Thursday 20 May 2010

USA

THEY ARE:
The United States Of America the most arrogant and loudmouthed group of individuals on/in the entire world. I have a downer on America due to the fact that my most recent dealings with people from the place were not necessarily good ones.

AS A FOOTBALL NATION:
The belief is that Americans consider football a girl’s sport. They also call it “soccer”. The NASL represents a very exciting period in football history and they definitely made a good job of the World Cup in 1994. Off the back of hosting that tournament they created the MLS which has impressively survived although not necessarily set the US sporting world on fire. These days it can often feel like something of a retirement home for European players looking for a pension pay off. Negativity aside this is their sixth finals appearance in a row as American players have gradually upped their abilities to the point their top players are now playing at top levels (including the Premier League).

MY OWN EXPERIENCE:
I fell in love with US soccer back in 1988 when ITV would screen games from the MISL (Major Indoor Soccer League) in the early hours of Sunday mornings. Teams such as the Chicago Sting, Tacoma Stars, San Diego Sockers, Los Angeles Lazers really did appear to represent the future of football. From here I discovered the NASL but also discovered that the league was long gone. Gradually my interest in the nation as a footballing power paid off as players such as John Harkes and Kasey Keller came to the English league.

IN 2010:
After being defeated finalists in the Confederations Cup (whatever that is) typically the Yanks now fancy themselves as a genuine threat as a footballing nation. This is something that has yet to be displayed or established. That said they were the last team to inflict a defeat on Spain.

FAMOUS PLAYERS:
Alexei Lalas and Kobi Jones are famous for their stupid hair. Kasey Keller is famous for having a mullet one day and being balding the next. Being a nation so obsessed with sports that uses their hands their most famous players tend to be goalkeepers in Tim Howard and Sylvester Stallone in Escape To Victory.

MOST OBVIOUS REFERENCE:
Their world dominance. And Hollywood.

AWAY FROM FOOTBALL:
On many levels they are loved and hated. Barack Obama has proved a handy PR exercise as he appears to set about putting right the wrongs of his predecessor George W. Bush.

NUMBER OF PEOPLE FROM THE USA THAT I KNOW:
Too many.

QUOTE FROM AN AMERICAN:
Coming.

DO I LIKE THEM:
Being in the same group as England I naturally hate them. Once we are out of the group stage, should they remain in the competition I will probably be on their side.

FINAL COMMENT:
Enough already.

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