FIFA World Cup 2014

Yep, well done USA.

I wasn't sorry to see Portugal go out frankly, they looked as ordinary as England and were very lucky getting a win over Ghana, who, apart from the errors, looked very good overall.

Jason.

Looking forward to the Russia/ Algeria game. A must win for Russia and a draw for Algeria.

Jason.

It would be nice if eventually proper football really took off in the USA.  Given the money and top names who have tried over the years it's curious that it is taking so long. Pretty much every other nation on the planet 'gets' football, regardless of culture, religion, or politics. Football seems to be true unifying sport. So come on USA, the rest of the world can't be wrong!    

While I've been away,  I seemed to have missed quite a lot of  things in this world cup, except football

I'm no sports sociologist, but . . . .

First, definitely many many more people have been exposed to 'proper football' here in the States due to the 2014 World Cup.  Myself included. I watched all 3 US games, and finally have a good appreciation -- at least better than I did before.  I'm no expert.

Clearly, the nationalism is at play.  It was one team, representing the entire country.  Americans do nationalism in sports pretty well.

American Football is IMMENSELY popular.  It's not nationalistic AT ALL; it's regional.  Head injuries are bad for the players, but I cannot possibly imagine fans turning away from it for that reason. 

And I do think that Americans exhibit far less of the 'lifetime loyalty' to any professional team here as compared to the lifetime loyalty shown in the UK (and likely elsewhere).  Americans show a lot of lifetime loyalty to their uni football and basketball, but most exhibit regional loyalty to the professional teams.

In closing, I think that we "get" world cup soccer this year.  What we don't "get" is the professional game here, and it may be a chicken / egg problem.  The game isn't popular because the games aren't well covered or well attended, which is why it isn't popular . . . . Will attendance at the New England Revolution games here spike in the coming months?  I doubt it.

Bart

Very good points and you could easily be right. But consider a couple more thoughts. First, a good portion of recent immigration into the US is from nations playing soccer. Those immigrants  continue to play and watch soccer. Second, and related, our southern border is next to a country that is nuts for soccer. Third, the US is the third most populated country in the world. Even without a wholesale shift in interest among those participating in our major sports, there's plenty of athletic talent to go around. Hell, one the new and upcoming sports in Southern California is cricket. It's a different world and will fun to watch. 

Cheers

Cricket is the real game!

Football is our fifth most popular team sport behind grid iron, baseball, basketball and hockey.  

Kids growing up here are attracted to the sports they see played on TV, and it is only in the last few years that football has gotten any air time at all. Sponsors do not like football because of the lack of commercial interruptions. The other sports feature constant interruptions, and so the number of commercials per televised event is at least an order of magnitude higher.

Workmanlike effort from an ultra-conservative US team today, but advancing from that group was a real accomplishment.  They'll need much better passing, and much more dynamic play to get a win against Belgium in regulation, but I doubt their overall strategy of clogging the midfield will change. Their best chance just might be to play for the draw, and hope that Howard can beat Courtois in a shoot out.

ATB.

Hook

Well, Clay.  That really would be a huge step forward for the USA's integration into world-wide sports. Even Afghanistan play cricket. And there's nothing more civilised than Test cricket.

MDS

That would be progress for the USA's integration in international culture to be fair.

I cannot wait for the first Simpsons episode to include cricket. Then I would know there is hope after all....

Bruce

There's a large athletic field about 3/4 of a mile from where I live, and I bicycle past it often.  Normally it is split into six baseball fields, but it is also used by the Minnesota Cricket Association, a couple of dozen club-level teams that play for fun.  They also have a youth program.

But even though Cricket has a long history in the US, it has zero chance of becoming popular anytime soon.  As Clay mentions above, the rise in football's popularity is in no small part due to the rising numbers of Latin American immigrants.  Yes, we have lots of European and Asian immigrants from cricket-playing countries too, but they are fewer in number, and their passion for cricket can not compared to the Latin American passion for football.

Besides, while there are a lot of nuances to good football play, the rules are pretty straight-forward, and kids can easily learn them. Cricket, by comparison, seems inscrutable. Also, busy parents seem able to find the time for their kids to practice and play football. By comparison, the investment in time and gear needed for kids to play cricket seems more than what most can handle.

I think that cricket is best supported in the northeast US, where Ivy league schools have played going back to the early 1800's. Beyond that, it's viewed mainly as an odd, foreign pastime, whose matches take way too long. 

ATB.

Hook

All this talk about US football makes me think of  the growth of football in Australia.

This is is the face of modern Multi- culturalism in Australia.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ckQGQpLvMMA

Apparently there was a game of football involved somewhere.  

The shift that we saw in Australia started with the birth of the Western Sydney Wanderers a couple of years ago which had a boutique stadium, a large ethnic community looking for an outlet and community driven desire for participation and active support.  It's all a little too blokey for me but I am not part of the young male demographic. Melbourne Victory are like WSW In the way they support their team.  

Brisbane still has the family atmosphere but we enjoy the vibe when western Sydney visit.  Our brand of football is more entertaining however, or so we think.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1BQVP_nPn4

Anyone predicting any upsets today?  I am not...

Brazil over Chile, 3-1. I think the home town team finally starts to find its form.

Colombia over Uruguay, 3-1. Without El Mordedor, Uruguay proves to be just an average team. I see a repeat of their game against Costa Rica. James Rodriguez hat trick? Sure, why not!

Yesterday was a good day off. Got a little work done, and rested my TV remote control finger. But I am now totally ready for four days of beer, popcorn and world class football!

ATB.

Hook

Brazilian win. Not sure how Uruguay will react to LS suspension it could galvanise the team to a brilliant up yours performance or not!

Indeed  Hook I needed the rest day but I am also ready to go again. 

Regards Graham.

I'm expected Columbia to beat Gnasher's team.  Uruguay weren't impressive with him in the team so won't be as strong without.  

I'm hoping Chile will overcome Brazil.  I predict 2-1.

MDS 

Brilliant.

Looking forward to the Chile v Brazil tie.  Have chilled a rather nice Chilean Chardonnay (Luis Felipe Edwards Gran Reserva 2013) to show my allegiance to Chile and settling down to watch the game. Still hoping for 2-1 to Chile, but am wary of Brazil finding their flair and swagger at some point in the tournament.

Good that it's on BBC so no adverts.

Pity the Brazilians in the crowd booed the Chilean national anthem. Am rooting for Chile even more now!

First half very high tempo. Chile a little fortunate to go in all square at 1-1 but perhaps unfortunate to have picked up two booking against none for Brazil. Fernandinho lucky not to have a yellow.

Brazil unlucky to have two big decisions against them. There was nothing wrong with Hulk's goal.

I've had to change allegiances to Brazil as I promised I would to my son's beautiful Brazilian girlfriend, who also comes from Belo Horizonte. 

Both teams must be exhausted after that effort.  Who will run out of puff first? Many teams playing Brazil in these circumstances would shut-up shop and play for penalties. Not sure Chile will do that.

Oscar is having a nightmare, so far.

Has he touched the ball more than half a dozen times?