Maybe Americans shouldn't be watching soccer.

I don't know, I'm not able to retain the nuances of any sport, but I like to watch because you never know what's going to happen. I loved watching hockey, but it scares the hell out of me when the puck flys off the ice. I recognize poor sportsmanship, who didn't know biting an opponent was not a valid move. Some of the teams playing were fierce. I really have enjoyed watching these matches, I'll watch till the end. I'll probably never become an expert, but who cares?

America: The land where fantasy trumps reality most every time.

I will take your advice.

Fine Roger,

Just to be clear... what bothered me was that these people didn't even try to understand the game. To them it was just an opportunity for a loud, garish display of nationalism. I would feel just as bothered if people claiming to be home team fans cheered wildly when their quarterback is sacked because he gets up with the ball.

It ruined the game for me.

England fans have had many years of getting to know when their team is playing badly.
One thing that tends to evolve is the chanting. We have long had (to the tune of the Plastic Ono band's Give Peace a Chance)...."all we are say-ing, is give us a goal".

Next, it will be something like "Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land, we are not as **** as you think we are".

At the moment, USA fans in bars probably do not know the rules of football, let alone the nuances, so the only "connection" they feel is the patriotic bit.
Give it five, six or seven years and there will be many young adults around who actually played and enjoyed football throughout their school days, and will be more able to interpret what is going on in the match.

My prediction is that the USA will be one of the top five footballing nations within the next ten years. Money, can-do attitude, population, ambition... it will all click into gear sooner, rather than later.

Finally, the USA are actually playing the rest of the world at something, and not far away from winning.

and why would they do that? The whole point was to use world cup to have FUN! FUN! FUN!, understanding soccer is not required for that.

But it definitely adds to the experience somewhat, imo.

After enough drinks have been consumed. Still, it is not I think possible to experience such idiocy with out being convinced that civilization is failing.

No alcohol involved, just a basic understanding of the game.

I found sex exciting once, but when I got to know what I was doing it was a lot more enjoyable.

You'll no doubt discover that one day.

American sports fans require constant input. We have fishing shows and they edit the interminable "Waiting for the fuckin fish to bite" stuff and only show the bites or landings.

I have to admit that "larnin' the nuances of the game" is not in my DNA.
I even watch consolidated 30 min versions of each days Phillies games cause I get bored at a full baseball game. We went to a Phillies game a few weeks ago and I was constantly on the weather channel and looking **** up on the phone.

This sounds like a wine snob saying if I can't appreciate the fine aspects of wine drinking I should just stick to water. If people are having a good time why isn't that good? Just because they don't appreciate the warm, deep red flavors, quite a lot of fruit sweetness, smooth and rich but not cloying aspects of the game doesn't mean they can't appreciate those 16 saves or a good effort.

Maybe engineer, but there is a difference. I might prefer a cheap Ernest and Gallo wine over a fine French wine that said wine snobs know is of much better quality.

But I am not going to jump on a table during a wine tasting and start screaming "USA! USA!" while I chug it.

I was apparently taking his advice before he thought about writing this thread. I haven't been watching any soccer let alone the World Bore Cup (nor do I plan on it even if the US advanced to the next level). Hopefully now that the US is out of it then maybe the soccer delusion-induced fever will clear up and go away for the next four years.

Maybe you don't grasp the nuances of American culture?

You're right. No one (in almost every other country involved) could possibly watching the World Cup because of nationalism. Jingoistic nationalism is an exclusive American thing, right?

I'd agree with that. In any event, patriotic fervour amongst the football-illiterate is not uniquely American (Irish fans have a disturbing habit of singing Ole Ole Ole at the drop of a pint, er hat).

In almost every other country, watch the World Cup because they want to see the game being played. There is nationalism, but there is also a basic understanding of, and appreciation for how the game is played.

There is no other country where fans would cheer wildly after the defense broke down because the other team has been awarded a corner.

Maybe you all don't know what I am talking about (unless you were in an American bar yesterday).

I have watched soccer games, even World Cup matches, in bars outside of the US (including a weird experience of being one of two Usians in a crowded bar in a small city in Guatamala as the US was knocking out their team during a qualifier. Although my team was winning, I kept pretty quiet.).

Being in a US bar is a unique experience for the level of loud and soccer illiterate.