After watching a couple of the World Cup games featuring te Women's U.S. Soccer team, I can honestly say I have respect for soccer and it's players. I'll admit that I didn't know much about the game before their match against Brazil a couple weeks ago. However, soccer is actually not as bad as I once thought and was actually pretty exciting to watch. I've always bashed soccer, saying the game is all about kicking a ball around an oversized field and that a 1-0 lead is insurmountable. This is all untrue and I apologize to all those who are fans of this game.I have total respect for anybody that plays soccer, especially on this level. While watching the quarterfinal matchup against Brazil, I couldn't believe that only three substitutions were allowed per team. I couldn't last five minutes running up and down that field. The game is way more intense than I ever imagined, with slide tackling and all the other contact that is involved. The game also has suspense that I didn't beleive was possible. Take the first half of the World Cup Final for example. The American women had so many chances to score, and failed to do so. The opportunites were there, including one off the crossbar and others that barely missed. If one or two of those goals finds the back of the net, we are talking about a different result.
Only days after this exciting match, I find myself watching television and stopping on channels that are airing soccer. This World Cup final has convinced me that I should be a fan of the most popular sport on the planet. Soccer has entered the world of Shawn Marosek. I'm sure the recent events in Germany have done the same for others across this country.
-Shawn M.
