just don't see it. That'd be like someone in Argentina saying that an elite athletic soccer player from there could play in the NBA with proper training from Manu Ginobili.

But I think if more kids were added to the playing pool, we'd see better players come about. Not world class players, but good players who can actually pass and shoot and defend halfway decently without having to think about it. That's when the game just comes to you.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

Within 4 years tho? When he's never played or watched the sport a day in his life? I just don't see it. That'd be like someone in Argentina saying that an elite athletic soccer player from there could play in the NBA with proper training from Manu Ginobili.

But I think if more kids were added to the playing pool, we'd see better players come about. Not world class players, but good players who can actually pass and shoot and defend halfway decently without having to think about it. That's when the game just comes to you.

I think being a keeper would be possible to learn in 4 years not any other position on the field

Just like if it were someone foreign and they tried to play baseball they could learn how to play catcher in 4 years if they had the right mentor...

it doesn't diminish the position it's just of what's required out of the position coupling with the abilities involved.

 

[militantmidget]

they say that every 4 years

kids want to dedicate time to play basketball, football, baseball and run track or skateboard. soccer has no chance, you either play football, basketball or run track and you might play baseball

All the kids under 6'0" and lightweight, soccer will snatch them up. Everybody isn't going to be huge and or tall.

In soccer, a kid 5'6" and 130lbs at 16 could one day become the best player in the world. That won't happen in basketball and football at that size.

 

[militantmidget]

Man soccer is not that complex. It's no disrespect to the game but it isn't.

All that's required when you have the absolute BEST athletes in the world is time.

Take these kids from that 4 or 5 age and teach them and watch the fuck out.

The natural coordination principles that we develop with our hands.. just do it with your feet.. and see what happens.

It isn't that simple bro. If that was the case, Jamaica would have the best team in the world with 11 usain bolts.

 

[keone]

its as simple as this the players need a good football education from 6-18. but to compete they would still have to play in the best leagues in the world. if that aint happening nobody is going to win shit.

 

[militantmidget]

Obviously soccer is getting bigger in the USA....I'm proof of that as the games held my interest.

I remember the line about soccer in the US....''it is the sport of the future,and always will be''...

No longer true...it's coming,perhaps slowly,but coming.

Right now,it's kind of in it the same space as certain Olympic sports...no one here really watches track,or figure skating....until the olympics.

I don't believe because millions tuned into the World Cup that MLS ratings will improve.

But,more and more kids will play...bet parents in the burbs will pick soccer of concussion filled football.

Can it catch hockey as a 4/5 sport...maybe,but even that sport is kinda second rate in this country.

It's WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY bigger than certain Olympic Sports. New stadiums are being built and filled during games for just soccer alone. But you as the casual fan, you won't notice because soccer isn't a casual sport yet. Really the only casual sports are football and basketball in this country.

 

[militantmidget]

its as simple as this the players need a good football eduction from 6-18. but to compete they would still have to play in the best leagues in the world. if that aint happening nobody is going to win shit.

Pretty much nailed it here. Even if the athletes play the sport, they gotta compete overseas with the best the world has to offer in the sport.


As an example:

Can't play in the CFL and consider yourself an elite American football player when the NFL is bigger, better, and faster.

 

[gene cisco]

It will catch on...

People need to get over the scores. A game with a 1-0 score can have plenty of action. The moments you think a goal will be scored are highs, so are the defensive stops.

I suggest people play a soccer game on the PC, PS, or Xbox. You'll learn quickly how much action is in a 1-0 game.

The game has a lot of action.

It will catch on. The world is getting more global and so is the money. Being a soccer player doesn't take the 'freakness' it takes to be in the NFL or NBA.

And frankly, baseball is boring in comparison. Baseball is dying in the states.

 

[largebillsonlyplease]

It isn't that simple bro. If that was the case, Jamaica would have the best team in the world with 11 usain bolts.

its as simple as this the players need a good football education from 6-18. but to compete they would still have to play in the best leagues in the world. if that aint happening nobody is going to win shit.

This goes to the entire damn point

The education and money and resources available weren't haven't and never will be the problem for the U.S.

the problem has been the athletes themselves

You give the elite athletes which are on par with any athletes around the world as we prove in the other sports we're interested in.

going along with growing up playing it.. it's a wrap...

that's the entire point.

 

[DJCandle]

Be patient man it's coming.

I was riding home this evening and noticed something I've never seen before in one particular neighborhood.

I saw young brothers in the hood playing SOCCER with goals setup on both sides and all I could do is smile

It's starting to catch on....

Love this. It's everywhere fam. I see it my neighborhood all day long.

 

[DJCandle]

Largebillsdihno

I guess what I'm saying is....there were a bunch of articles saying this exact same thing four years ago when we advanced but I haven't noticed anything change in terms of sports fans interest in soccer.

Let's revisit this two years from now and see what America's interest in soccer is.

I highly doubt the needle moves much, if at all...

I think the American media have a slanted view on football becoming big in the states.

Whenever you talk to most casual American sports fan about football, they're go to response is always, "its not for us" or "it will never be on par with the NFL or NBA."

The truth is, I don't think it needs to be. It already is everywhere else. We just need a small dedicated percentile in this country to acknowledge it, and it's a wrap.

To put things in perspective homey, look at our neighbors to the south, Mexico.

You know all those Aztec sun god sacrifices you always hear about? Well they did that so they could have enough light to kick a ball around. They've been playing the game since the dawn of time, and they have yet to go further in a World Cup than the USA.

That's progress. Big progress.

 

[militantmidget]

This goes to the entire damn point

The education and money and resources available weren't haven't and never will be the problem for the U.S.

the problem has been the athletes themselves

You give the elite athletes which are on par with any athletes around the world as we prove in the other sports we're interested in.

going along with growing up playing it.. it's a wrap...

that's the entire point.

Not necessarily. Just because we get guys that run faster and jump higher doesn't mean we will have the best team in the world. They have to be able to play the game. And just because they play the game doesn't mean they will be the best in the world.

Look at Germany. Those guys are athletic machines. But they not winning because of that. They winning because they are machines who are world class players. It takes YEARS to build up those kinds of players year in and year out. Look how long it took us to get basketball to the level it is today. At least five to six decades.

For us to be an elite soccer nation, the quality of the sport has to be good. Same as in basketball, same as in football. Athleticism can only do but so much.

 

[Sango]

Around here the local HS team produces gatorade players of the year but there's major derailment after hs graduation. Whether they're undocumented, can't get into college, or just simply don't give a shit for better. Despite that all of the soccer fields are filled to max cap, all summer long. Crazy change in the last 10-13 yrs.

 

[DJCandle]

More American kids play soccer than they do baseball or run track. The problem is that unlike come countries like Brazil, the best athletes in the U.S. have multiple sports to choose from and football and basketball is going to get the best athletes. Your only legitimate professional option in a country like brazil is soccer with volleyball being second place. So obviously all the best athletes are playing soccer.

Every world cup you see the team changing and more color on the team. Klinnsman has already stated that U.S. soccer needs to win "urban America". So you know where he is targeting in terms of building up the program.

That's half of the problem in the US, but another is the shit strictly being a "pay to play" system. The shit is dominated by suburban kids who have the fanciest shoes and shirts, but not a lick of actual skill with the ball. If Klinnsmann is going to reach out to "urban america" (which is the absolute right move), US Soccer needs a serious restructure.

It could be so easy if the system wasn't so flawed.

 

[Rudey]

I am watching WC way before USA host it in 1994 and I must say the sport definitely make some big leap the last 20 yrs.