The World No Longer Wants To Play Us

I can still guarantee you that the majority of people in NY city still don’t give a… well you know.

Sometimes I think that Americans don’t like football (soccer). I hope this change soon.

The bigger problem isn’t just that some Americans don’t like it, it’s that they’re not even aware it exists.

It’s getting better though, slowly but surely. This World Cup could make all the difference (not instantly, but in an unstoppable momentum kind of way).

I think it is inevitable at some point. There are far too many immigrants in the US nowadays for the networks to ignore them. (I have no problem with them coming here, just thought I would make that clear:) I saw a spot on CNBC a little while back about Toyota upping its Spanish advertising because it is a largely untapped market and is growing. I will be a happy, and probably old, man when I can go to my local soccer, maybe they will rename it football, staduim and watch some big name talent when we can afford them.

Yeah right!
Ghana is willing and almost ready to play the US. Seriously, the US is not a easy game anymore. The free lunches are over.

I think it’s more fun to like soccer here when no one does. There is nothing like going to soccer bars during World Cup. There aren’t ahole bandwagoners everywhere either…yet.

Being from Atlanta and living elsewhere in the US, believe me, New York City is as good as it gets for soccer fans. There are literally thousands of soccer bars, pubs, etc… here to watch World Cup matches as well as EPL, Spanish league, Seria A and on and on. I think more people are “tuned in” to the WC, or at the very least know that it is happening, than most other places in the US. Having said that, it is still hilarious to watch people walking by your pub wondering why it is jam-packed and raucous at 10am on a Saturday morning. Some even ask, “what’s going on?” and you just have to say (with pint in hand). “The World Cup of course!!!!!”

Joe right were not a free lunch any more but we will not really know how much people do not want to play us until after the WC. If we perform like we did in France or are results are similar and maybe our performance is better I think teams would still rateher play us than about 13 other teams in the world. But here is to hoping we beat Italy or Czech Rep. and make it to the second round.

Speaking of World Cup marketing, has anyone else seen the Gatorade commercial set to “take me out to the ballgame”? I admit, It sounds a little weird if you haven’t seen it, but it gave me chills. It’s basically stock footage of preliminary play including the Poland snow game. Seeing It made me put on my Onyewu jersey and chant.

Matt,

I saw it and was really impressed. It somehow captures the drama of soccer. I’ve tracked it down on YouTube and will upload it soon.

I think we’ll do better than most people expect, if, and only if, each and every one of our guys plays out of his skin.

Hopefully America (as well as the rest of the footballing world) will get a good look at the US Team at the World Cup later this summer. I remember the commercials for the ‘02 World Cup that introduced the US Strike Team headed to Japan and Korea (Donovan, McBride, Beasley, Wolff, and Mathis).

Speaking of Mathis, what happened to this guy? I thought he would be a lock for this World Cup after his showing at 2002.