The Beautiful Game: A Look at How More are Noticing the Excellency of Soccer

By Amanda Neppl
When I was in the 3rd grade, my mom pulled me out of ballet classes and signed
me up for soccer. I had practice on Thursday nights and a game on Saturday
mornings, bright and early, at 8am. (Because of weak playing, a reluctant attempt
at hiding my hope to rejoin ballet gone wrong, and an unfortunate lack of friends, I
was named the goalie.) My parents loved to videotape my games when while I was
running about on the field, and the odd tradition continued after I took my spot in
front of the goal. I was not waiting for anyone. I was practicing pirouettes in the
goal. I would spot the other goal to complete the turn, and each time I landed, I
checked to see if that ball was any closer to my side of the field. It wasnt.
When I think of favorable memorable American pastimes, I think of football games.
From a young age, I was brought up watching college football, the ever-changing
plays of the Miami Dolphins, and occasionally an *entire* Super Bowl instead of just
up until halftime. Think of a football game, right now; the effortless noise echoing
from music and commentators, the mouthwatering smell of hot dogs and soft
pretzels; the spirit represented by the crowd, who, are decked in their newest mega-
fan gear and sporting their teams colors.
I do not remember any movies about American football as much as I remember
when I first watched Bend It Like Beckham. I liked the soccer films soundtrack as
well as Kiera Knightleys role. (read: If you havent seen it, no spoilers are ahead.)
Soccer is not singularly witnessed and marveled upon by Europeans and die-hard
South American fans. It is for everyone. An article from Universitaet Tbingen in
Germany was featured in Science Daily, reads Ever since the USA was nominated
as the host country for FIFA's Soccer World Cup in 1994, the interest in soccer has
grown in the country. The game took place in the Rose Bowl and concluded in a 0-0
tie between Brazil and Italy. Brazil won 3-2 in shootouts. The next FIFA World Cup is
scheduled to take place in Russia in summer of 2018.
Naming soccer players is also a difficulty, yet when asked, most Americans can list
a few. Americans like stars and many of the stars of the World Cup play in
England, writes Cork Gaines for Business Insider. Americans seem disinterested in
Major League Soccer the United States professional soccer league and curious
about the German Bundesliga or the English Premier League, likely because they
are more familiar with the players on these international teams. Business Insider
includes a graph comparing how much MLS and Premier Leagues were searched on
Google.
(continuation of the previous paragraph) Major League Soccer does not bring the
same hype as the Premier League. MLS does very well locally and has some very
passionate local fan bases that rival that of teams in the NFL, Major League
Baseball, and the NBA (Gaines). Its popularity would not grow to the extent of the
Premier League unless the MLS opens up its vault and starts to bring over star
players with recognizable names in their prime (Gaines).
Beside the World Cups growing amount of viewer each year, the UEFA Cup proves
to be just as if not even more entertaining. Iceland, whose national population
of about 330,000 makes it smaller than more than 50 American cities, qualified for
the Euros (which was startling), advanced out of the group stage (which was
surprising), beat England in the round of 16 (which was astonishing), and now, in
Sundays quarterfinal at the national stadium just outside Paris, will try to eliminate
the host, France (which would be, frankly, quite ridiculous), writes Sam Borden in
an article for The New York Times. During the UEFA Cup last summer, Iceland stole
the show by reaching heights that were truly unexpected. Until all of the above
happened. The syncopated, overhead slow clap with chanting rings in the ears of
everyone who watched an Iceland game, and even those who simply searched the
Viking quest kind of thing on YouTube. France won 5-2.
Bend It Like Beckham not only recognized cultural tensions and religious realities,
but it introduced a sort of magic and marvel about soccer that, in my opinion, no
other sport honestly has. Fans call it the beautiful game. There is an artistry to
each players positioning, a delicacy in every effortlessly graceful kick, and a light
the glows brighter whenever someone shouts GOAL!. Sam Borden joins Jer
Longman for Beckham, at 38, Says Hell Bend It No Longer. The New York Times
article reads Beckham was not merely an athlete; he was an international brand
that smartly fused a handsomeness that bordered on beauty with athleticism,
marketing savvy and an eager embrace of the role of pop idol. Beckham did play
for the Los Angeles Galaxy; most know of his accomplishments with Manchester
United and Real Madrid. Aside from his footballer career, Beckham has partnered
with numerous brands, including Gorgio Armani and Adidas, among others. The New
York Times continues with that he still placed 12th on Forbess 2012 list of highest-
paid athletes with an estimated $46 million in salary and endorsements. It is more
than safe to say that no matter Beckhams next move, it is bound to be impressive.
He doesnt have enemies, says Stefan Szymanski, co-author of Soccernomics
and professor at University of Michigan. Its hard to dislike him unless youre
deliberately perverse.
Clearly, the world of football the other football is fantastically expanding. The
growth of interest in soccer is something that should be celebrated and encouraged,
gardened and bolstered. This is, in a way, the worlds most popular sport. It is
discussed everywhere on the globe, viewed as gorgeously executed, and
consistently breathtaking. Even to a little girl who simply missed her ballet classes.
If I told my 10-year-old self that when youre 19, you will enjoy soccer, I would have
also added, bend it.