WHY IS ASK THE QUESTION IS BECAUSE MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN NAMIBIA AFRICA LIKE TO WATCH EUROPEAN SOCCER THE MOST AND IS FOR ME VERY STRANGE IS IT BECAUSE OF THE QUALITY OF THE SOCCER OR THE PICTURES COMPARING TO THE ONE WE HAVE OR IS IT THE PACE IN WHICH THEY PLAY OR BECAUSE THEY EARN MONEY FOR PLAYING A MATCH. ME MYSELF I LOVE SOCCER IS ONLY THAT I DO NOT HAVE A TV SET SO I HAVE TO GO TO FRIENDS AND ENJOY THE SOCCER I KNOW MORE SOCCER STARS IN EUROPA THAN IN MY OWN CONTINENT THAT'S VERY STRANGE, FANS CAN EVEN CRY IF THEIR DEDICATED CLUB LOOSE WHICH IS VERY EMOTIONAL AND IT IS VERY PAINFUL TO SEE SOMEONE CRYING JUST BECAUSE HIS/HER FAVOURITE CLUB LOOSE
210821
i had this same discussion with a friend/co-worker from nigeria, his name was sam larbi, and he asked why it is that people in the united states were not as passionate about the mls as they were about the european leagues, i think it's as simple as the person watching....if you are a soccer player yourself you have an appreciation for "the best" you want to see the most skilled players in the world, and the fact that MANY african players are good enough to not only play in the champions league but to thrive, should make anyone native excited enough to follow it HOWEVER they can, i think it's great that someone would cry when they're favorite team loses, soccer is the WORLD's game...and to answer my friend sam's question i simply said..."americans don't care about soccer, they aren't good enough to, yet" but guys like samuel etoo make it fun to watch, i still make every attempt to just try-out for one of those teams, that alone would be an honor, i would sell my house and move their just to try-out....and because soccer to europans is like basketball to americans...it makes us fellow followers of the best game on earth want to see the best players on earth play...you see, i applaud you for goin to watch the games at a friends house, i would walk miles and miles to see barcelona play !!!
600594
Hi im Albanian, in fact here r not too much but i have seen some of them. For example an african football player is the goalkeeper of an albanian team, and there are acouple of them which play in other teams . and there are others that just live and work here.
586141
My wife tries to make the world cup a struggle of class against class (I thought that was a political struggle, not a sports struggle).  But she doesn't complain when her country wins (Brazil, not exactly a rich one).  So it seems a bit hypocritical.  I didn't see the Ivory Coast match, but from what I've seen in the past, African teams play rougher among themselves than non-African teams do and so when they have to play outside of Africa they get called for more fouls.
576522
Yep. look at Togo most of their country lives in poverty and they want more and more money. They even attempted to boycott their soccer game at Germany because of a pay dispute.\n\nSo although there might be sum who do it for the love of the game they are very scarce.
159417
Soccer is popular because of the tension that builds up during play.  Scoring a goal is like winning at chess.  The intricate strategy required to beat the offside trap and score while not being fouled or committing a foul is incredibly difficult.  So when someone scores, it's an incredible release and when you watch it you just go nuts.  Plus, the atmosphere at matches is incomparable.  Fans go crazy!  You just have to experience it to understand it.
563904
First of all, you are the most ignorant and closed minded person I have ever come across. \nSecondly, what is your definition of far? 'Far' is relative to where you reside and how close the African continent is to you. \nThird, if you would actually read and find out more about other countries, you would realise that all of Africa is not about wars and starvation. There are 53 countries in Africa and the western media chooses to focus on the 4 or so countries that are embroiled in war to show their ignorant citizens who do not know any better. \nFourth, it is because of ignorant bigots like you that is why FIFA has chosen to rotate the WC amongst continents so that your eyes and your mind can be open to the rest of the world instead of your little corner which you think is the whole world.\n\nYes, I am from a country in the African continent and I see this as an affront, but I should not, because you are an ignorant bigot who will probably turn out to be zenophobic as well.\n\nP.S. This rant is for only the person who was unsensitive enough to ask this question. I know there are people in the west who actually venture out of their front doors  and out of their countries.
105257
The World Cup is and will always be the biggest sporting event in the world. Every country in the world competes and dreams of being crowned the champions of the greatest sport in the history of sport. The best players in the world square off agaisnt team mates and friends, so it is not solely about the competition. It is about the entire world coming together to watch and participate in a common like. It is about passion and emotion even for those thousands of miles away. It is about nationalism, when a country becomes one in support for their team. To me, the world cup isnt even about the football (even though thats an amazing part of it) but its about the people who love the sport so much that the entire world unites together for a whole month and can forget about all their problems and instead focus on the  excitement and pure skill that is football.
559460
even though i don't watch the game, i have never thought football as a boring sport. it must be exciting because of the adrenaline rush when somebody makes a goal. and i particularly enjoy the enthusiasm of the worldcup fans. it's not tiresome to see them go crazy with their wild hairdos and painted faces.
621600
they have internet TV at work here. I'm just pretending to do work now. good game so far. :-)\n\nedit:\n\nwow what a good game. ghana played brilliantly a few bad off sides trap though. great great game.
