European Attitudes to American Soccer

[Imran Siddiqui]

Just wanted to ask a question on how Europeans view American soccer. For a while, I had the impression that it was one of disdain and kind of snide looking down the nose stuff. On another forum, an American in Europe has told me that this is incorrect and most Europeans treat American soccer, players, and fans as the same as any other country and it is only those on the internet, who are most subject to US hype that react with disdain and put downs about American soccer fans.

I'm just curious to know how US Soccer is seen in your neck of the woods. Is American soccer seen as ridiculously hyped from a country that has no knowledge of the beautiful game, or is it just seen like any other country in the world not from Europe (ie, no different than South Korea for example).

[BeBMan]

Re: European Attitudes to American Soccer

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
Just wanted to ask a question on how Europeans view American soccer.

Americans steal our sports! Damn cultural imperialism!

[Japher]

First the Canadians... next, THE WORLD!!!

[DanS]

I have the impression that the US will come to dominate international soccer play. It could take several decades, though.

[alva]

What's soccer?

[Az]

US Soccer? It's treated like something isoteric that only exists on paper, and for shame. ( Basically, an anachronstic view, since US soccer is everimproving )

[DanS]

Association football, silly.

[alva]

Originally posted by DanS
I have the impression that the US will come to dominate international soccer play. It could take several decades, though.

...and you're allowed to pick up the ball with your hands.

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by DanS
I have the impression that the US will come to dominate international soccer play. It could take several decades, though.

No, because this is a team sport. Being the only superpower doesn't matter here

[Pekka]

I don't know too much about the subject, how we see americans in soccer. When it comes down to it, Europe is where it's at. Yes yes Brazil, and lots of other non-euro countries, but the bottom line, here's where its at, period.

The US? What's that, is that a country? I can't point it on map.. they have soccer there? Who, what, where?

[Kidlicious]

Originally posted by Japher
First the Canadians... next, THE WORLD!!!

Let's just steal their games and change the names. That seems to piss them off, which is cool.

[Japher]

Let's just steal their games and change the names. That seems to piss them off, which is cool.

And then force them into a greed driven lock out!

[Spiffor]

I haven't noticed any snide comments, on the French TV in the rare occurences American Football have been mentioned. From my little understanding, it seems we're much more interested in African and South American football than in US (or Asian) ones.

[duke o' york]

From my experience (never having attended one, but having seen loads of games on the telly), American sports fans are a bit strange. They're quiet when the game is! This will appear perfectly normal to Americans, but for fans of football especially, it seems odd that you don't cheer and sing songs to encourage your team/slag off the other team when they aren't playing that well. Even in the most boring footie matches, the crowd drowning out the commentators with (often lewd ) chanting is quite common, but American crowds are so well behaved. Please can some North American sports fans prove me wrong!

[BeBMan]

Well, to give a somewhat serious answer, I remember that the USians sold themselves quite well during some world championsship. OTOH - wasn't there a time when they really tried to make soccer (rather "artificially" IMO) great in the US by "buying" old Euro and Latin American stars? When was that....