Tuesday
Jun292010
World Cup Special: It's Mourning in England (Matlin)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 6:05 
Last Saturday night, Team USA was knocked out of football's World Cup. But how many Americans noticed? According to an “in-depth” survey carried out after the defeat by Ghana, most were unaware of the World Cup, , and the vast majority of those who recognised something was happening didn’t really care that much.(OK, full disclosure: the survey, better known as a straw poll, was carried out by the writer who e-mailed and skyped a number of friends and relations in the States.)
A day later, England was defeated by Germany, the olde football enemy. Since 1966, the one time England won the World Cup, defeating the Germans in the final, Germany has had the high sign over the English: 1990 World Cup, 1996 European Championship, and now England's worst-ever defeat before its biggest-ever audience.
It's safe to say many noticed. The good people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have wallowed in our dismay. Television and newspapers have carried out a 48-hour post-mortem on the woeful performance of the England players. Those who were enthusiastic are now merciless.
The story is not confined to the sports pages. It is front page news, with the castigation of overpaid players, some of whom earn £6 million –-- that’s pounds not dollars –-- before they receive cheques for endorsements and image rights. The England manager is paid £4 million and probably has a large severance package waiting for him at the end of the week.The diatribe against all concerned in the England defeat will be conducted not only by the media and the pundits but also by the 30 million prospective new England managers until mid-August, when the football season starts here. Then much will be forgiven.
I have asked myself why things are so different in America. Sure, I expect the people of Indiana were put out when the Indianapolis Colts were upset in this year’s football (American rather than international version) Super Bowl but was there a call for mass punishment or at least dismissals? Not really
It's just not the same because it is rare for America to produce a national team. In American football, this has never happened --- after all, there is no other nation to play, except maybe for Canada (and with their inferior variety of the game, they could easily be vanquished). The Olympics are a debatable exception --- basketball, baseball, andice hockey are graced by Team USA --- but the traumas are few and far between: the 1972 basketball upset by the Soviet Union (and they cheated, they had to have cheated) has faded, and so what if the US got trounced by the Cubans at some random point in baseball?
So this week, when those EA readers who are American contemplate the difference between our two countries, please know that a depression, both emotional and economic, will have settled over England and will not be lifted for some weeks. If our neophyte Prime Minister, David Cameron (who apparently watched the World Cup debacle alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel) and his coalition partners looked for a Three Lions win to relieve the economic plight of this small island, they have been sadly disappointed.
We English are now officially in mourning.
Reader Comments (12)
RE But how many Americans noticed? According to an “in-depth” survey carried out after the defeat by Ghana, most were unaware of the World Cup,
Up to and through the Ghana-US game, Aljazeera English was filing reports directly from the more soccer-conscious cities in America, showing all the places where people gathered in large numbers to watch the games and interviewing both fans and more casual followers ofthe World Cup. The numbers of Americans interested in soccer has increased exponentially since the early days when the US women's team beat China and first put soccer on the map in the US. It still has quite a way to go, but I'm optimistic about the growing levels of interest.
Tehrani football fans enjoy World Cup games on big screen
The Azadi Cinema Complex is screening the remaining World Cup games live for football fans.
The complex screened Germany vs. England and Mexico vs. Argentina on Sunday which was warmly welcomed by fans, Azadi Cinema Complex director Reza Saeidipur told the Persian service of FNA.
Although many people were not informed about the screening of the games, the theater was studded with fans holding German flags in their hands, he added.
More: http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=222209" rel="nofollow">http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=...
"We English are now officially in mourning"
Then what better moment than this to resume the Iraq Enquiry? :-)
Well, what I kept hearing was that the Americans are whiners, the Americans are whiners, etc.
I guess that the proper response is to tear apart your team in the tabloids and yell or maybe an act of hooliganism (Laker's fans have this down).
Of course Catherine, the only occasion to have a Union Jack flag is to stomp on it, and where to find a St. George's Cross on short notice?
And yes, I remember being in Portland during the time of the US-England match. They had a whole city block and outdoor bigscreen with everyone in their Team USA gear (this being the 12th, I was in green and had other plans).
But no, most Americans don't care and it's their loss.
Anyway, I hate to be a bad sport, but as a fan of Germany and Scotland (besides the US), I was absolutely giddy the whole day after England's 4-2(!) loss. Sorry. ;-)
Living in Holland, I always have to hide my long-abiding affinity for Spain and Argentina!