663521
The current quota of World Cup places is distributed mainly on football development of the region and to a lesser extent on the size of the continent.  So, analyzing the situation, I think that the current situation is relatively fair enough.  I say this because the development of football in Asia and Africa is not satisfactory enough to award them more places.  If places are awarded under current conditions, it will result in underperforming teams being the whipping-boys of their respective groups.  South America has 12 countries and I think 4.5 is fair enough.  For Europe, well, 14 seems a lot but considering the great national team heritage and especially club heritage (A.C, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United...) I think it's worth it.
546792
Um...well the only league I can actually watch is the English Premier League on FSC. Sometimes they will have Serie A on there, but I never seem to catch it. I mostly just pay attention to the English Premiership, although I do pay attention to specific teams that I like in different leagues, like Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Valencia, and PSV. My favorite team is Liverpool, but I like to watch any team really. Football in general is good enough for me. And my favorite players are Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen, who is unfortunately out for the remainder of the season. There are many other players I really like, but those are my top 2.
136716
Americans are a proud people...and what's hard for you, and other countries where soccer/football is predominant to understand, is most Americans love our own sports.  We're a country based on freedoms, those freedoms earned by our war of independence with England.  Soccer has been played here for years, but not as a professional sport.  I think what turned Americans around about soccer and how it's viewed, is the Women's Olympic team and their triumphs.  For me, my ties are with England, having been raised there when I was a child.  Although my parents are American, my brother was adopted there, and is completely "British" in attitude, demeanor, everything except accent!  He speaks better "suthern" than I do!  But being raised HERE since he was 3, his favorite sports are baseball and our football.  For myself, I am a diehard Manchester United Football Club fan, with plans to finally see my team play next year live!  But what I love the most, I think, is the fact that a man who owns one of OUR football teams here in the state I live in (Florida) ALSO owns controlling interest in my British football team!  How great is that?!  American owned...but British through and through.  Give us time, we're slowly coming around to loving soccer as much as the rest of the world!  I wear a multinational necktie at work, with flags of all the countries that have soccer teams in the World Cup, and soccer balls on it, you would not believe the responses, or conversations that start because of that tie.  I am quite surprised at how many people come into our restaurant and talk to me about soccer!  So you see...times are changing...people are aware of the sport the rest of the world considers "football", and if I mention "soccer", they usually correct me.  Patience is a virtue...and it's really great seeing how this game is finally taking off here in the USA. :)
650716
Im an american girl.  \nThere is no sport better than soccer (im american, sorry.)\nThere is NOTHING more pure than a players excitement and joy in scoring a goal.  The celebration has no ego in it as other sports encounter.  its a happiness that now the players team has a point..on their way to winning.  I see it as more of a team sport than most.  Great skill and physical form in each player.  \nnow put the worlds greatest teams together...its good matches all around.  \nWhy do the fans get so obsessed with who they support?  lol dont know that.  im not a face painter.  yet.\nThats a sociological question.  but i love it!\nIt very much feels like being apart of something BIG when watching EVERYTHING leading up to the final.  If i could see the preliminaries or the friendlies even that would be great!\nJust ENJOY what you do watch!!!  i hope you become a face painter too!!!  :D
607797
I have watched every single minute bar some bathroom breaks of the World Cup so far plus highlight shows, listening to radio talk shows and reading about it in newspapers and online.\n\nTo me the World Cup is something so special plus it happens once every four years. It is not just the actual soccer match that interests me it is the whole carnival atmosphere throughout Germany. As the tournament progresses that atmosphere is not as good and the football becomes more important. For the best part was being in Germany before the tournament started and seeing all the fans from all 32 countries having a great time, hoping their team can do well. Even now some teams are out and their fans are disappointed and their third game does not mean as much. I will be going back out to Germany for the quarter finals to whichever town England will be playing in.\n\nIt does depend on how much you like Football and your knowledge and understanding of it to decide how much you can watch. For most Americans i guess it comes down the list after the 4 big North American sports but to us over here is England a lot of people will watch every game they can and watch it live to see how the match pans out, the tactics, the way the teams feel each other out, the way they react to the events that happen. I know for you guys in the States the time difference does not help you so having a TiVo really helps you out. Glad to see that a lot more Americans are really taking an interest in the World Cup. I would like to see team USA get through to the next stage.
630722
People mainly Aussie fans are sore loosers Most do not see or realize that slide tackling your opponent inside your own goal area is not a good idea and yet aussie fans make false statements like the ref was bought out or Italy took a dive..\n\nThat's bull... In 1990 diego maradona took more dives in one game than any player I have seen
226552
I love it the most because it is the only sport that has a soul. It can get your emotions and is the only one that really bridge the gaps of nations. Plus either you are a player or spectator, you will really love this game. Another thing that makes this sport very nice is the simplicity of playing the game: not so much rules. \n\nBy the way, enjoy the Champions League Final and the World Cup! I also hoped you enjoyed the FA Cup final. That was fantastic!!!
246918
The world cup is definitly so much bigger. Pretty much only Americans watch the NBA (and some Canadians when hockey isnt on). Soccer is a world wide sport, every continent besides North America is completely crazy for it. A ridiculous amount of people follow the World Cup. Funny how most Americans fail to realise theres about 6 billion other people in the world