re: Could US be out of Copa America tomorrow?

quote:

---

The average American soccer fan is a purple haired, sky screaming, freak and it's very offputting

---

Now you know how they feel about football

quote:

---

The average American soccer fan is a purple haired, sky screaming, freak and it's very offputting

---

Depends on where you live in the country, went to a match at a Liverpool bar here in Houston and it was mostly ex-pats. Drink specials and loud cheering at 8a was an amazing way to start a Sunday.

Similar experience when I went to a match in Miami to watch Messi. My son and I were amongst maybe 10 other gringos but stadium was fricking rocking for that game.

quote:

---

USA soccer/ soccer culture biggest issue (outside of boring arse low scoring games) is that its way to lib to be a family friendly sport

Growing up in the mid/late 90s soccer was a cool sport . Where I lived/went to school in Atlanta it was probably the biggest sport outside of baseball.

However, the overt leftism displayed by the fans and that is embraced by the MLS and Team owners is extremely offputting.

No way i am taking my son to an Atlanta United game

---

I only played one season of soccer as a kid. It wasn't a very big sport in my town at the time, and I stopped playing because I liked other sports more. Now, one of my children plays. I enjoy kicking the ball around with her in the yard. I think it is the greatest "little kid" sport because of it's relative simplicity (offsides is not enforced at that age). It seems like it is a lot of fun to play (at least when kids are young).

But I don't think it will ever truly get big in the US simply because a lot of it doesn't really match the ethos of other US sports. Americans value toughness, aggressiveness, and seemingly super-human athleticism (blazing speed, incredible strength, the ability to jump out of the gym, etc). The guys who play soccer are really good athletes. But the measured, methodical nature of the sport, doesn't really lend itself to a lot of aggression and remarkable athletic plays (though they do happen in games).

What Americans really don't like is the overexaggerated whining which is part of the sport. A relatively mild slide tackle occurs and you end up with a guy rolling on the ground writhing in pain like he just blew out his knee. Or mild contact occurs and two guys are flopping around like they are in the worst pain imaginable. Now, they are doing it to try to sell a foul. But it is off-putting to Americans who value guys shaking off injuries and playing through pain.

Another thing that American's really don't relate to is the "anarchy" that occurs many times after a penalty. A call gets made, and 9 guys surround the referee, following him around, whining about what happens...all while the ref takes little control of the situation and acts like he's helpless to react. Worse case scenario, he gives a player a "yellow" or "red" card like he's punishing a 1st grader. Of course there are arguments in football, baseball, basketball. But in none of those does the ref walk around acting like he's helpless to do anything. They control the game. You also have the anarchy of uncertainty. The halves end...except an undisclosed and ambiguous amount of time is seemingly arbitrarily added to the clock with no one knowing exactly when the half will end. No other American sport does that.

Also, Americans don't mind low scoring games...as long as there is a sense of drama and suspense throughout. Soccer doesn't have a lot of that as over the course of 90+ minutes a game may have only a few shots on goal.

Finally, other potential new fans are often put off by the elitist (born out of defensiveness) nature of many soccer fans. Almost like a "this sport is too nuanced and sophisticated for you trashy football, basketball fans. Of course you wouldn't like it. You're too dumb to understand or appreciate it".

I would encourage anyone with kids to let them play soccer at an early age. It's a fun sport. But I fully understand why it has never caught on big in the US

You can cut the tension with a knife in the epic 0-0 tie

quote:

---

Going to depend on Uruguay. They do not have anything to play for since they have already won the group.

---

Probably isn't going to matter given ho wbad Bolivia is. Panama is probably going to take the GD anyway.

They’re going to lay down bc they’re a bunch of pussies.

Have some backbone and tell the women to make their own money and stop wearing the gay pride shite

quote:

---

But I fully understand why it has never caught on big in the US

---

The USA doesn’t have the athletes to compete with the rest of the world.

The USA doesn’t have the same quality of finishers / scorers as the rest of the world.

Until both of these change , USA soccer will continue to be irrelevant in the world.