Official World Cup 2014 Thread

[ktguen]

Originally Posted by Lalli25

Has a lot more to do with the game times this World Cup compared to the previous locations. Also, the World Cup is played at a perfect time in American sports. There is literally nothing to compete with. I'm happy that the US supported the team, but let's not get too caught up in the rating.

I also believe the rise of social media has played a huge part.

[Transmaniacon]

As with just about any sport, the primary barrier to fan interest is investment in the drama and outcome. From a more detached perspective, I think baseball is ridiculously boring. But, I watch the gamecocks play in the postseason and find myself on the edge if my seat. Same with women's basketball. I have no use for Nascar, but I went to see a friend race once in one of these lower-level races, an it was epic. I love watching Golf when it is a major and the players' nerves are battling adrenaline. I pay almost no attention to smaller tournaments. I love women's gymnastics during the Olympics. Honestly, the drama an tension of those events can't be beat. But, I'd rather watch Dabo trying on khakis than watch gymnastics any other time.

I used to play soccer but never watched it. Then I joined a fantasy EPL league about 6 years ago, and starting getting into it more and more. Eventually I became a Tottenham fan, which started pretty casual but now is for real. I guess what I'm saying is that soccer's popularity will grow as this sort of investment in the drama, teams, and players grow. It is a thrilling game when you care about the outcome. And, once you start caring, you can also get caught up in its unique culture (like college football, for instance), which can broaden your interest in the game more generally (including dumb tabloid drama).

Right now, a lot of people at least know what the game offers when you care. Most will stop caring now and stop watching. But the flirting may have gotten to a few of them, and they will take a look at EPL or other leagues (now that they may know some players) because they just want to keep flirting. And caring. Life is more interesting and exciting when you care about things. Even dumb things that sometime end nil-nil.

Some others will take the lazy, cynical route and shit on the game for whatever reason. It is easy to be against just about everything. F*ck those people.

[12+4=6]

If you seriously think this World Cup didn't get a hell of a lot of people to see the excitement in a sport they had previously dismissed, you're crazy.

MLS is getting stronger every day, the USMNT showed it can go toe to toe with top teams, and the country rallied around a team like we have never seen before.

A good bit of it IS hype, but with that hype comes awareness and involvement. Sure, a lot of people will hop back off of the soccer bandwagon that made this World Cup so much fun - but a lot won't.

[BlakelyH19]

Thanks World Cup for giving us some sports excitement in the season of sports boredom from a sport we didn't think could really do that for us.

[TonyVercetti]

I literary didnt hear a single person even mention the world cup. None of my friends. Non of my famiy. Nothin public. Nothing. Whenever i asked anyone about itbthey were like "yeah right"

As far as i kno it didnt even happen. Only place i heard about it was on espn when i was trying to watch stuff about football.

Oh alsi i work with a mexican. One who was born and riased in mexico. He doesnt even like soccer. He loves gamecock football.

So imo soccer here is like football everwhere else. Besides less. Lol

[boowilliam4]

The fact that we made it out of the group stage was an accomplishment. We went toe to toe with some of the powerhouses of soccer and held our own. I'm not a big soccer fan but I really enjoyed seeing everyone rally behind this team these past few weeks. Go USA and Go Gamecocks.

[Gyle41386]

Excited for the quarters, especially France/Germany.

[Hoodrow Wilson]

The United States won 1 game, tied a game, and lost 2 games...

I am somehow uninspired.

[Regalcock]

Originally Posted by Hoodrow Wilson

The United States won 1 game, tied a game, and lost 2 games...

I am somehow uninspired.

We lost to Germany 1/0 they are ranked top 5 in the world.

We tied Portugal 2/2 they are ranked top 5 in the world. Last second miracle for them I might add.

Beat Ghana who tied Germany and lost to Belgium top 10 in the world and had a chance to steal it if Wondo hits the open net in regulation.

I was inspired.

[trapper82]

Walked into BWW here in Florence as the game wound down. It was nuts in there, the whole place was packed, every TV showing the WC game, the whole place roose and fell with every game development, people dressed up in red, white and blue. This was in Florence, in a chain restaurant. I never would've thought that atmosphere would be in this town at that place. I am considering what it would take to found an American Outlaws chapter here.

If you don't like it, that's fine, we get it. Seems when it comes to soccer more people that dont like it are very willing to explain why. If I dont like somethimg I usually ignore it. No reason to dismiss the sport itself.

[Travelin]

Originally Posted by TonyVercetti

I literary didnt hear a single person even mention the world cup. None of my friends. Non of my famiy. Nothin public. Nothing. Whenever i asked anyone about itbthey were like "yeah right"

As far as i kno it didnt even happen. Only place i heard about it was on espn when i was trying to watch stuff about football.

Oh alsi i work with a mexican. One who was born and riased in mexico. He doesnt even like soccer. He loves gamecock football.

So imo soccer here is like football everwhere else. Besides less. Lol

Did your Mexican pal type your post for you?

BTW, soccer IS football.

[Travelin]

Originally Posted by Regalcock

We lost to Germany 1/0 they are ranked top 5 in the world.