Heresy! Not the Clockwork Orange?! Well, I didn't have a preference for the Spain v. Portugal match, so I guess I'll root for Spain and hope Sergio Ramos has another occasion to pull out the Andalusian flag - I think that's übercool.
Now, as to Argentina's next match and the Messi-Klose showdown... ;-)
It should be a good game, which I'm anticipating with more anxiety and less confidence than the England match. Maridona's Argentina has my healthy respect and admiration. I hope Neuer is prepared!
"David Cameron (who apparently watched the World Cup debacle alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel)"
I watched a bit of Cameron's press conference at the G20 the other night and he referred to watching 'the British football team' (thanks UK Prime Minister, love everyone in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)- something tells me football isn't his game.
I am not sure if I agree with the statement that there was not enough interest in the U.S. The US-Ghana match was broadcasted by ABC last Saturday and report is that 15 million people tuned in to watch the game. The most popular TV show in the U.S. has 20 to 25 million viewers.
Yes, the interest in American football is much higher (significantly higher than 15 million) but that is because American football is fully commercialized and Soccer is not. With Soccer it has always been the chicken or the egg question. Does the U.S. Soccer team have to get to World Cup semi final before the game captivates the U.S. audience and make them allocated a fair portion of their sports budget to soccer and thereby funding the development and training of first-class clubs or do we need to first invest in developing first class players who can compete competently at the international level and then commercialize the sport. We have tried to do the former and it has not taken us far in World Cup competition.
Unlike other countries U.S. players are not milliners. Many club members have a day job to make a living and soccer for them is the labor of love. We have a fantastic pool of talent in the U.S. We are also very competitive in nature. What we need investment in this beautiful sport of soccer.
I went to a school with a top-notch football team (American football). Everyone on the team had full scholarship and their academic falter would be overlooked and they would get the passing grade. My brother played soccer for the same school. He and his teammates not only did not have scholarship, if any of them missed a test because they were a few minutes late from an early morning practice they had to go through hoops to take a make -up test. Today is somewhat better and universities do provide soccer scholarship but we are not there yet.
Anyhow, I got physically sick watching the U.S.-Ghana match. I really could not believe that once again we came up short. I did not expect us to reach the final or the semi final but I fully expected we go to the top 8 and play Uruguay. So I am in mourning too.
Watching the FIFA officials I have wondered if they are incompetent or corrupt or both. Even my grandmother from her grave would have called Frank Lampard’s goal that was 1.5 feet inside the goal line a goal for England. She would have also called the Carlos Tevez first goal offside. Simply unbelievable.
Catherine,
With Italy out I too favor Argentina with one condition to remove Diego Maradona from Argentine coaching staff? He first needs to transition from a 49-year man-child to a grown–up before he wears the coach’s badge. I liked him as a player. I really dislike him as a coach. His repeated chubby boy exuberant reactions are wearing me down and I may start cheering for Uruguay. My brother, the former soccer player, is rooting for Spain.
Megan,
Just ignore Maradona's gymnastics and root for Argentina!:-)
Btw - has anyone noticed the marked increase in popularity of soccer/football amongst WOMEN? It's a global trend - and to judge from Megan's soccer-savvy grandma, it started some time ago! For the first time ever, all my most fanatic football-following co-workers are female.
Since 1966, the one time England won the World Cup, defeating the Germans in the final, Germany has had the high sign over the English: 1990 World Cup, 1996 European Championship, and now England’s worst-ever defeat before its biggest-ever audience.
Don't forget the 1970 quarter-finals defeat, which is supposed to have affected Harold Wilson's loss to Heath in the general election of that year.
Megan -
I think another reason for the lack of support in the US for football (soccer) is, despite the fac the sport has been played in the US for some time, you have american football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, NASCAR.....you get the picture. These sports get the fans thus the ad dollars. Also, while there are large schools with major football/soccer programs (e.g. UNC), again it does not get the $ that football and basketball do. I don't think football/soccer will ever gain more ground than it has now.
Sorry for errors in my post above.
I meant to say “Unlike other countries U.S. players are not millionaires.”
And
With Italy out I too favor Argentina with one condition. Removing Diego Maradona from Argentine coaching staff.