Ms FootyNut: End of World Cup Means Loss of Interest For Average Fans

It seems like the topic of the week is whether or not this 2010 FIFA World Cup had any lasting effect on US soccer's fan base.

IMHO I agree with Mr FootyNut's post that it may grab a converted fan or two, but I don't think it will reach a critical mass of any sort. I speak from experience in this as I was enamored with the World Cup while "my teams" (USA and England) were still in it. But as soon as they were eliminated I found myself dramatically less interested in the game. I'm sorry, Mr. FootyNut, but I have no desire to watch MLS or EPL games (unless I'm in the stadium).

In fairness, I have no desire to watch any other sport - unless it's a major competition...and most of the times not then either. Basicallym yes, I will only watch sports on television during the Olympics and now, World Cup. So, for a few weeks, every few years. But unlike even those who are annually dedicated to the Final Four, the Superbowl etc, my interest in sports in general do not go that far.

I think Americans who actually like watching sports on television, and who also watched this year's USMNT (US Mutant Ninja Turtles!!) may have a higher conversion rate. However, I don't get the impression that the t.v. networks (sports based or otherwise) are going to help fuel the Slightly Interested into becoming Super Fans. I think part of it boils down to accessibility to the game. If you show it, they might watch. If you don't...well, you get it. I would guess that someone with a friend (or partner) who is obsessed with footy is more likely to convert because they have a leader.

I also think fans of other sports are annoyed by blatant dives and become bored by what can be considered low-scoring games. Teams like Germany and Argentina have had higher scoring games recently and - on paper at least - that could be seen as more exciting. But during the group stages, the teams were more concerned with not losing than they were with winning so they settled for draws more often than in the later stages.

I'll conclude by saying that it will take time for me to become a Super Fan all year 'round, not just quadrennially. I think that will be true of most lay people who watched this World Cup.

In case you missed it, Ms FootyNut is guest blogging here to give a layperson's view of soccer and the World Cup.

Truly Epic Wins

Download Stateside Soccer's World Cup Knock-Out Round Bracket HERE. Fill it out in pencil or in pen, share it with your friends, enjoy the great soccer that is yet to come.


What a finish for Group C!!! You could not ask for more drama, suspense, or beauty in the USA's story. Robbed of two goals, both disallowed in objectionable circumstances during pivotal matches, only to come back in the 91st minute of the final game to win the group. Beautiful. There are hardly words. And I can't forget to mention England's showing, which was just as well done, holding off Slovenia's attacks for a clean 1-0 final. Magnificent.

Now that we are closer to the Final 16 I'd like to share with you the reusable, printable bracket I made. It's hosted on Google Docs for all the world to see and print here.

As a reminder, here are the standings so far:

Group A:
1. Uruguay
2. Mexico

Group B:
1. Argentina
2. South Korea

Group C:
1. USA
2. England

Group D:
1. Germany
2. Ghana

Also guaranteed a spot:
Group E, Netherlands and Group G, Brazil

Group D plays their final games today at 2:30pm EST. Can Ghana beat Germany and hold onto the top spot? Will Australia come from behind to get the win required to go through?! [Edit to Add] Yeah, that didn't happen...Germany and Ghana are through.

It's all terribly exciting!!

In case you missed it, Ms FootyNut is guest blogging here to give a layperson's view of footy and the World Cup.

Who Are Ya! Who Are Ya! ...Cheering For?

Missed Ms FootyNut's first post? Find it here.

Photo: Simon Bruty/Sports Illustrated

I have officially been bitten by the World Cup bug and I'm infecting several people I work with. Huzzah!

Like World Cup die-hard fans I've been trying to keep up with all the games. I can't watch them at work, but I do scan the news feeds for updates and once I know what their uniforms look like, I'm pretty good at playing the game in my head - Pass, pass, pass, pass, tackle, ball out of play, throw in, pass, pass...you get it. You may ask, "How is that satisfying?" Usually I just keep hoping anyone and everyone will score. I think that stems from growing up in Hockey Town where games are relatively "high scoring".

But now that I know a little bit more about this game, and the teams, I keep myself interested by always picking a side. I am one of those people that if I don't have an allegience, I always root for the underdog. For me this is also true in politics - I voted for Nader in '08.

This most recent round for Group B, I was rooting for South Korea because Park Ji-Sung is on that team, but also plays for Manchester United - Mr. FootyNut's Premireship team. And in Group A I was rooting for Mexico because, well, no one should be rooting for those dirty cheating French.

During the Greece/Nigeria game there was a short discussion on The Guardian's Minute By Minute about how South African fans are rooting for any African team because to them, a win for that team equals win for the continent (according to the comments on the Guardian). This is not a phenom that we've seen elsewhere, particularly Europe. A win for Germany wouldn't necessarily be highly celebrated in Spain or even England. Would we be happy if Mexico won? What about Canada (if they'd made it)? I haven't noticed this African bias with the Algerian game, anyone else?

While Mr. FootyNut and I are on a media black-out today (so we can watch the Group C games uninterrupted later tonight) debate these questions with us.