We tied Portugal 2/2 they are ranked top 5 in the world. Last second miracle for them I might add.

Beat Ghana who tied Germany and lost to Belgium top 10 in the world and had a chance to steal it if Wondo hits the open net in regulation.

I was inspired.

So was I. We have a lot to be excited about going forward. Lots of big matches coming up in the future.

I was hoping we could at least make the quarters, but I honestly think we went as far as our talent level could take us.

[Kaka]

All the soccer insiders know that we can do better.

1. Donovan should have been there.
2. Wondolosky and Brad Davis had not reason to be there
3.Joe Corona is a creative player that was excluded for no reason.
4. Does Klinsmann watch MLS at all? Does he knows who Luis Silva is?

I think Klinsmann is a good coach but there are better ones out there, I guess is a financial decision and he is the best we can afford for now.

[CoverTwo]

I hope we qualify for Confederate Cup.

[B-G]

Originally Posted by TonyVercetti

I literary didnt hear a single person even mention the world cup. None of my friends. Non of my famiy. Nothin public. Nothing. Whenever i asked anyone about itbthey were like "yeah right"

As far as i kno it didnt even happen. Only place i heard about it was on espn when i was trying to watch stuff about football.

Oh alsi i work with a mexican. One who was born and riased in mexico. He doesnt even like soccer. He loves gamecock football.

So imo soccer here is like football everwhere else. Besides less. Lol

Damn Pantera.

Even in Miami? No one talks about soccer?

[Lalli25]

Originally Posted by trapper82

Walked into BWW here in Florence as the game wound down. It was nuts in there, the whole place was packed, every TV showing the WC game, the whole place roose and fell with every game development, people dressed up in red, white and blue. This was in Florence, in a chain restaurant. I never would've thought that atmosphere would be in this town at that place. I am considering what it would take to found an American Outlaws chapter here.

If you don't like it, that's fine, we get it. Seems when it comes to soccer more people that dont like it are very willing to explain why. If I dont like somethimg I usually ignore it. No reason to dismiss the sport itself.

Do you remember when the USA hockey team played Canada for the gold? The game was at noon and bars were packed at 9am with people the same way. America supports it's national teams no matter what sport it is. People have the same stories and reactions every four years.

Why can't people just enjoy the teams run and the fan support and not have to try and make it into more than it is?

[Travelin]

Next up is the Czech Republic.

A friendly being played in Prague on Sept. 3rd.

[A. Pilgrim]

Originally Posted by 12+4=6

If you seriously think this World Cup didn't get a hell of a lot of people to see the excitement in a sport they had previously dismissed, you're crazy.

MLS is getting stronger every day, the USMNT showed it can go toe to toe with top teams, and the country rallied around a team like we have never seen before.

A good bit of it IS hype, but with that hype comes awareness and involvement. Sure, a lot of people will hop back off of the soccer bandwagon that made this World Cup so much fun - but a lot won't.

It most definitely got people into the excitement that soccer can bring.

But here's the problem...people in the US, for the most part, have extremely short attention spans.

Without a team to now have a vested interest in...most of us who root for the US team will have to wait another 4 years before being interested in soccer again.

Why?
Because I'm a grown man who doesn't feel a draw to arbitrarily pick a team to have as 'my team'

I'm was born and raised, and continue to live, in SC...so, MLS doesnt offer anything in terms of 'my team' as well.

There's nothing to keep my attention on the sport...and 4 years is a long time.

[carolinafan53186]

Originally Posted by A. Pilgrim

It most definitely got people into the excitement that soccer can bring.

But here's the problem...people in the US, for the most part, have extremely short attention spans.

Without a team to now have a vested interest in...most of us who root for the US team will have to wait another 4 years before being interested in soccer again.

Why?
Because I'm a grown man who doesn't feel a draw to arbitrarily pick a team to have as 'my team'

I'm was born and raised, and continue to live, in SC...so, MLS doesnt offer anything in terms of 'my team' as well.

There's nothing to keep my attention on the sport...and 4 years is a long time.

Another problem is that soccer has to compete with all the other sports in this country. We don't have to wait four years for football or baseball to restart.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I847 using Tapatalk 2

[Kaka]

Originally Posted by A. Pilgrim

It most definitely got people into the excitement that soccer can bring.

But here's the problem...people in the US, for the most part, have extremely short attention spans.

Without a team to now have a vested interest in...most of us who root for the US team will have to wait another 4 years before being interested in soccer again.

Why?
Because I'm a grown man who doesn't feel a draw to arbitrarily pick a team to have as 'my team'

I'm was born and raised, and continue to live, in SC...so, MLS doesnt offer anything in terms of 'my team' as well.

There's nothing to keep my attention on the sport...and 4 years is a long time.

MLS will have a team in Atlanta next year.

I feel you, I love nfl but I don't have a team, I guess I follow the Panthers and the Raiders. I like college football better because I can go to the games here in Columbia, I enjoy football a lot after I learned the basic of it, my younger brother was the kicker for Dutch Fork High School.

Thanks for the support during the world cup.

Haters are just inmature people who's life isn't exciting so they find dumb reasons to trash soccer, they will always hate not matter what.