So who's here's a soccer fan?

[The Midnight]

There are two differing theories on the etymology of football. One is what most people assume, a compound of the words "foot" and "ball" (ie meaning that the ball is kicked with the foot). The other is that the game was played by people on their feet, as opposed to sports like polo at the time which were played on horseback. There were sports in England called football that specifically forbade the use of one's foot, which leads credence to that theory. But there is early evidence of two sports called football and handball, leading credence to the former theory.

And soccer isn't just used in the US. It's used in most English speaking countries where soccer isn't the dominant code of football (like Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and even in Ireland and South Africa).

Yeah.. we used "soccer" here in NZ.

We call rugby - Footy.

 

[fishonjazz]

Just finished my recording of it. For being a blowout win it was a very fun game to watch...lots of goals and chances from both sides.

Agreed.
If more games were as action packed as that one, then I would probably become a soccer fan.
Unfortunately too many games have way too long between actual goal chances and I end up getting bored

 

[leftyjace]

Agreed.
If more games were as action packed as that one, then I would probably become a soccer fan.
Unfortunately too many games have way too long between actual goal chances and I end up getting bored

Part of what is making things exciting lately is that Jurgen is having them push for more and more...even when they have a big lead. No sitting back and packing it in. Love it.

 

[leftyjace]

<-- I'm in a moderate way, but I only watch high quality games usually. I don't like the speed of football so I tend to get bored if teams don't go right at each others throat for 90 min. Who do you like on the US national team right now? In the past quite a few of them found themselves on German teams for the season.

Man... Even though it was mostly the B team, this Gold Cup roster has impressed. Rimando was awesome, Landon is 110% back in form, Besler is just solid, Corona is tearing it up... Lots of fun.

 

[bordelais7]

The only thing that annoys me about soccer are the Eurosnobs who insist that their way is correct.

 

[Zulu]

During the las WC I haven't seen a single South African who used the word soccer in interviews. But it's a couple years back so my mind might trick me of course, but in general I memorize things like these, so I'm confident enough to bring it out.
I just find it weird to name a sports with a name that doesn't really describe what's going on. And by all I say I respect how a sport is called in certain areas , I just don't agree/appreciate it.
Is anyone of you into European association football? Or is it more on a national/local level that you're interested in it?

I have spent many years in South Africa and they use the term soccer! The professional league is called the PSL(Premeire Soccer League)!!!

But as soon as the announcement came that they were geting the World Cup in 2010 all of the media and government officials started calling it "FutBol"!!! But I heard many locals say " why we we calling it Futbol now we always call it soccer"?

Now that the World Cup has come and gone everyone is back to saying Soccer!!!

 

[Zulu]

Yeah.. we used "soccer" here in NZ.

We call rugby - Footy.

Aussie rules football is Also called Footy,

And the Australian Soccer team nickname in the Soccerroos!!!

 

[Zulu]

Man... Even though it was mostly the B team, this Gold Cup roster has impressed. Rimando was awesome, Landon is 110% back in form, Besler is just solid, Corona is tearing it up... Lots of fun.

It will be interesting to see if Landon plays World Cup Qualifers, honestly I hate the guy... Laughed my *** of when he missed the PK and let the Door open for RSL to win the championship a few years back, but the dude has been killing it in theses gold cup games...

If he plays like that and Jozie continues his excellence Brazil is going to be fun!!!

 

[bordelais7]

I just find it weird to name a sports with a name that doesn't really describe what's going on.

In that regard, "football" is a pretty decent name for soccer. The naming committee wanted to go with the more apt "diving", but that was already taken by the swim team.

 

[scootsy]

Big soccer fan. Love playing FIFA, love watching. RSL fan, USMNT fan mainly. Love following the stars, soccer seems to create bigger egos than any other sport in the world. Favorites include C. Ronaldo (there will only ever be one Ronaldo), Zlatan (his auto-biography is one of my favorite books all time), Eden Hazard, Gareth Bale, Radamel Falcao, Mario Gotze, etc..

I predict that Spain will win WC '14, Germany will win Euro Cup '16, and Belgium will win WC '18.

 

[BTP]

I have spent many years in South Africa and they use the term soccer! The professional league is called the PSL(Premeire Soccer League)!!!

But as soon as the announcement came that they were geting the World Cup in 2010 all of the media and government officials started calling it "FutBol"!!! But I heard many locals say " why we we calling it Futbol now we always call it soccer"?

Now that the World Cup has come and gone everyone is back to saying Soccer!!!

Apparently they were only willing to interview people who were willing to call it futbol! Or the Vuvuzela sound distracted me too much

The only thing that annoys me about soccer are the Eurosnobs who insist that their way is correct.

In that regard, "football" is a pretty decent name for soccer. The naming committee wanted to go with the more apt "diving", but that was already taken by the swim team.

I like you Calling football players divers just because there's like 3 Italians, 3 Spainiards and a Portuguese who excel at it is like saying all basketball player are going to file bankruptcy at some point of their life, smoke weed and find themselves in children-custody, rape and infidelity/divorce scandals during their time in the league. Oh and American Footballer usually like dog fights. All of them. It should be renamed into Dogfighting, but that was already taken...
Call me a Euro snob or whatever, but that's where this game is from. I mean it's not like we feel entitled in Germany to change the name of basketball into hoopball or hooping. Plus I call American Football straight football mostly, as the German word for the "real" football is "Fußball", thus using the English word implies for most straightforward thinking people that I'm talking about the American game while I'm having conversations in my native language.
Just like Americans refuse to call it football due to popularity and their own history which I respect, I refuse to call it soccer when I'm writing in English about it in a context that allows no misunderstanding.
Wanna add that I wasn't the one who started the soccer <=> football topic on here, that's what a Canadian started if I'm not mistaken.

Part of what is making things exciting lately is that Jurgen is having them push for more and more...even when they have a big lead. No sitting back and packing it in. Love it.

I totally forgot that Klinsmann was your headcoach...Most Germans don't value him as a good coach. They dislike his shortcomings when it comes to tactics. I agree with it, but I think he's a good player's coach for a young group.
Plus I just found out that Jermaine Jones(aka the German MWP) is on your national team. Can't deny I had to think about Chris Kaman immediately.
First time I've seen something from the USA on an international level was 2002 the quarter final vs Germany, where I felt before the game it's going to be a blowout win but then we got kind of lucky with more than just a few left opportunities for the US boys. And of course a tragic semifinal exit of Germany against Bulgaria in 1994. I was 7 back then and my world fell apart for a couple days back then. I even cried. But that tournament is a little bit of an all time classic for the guys my age. During that tourney a German player was suspended for showing the middle finger to the fans during a game. His last name is a synonym for that now.

 

[fishonjazz]

My biggest problem with soccer currently is the time keeping.
Why the **** is the referee the only one who gets to know how much time is left.
It should be that whenever the ref stops his clock, the clock that all the fanz/players can see stops as well.

No more of this stoppage time ********.
I mean what if there was like 15 seconds left in a tie game and the player in control of the ball thought there was a minute or two left so he is just dribbling or passing and then the time runs out without him getting to attempt a "hail mary" type of shot at the buzzer.

It would be much more exciting if everyone knew EXACLTY how much time was left in the game..... then we might see some amazing buzzer beaters!