In most of these countries, soccer is the pastime. Whenever boys are together, that is what they do. I have never seen US kids kicking around a soccer ball in their neighbourhoods. I only see them dribbling with their basketball, abit of baseball and football e.t.c.
First of all, the game has broad appeal. Anyone can play, tall, short, fast, slow, strong kick, weak kick, good technique, bad technique, tactical skills or not. Unlike almost any other sport there isn\'t one skill that defines a good soccer player and you can compensate for your disadvantages by developing other skills or adapting your style of play. Almost regardless of what position you play in the team. I can\'t think of another sport that has this quality as much as soccer.
This makes it a very unpredictable game at all levels of competition. Sometimes the most unlikely player can decide a close match.
Add to this the history of soccer which no other sport will ever contest. It has had such a profound impact on people\'s lives, it is far more than a sport. You think the Yankees and Red Sox have a rivalry? Go to a city like Sevilla. Or Liverpool. Or Istanbul.
On the international level it\'s even more obvious just how much this sport means. The World Cup is more popular than the Olympics. When West Germany won the World Cup in 1954 (the Miracle of Berne) it changed Germany forever. A country still in ruins and a starving people plagued by guilt suddenly had something to be proud of and united in.
The self-respect and reputation of Brazil and its 180 or so million people have more to do with soccer than anything else. When small countries do well in big tournaments it completely changes them. After 1992 the Danes\' mentality changed and became more self-confident and the country\'s exports grew by over 10% the following years. How different was the mood in Athens during the 2004 Olmpics because their soccer team had just caused an even greater upset.
\"Soccer is not a matter of life and death. It is far more important than that.\" - Bill Shankly
I think it is because soccer is such a great drinking sport. Back when I lived across the pond, we would have to chug everytime a player was writhing in pain from being kickied in the shins or nuts. And if they were faking it and jumped back up we had to chug once again. You could get pretty pissed during an Everton/Liverpool derby match. It is no wonder that the Premiership is sponsored by Carling!
I am British and will therefore be referring to 'soccer' as 'football' in my post (as someone else said, we had it first and it is proper football - with no hand contact. We don't call it 'soccer').
I would argue that football is the most widely played sport in the world. In the UK and in Europe kids play it in school, in carparks, on the street, in fields etc. It is played everywhere and on every day of the week. And it's not just little boys. Girls and men play it too.
During such events as the FIFA World Cup kids will miss school to watch it, schools will sometimes let the kids watch the game (whichever game may be on) during classtime, teachers will leave class to go to the staffroom to get the current score, there will be a substantial increase in 'sickness' from work.
The rivalry between countries and regions is incredible - sometimes in a very bad way. Here, England/Scotland/Wales/Ireland usually get on fine - except when sport is involved. It gets particularly nasty between Wales and England. Also, during the World Cup or the Six Nations (rugby) you'll find English flags all over in England, Welsh flags hanging out of peoples windows in Wales, etc.
It's a 'drinking sport' - the vast majority have one or more big screens to watch the game on. Men and women will go out to watch it. It's as much a social event for the masses as it is a career/game for the players.
I don't know about the intricate footwork thing - I, personally, have little interest in football - but check out
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Shankly was actually talking about his regrets as a manger and how football was so serious that his family life suffered.