“Cultural Implications of the Soccer Phenomenon in America

Dan D · Joined: 07 Jul 2002 Posts: 98 Location: 9th Flotilla

Resistance to soccer is futile! Razz

Interesting and fun -but long- read, originally published in 1986 (=“soccer phenomenon” ? ):
http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/culture.html

Extract:
„…Soccer in many countries cannot be understood apart from the country's culture, traditions, class structure, geography, and values. Soccer reflects a nation's culture because it permeates all levels of a society. There are probably climatic reasons why South Americans in their warm climate play at a different pace than the English, who play right through the winter and have to keep running to combat the cold. Brazilian soccer, so well documented by Janet Lever (1983) in Soccer Madness, is "alegre," soccer to a Samba beat-joyous, unpredictable, spontaneous, "poetry and motion." (A Sao Paulo psychologist once observed that Brazilians have lost their self-esteem, and "soccer comes in as a saving element-the sensation of taking part in a collective undertaking . . . rich in emotions" [Hoge, 1982, p. A-2].)

England's "Dunkirk style" is tenacious, with hard tackling, fairness, and a "let's-get-the-job-done" attitude.
West Germany's highly disciplined, mechanistic, orderly "systems soccer" was called by Pele on TV in 1982 "ten robots alongside Rummenigge" (Europe's "player of the year").
The superbly conditioned Soviets engage in "technical soccer," by the book, but often fail against the flamboyant South Americans and the gritty, determined English.
Italians may learn acting before soccer, treating the sport (as in most Latin-language countries) as a matter of life and death. In fact, one Italian coach was overheard to remark that "some say football is a matter of life and death. Well it isn't-it's more important than that!"…

Side note: “one Italian coach”, gosh! It was the ex-Liverpool manager Bill Shankly who had said that.
Some more Bill Shankly quotes:
„What a great day for football, all we need is some green grass and a ball.”
“Me having no education. I had to use my brains.”
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Will the American soccer create its own style? What will it look like?
A chess-like system soccer a la American football combined with elements of Brazilian-Dutch individualism and British-German fighting spirit? God help us!
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Also interesting:
„Epic clash of the logos“:
Nike (USA-Brazilian Nike squad) vs. Adidas (Germany),
http://www.slate.com/id/2139940/?nav=tap3

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"Gentlemen, it is better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football." (John Heisman)

Sixpack · Joined: 22 Nov 2002 Posts: 1429 Location: Friggin' Holland

USA, don't hurry.

The rest of the world can do without USA in terms of football. It always could, and we are just fine as we are.

Dan, move to Europe if you like our football so much. Thumbs Up

Konovalov · Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:56 am Post subject:

I keep getting told off here for calling the game soccer and not football. Embarassed

Sixpack · Joined: 22 Nov 2002 Posts: 1429 Location: Friggin' Holland

Football is not handegg ! :nope:

jumpy · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 794 Location: Midlands, UK

David Coleman (sports commentator)
"The game (football) isn't over yet, but I thought the best team won."

Yer Konovalov, it's football not soccer... pffft.. lol Laughing

Konovalov · Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:27 am Post subject:

Dan D · Joined: 07 Jul 2002 Posts: 98 Location: 9th Flotilla

Meanwhile: News from the Western Front

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Revealed: England’s black magic counter-strike against German voodoo to weaken England’s players .

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News and video update on 2006 world cup storm-trooper helmets:
Hearsay says: “The manufacturer of the helmets said the German police recently informed him they intend to allow fans to wear the helmets during the games, because they were not adorned with Nazi symbols.”

What? The Dutch manufacturer said German police said they ”intend” to allow" ?!!
Honi soit qui mal y pense.

Helmets will be supplied to all participating nations:
“The helmets are now mass-produced in different colours and bear slogans to fit the different countries attending the tournament.”
The German helmets are in gold colour Smug

, England white, Italy blue, Brazil green, Australia yellow, Spain red.
The helmets are of good use, if you can't find a toilet.
Watch the video here:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3220706,00.html
The helmet fabrication reminds a bit of the star wars clone trooper factory scenes.