What do you think about the African bias? Are there other allegiances out there I don't know about? Who do you vote for when "your team" isn't playing? OR, is that tempting fate and you secretly wish there was a lose-lose option for everyone else?

Contributing Blogger - Meet MsFootyNut

Hello Blogosphere, I’m so pleased that Mr. FootyNut has invited me to blog with him. He thinks my perspective as an "outsider" may be amusing. I think he's barking, but if you bear with me, you can be the judge.


To give you some background, I was never a huge fan of soccer. I played in elementary school, sure. I spent many semesters and summers in the UK as a young adult and thought I would very much like to understand soccer, but I never made the effort. Then when Mr. FootyNut revealed he was a fanboy, I knew it was all about to change. I can’t really call myself a huge fan now, but I watch the important games and I cheer when a team scores, and yell when they get fouled or robbed of what was obviously going to be the most spectacular shot evar!! And I try really hard to understand the idiosyncrasies of the off-side rule.


As Mr. FootyNut previously wrote, his head exploded on June 5th when the USA met Australia. While I too have a mushy place in my heart for that continent "down under", my head stayed intact. It was just a friendly after all. However, this will all change tomorrow when the US meets England.


I guestimate that more than half of my heart lies with England. In 2006, ROOTS had a sale of all the World Cup stuff (after it was all over) and I bought an England t-shirt. I don't even remember if they had a USA one made! And this year, when purchasing some fan gear in preparation for this little tourney, I chose an England scarf over the US scarf – if only 40% because it was easier to find!


Don’t get me wrong, I really want the US to do well in this race. I really want to show our country that soccer does matter!! But on the other hand, England deserves to win again. It's been a long time, and they're more likely to go all the way to the finals than anyone else in C group – did I also mention I'm of Arab heritage and am secretly routing for Algeria too? I'm a complicated woman. Slovenia, you’re on your own.


Anyway, this ain’t no friendly game of footie here!! This counts towards that shiny gold thing Morgan Freeman is so fond of! So on Saturday afternoon I may be the only one in our pub supporting the "limeys" over the "yanks" and I'll just have to be ok with that.

Cheers.

Australia vs. the US Men's National Team: On Saturday, My Head Will Explode

With only a week left before the Republic of South and Africa and Mexico officially kick off the 2010 World Cup, teams and fans are scrambling with last minute preparations. On Saturday, two of my favorite national teams face off in their final preparation match: Australia and the United States (alphabetical order, for your information). My loyalties will be tested, and in the end, I think I'll be cheering for no one to get injured.

I was born in America, but my father shared his passion for all things Australian with me growing up. When my father died, I was left with an interest in and an undying curiosity for the Land Down Under. So when I graduated from college and it came time to make my way in the world, what did I do? Well, when the going gets tough, the tough go to grad school. And I went to grad school in Australia.

Truth be told, Australia and the United States have more in common than you may first think. Both are countries based on a fierce sense of egalitarianism and self determination. In terms of soccer, both are countries in which the Beautiful Game is a popular afterthought, placed behind two or three mainstream sports. And both are emerging soccer powers who rely on an "ugly," scrappy game patched together with a few international class players.

So when the Yanks meet the Socceroos on Saturday (8:30 a.m. EDT, ESPN 2), I'll be cheering for both teams to get past their pregame jitters and work through the kinks in their strategies. I want both of these teams to do well and I damn well hope they'll get out of their respective groups by the end of June.

But heaven forbid one of them wins their group and the other places second. That would set up a Round of 16 match between them ... and that's something I don't know if I could handle.

Australia vs. United States, Pre-World Cup Friendly, Live from Ruimsig Stadium in Roodepoort, South Africa, 8:30 a.m. EDT on ESPN 2 and ESPN 2 HD

What is "Success" for Soccer in the US?

photo: Columbus, Ohio International Visitors Council

With the fair-weather U.S. soccer frenzy that is the World Cup coming up in just over two weeks, a lot of dialogue will be focused on just how big soccer is in America. From soccer fanatics spreading the word about the global significance of the tournament to the debutante parties being declared for the American soccer fan, I find myself asking: "What's the endgame? What is "success" for the soccer movement in the United States?"

Is it soccer as the most popular sport in America?

Is it a 30 team MLS?

Is it an American media corps and public at large literate in the sport?

Is it a World Cup semi-final appearance by the US Men's National Team?

Or is it some obscure "respect" for the game?

Whatever it is, I think we need to be realistic with our expectations. Enough of this obsession with why Americans "don't like soccer." Enough with the "but it's so popular everywhere else!" And for God's sake, enough with trying to convince other fans that soccer is simply better than baseball, football, basketball or hockey.

The soccer landscape in the U.S. is going to be drastically different 15 years from now. But I'm unsure if we would count it as a "success" as meeting our halfheartedly defined objectives for what soccer "should be" in this country.

For my two cents, I count success as the day when I no longer have to explain why I love the sport to every person I meet at a bar.

What do you think?