[Photo: Reuters]
If you don’t care about soccer, there’s not much here for you today, but here’s a song that asks that perennial football question:
Head? Chest? or Foot? – Propagandhi
Now, for anyone still interested enough to stick around, here’s some of my recent thoughts about the wide world of football.
* * *
After watching rather a lot of Premiership action this year, my newly adopted club is Reading FC. I watched them play quite a few times and could not believe the energy they brought to every match. From start to finish, they never stop running, never let up, never let the opposition settle into a routine, and no matter the score or the time, they attack, attack, attack. They’re not going to challenge for a spot in the top 4 anytime in the near future, but in terms of providing exciting football, I don’t think anyone else was even close (maybe Man U when everything is clicking and Ronaldo is in form).
They’ve also got a pretty great story, as this year was their first in the top division of English football for the first time in their 130 year history. And unlike most clubs who make it up and immediately discard a big chunk of the team who got them there, Reading stuck with the players and let them show the world what they could do. Which turns out to have been quite a lot, as they spent most of the year challenging for a UEFA Cup spot, finishing only a single point away in 8th place. All in all, it was a great season, and I look forward to following them closely next year as they try and avoid a sophomore slump.
* * *
Meanwhile, the Spanish league is still going on, with the last games to be played next weekend. The two giants of Spanish football have been tied on points for quite a while now, but for a while this afternoon it looked like Real Madrid was going to let it slip away and let Barcelona retain their hold on the league title. Madrid were down 2-1 with just minutes to go and Barca were up 2-1 at home (including one goal scored by an obvious handball, as clear from the picture above – a virtual carbon copy of the notorious “Hand of God” goal from 1986 World Cup). And then, almost simultaneously, Madrid scored and Barca conceded, leaving them still tied on points, with Madrid ahead on tiebreakers. That means it all comes down to the final day.
I don’t really have much stake in it, which probably makes it far more entertaining. I’m free to appreciate completely the incredible passion, the energy, the intensity without having my nerves eat me alive. I will say that watching David Beckham struggle through the adversity of the past year to finally regain his role on the Madrid side, to return to the English national team has softened me on him. Both of them kicked him to the curb, but he didn’t give up, and now neither would be where they are without him. I know I’ve called him the Jeter of soccer, and there is some truth to that, but he also just seems like a genuinely nice guy who happens to love the game. And he really is pretty good. So I’m pulling for him to win a title in Spain before he comes out to the States for the rest of his career.
* * *
I’ll Never Fear Ghosts Again – Soccer Team
(from Play, the Dischord compilation of kid-friendly songs by indie bands)
Speaking of soccer in the US, the US national team is competing in the Gold Cup right now against 11 other North American countries, ten of whom they should defeat handily, setting up a finals match up against Mexico. They haven’t looked spectacular, but it’s been a little better than the disaster of last summer. Also Clint Dempsey looks to be in fine form, of which I heartily approve. If you enjoyed the World Cup last year but haven’t kept up on anything since, you might want to watch a few of these games. It’s not quite the same, but it’s still a good time, and as I’ve said before, I really appreciate the chance to unabashedly cheer on the US in international competition.
* * *
Elsewheres, apparently, the nation of Qatar has hit on a brilliant plan for the lack of atmosphere in their away games for the upcoming Asian Cup: pay people to come cheer for them. Reports The Offside (h/t Culture of Soccer)
According to reports in Vietnam, Qatar is offering to pay 10,000 local fans to cheer on their team because it is highly unlikely that many Qataris will travel halfway around the world for the tournament. They are even going to throw in free outfits for the rent-a-supporters. No word on whether that means you’ll be wearing a dishadashah or not.
They then ask a very good question: “Wasn’t this the same strategy the U.S. used to try to win the Vietnam War?”
* * *
Speaking of atmosphere, the LA Times had a very nice article on the subject, talking about the curious history of some of the more popular songs sung in football grounds. It captures a lot of what makes watching the sport so fascinating, and touching:
Surely when New Yorkers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II penned “You’ll Never Walk Alone” for their 1945 Broadway musical “Carousel,” they never imagined it would thunder clear into the 21st century as manna for soccer fans of Liverpool especially and other clubs additionally (such as Celtic of Scotland).
Check it out for yourself:
I mean, seriously, can you even imagine being there when this is going on?