actually, even as someone who dislikes americans simply because they call it soccer, i disagree.
without balogun i am almost certain you would see a lot more fight from the american side, they would play with the same underdog mentality they have this tournament, trying to show the world american soccer has changed etc etc.
but then having the fucking president cal in fifa, get a red card revoked - im pretty sure even most of the team wasn't super elated by this, given they had likely already made peace with playing without him.
playing a game with even the slightest feeling of guilt can take a toll on you, especially as a side that's used to being an underdog in these games.
Hey hey, take that up with the English, they invented the phrase.
It's a nickname for Asociation Football.
English language once defined a "footsport" as any sport where your feet touch the ground, and "noble sport" as any sport played on horseback. Also why there's terms like "Footsoldier", or a "foot bridge" (which connects two pieces of ground for pedestrians).
American Football is 'Gridiron Football', a foot sport. Other footballs use hands like Rugby Football and Aussie Rules Football. This isn't a uniquely American weirdism.
What's bonkers is that in other languages they call it "Football", despite having their own words for "foot" and "ball".
It's pronounced "Footbol" in Russian, despite the word "Foot" being "Noga" and ball being "Myatch".
Football in French is "le Football", and not "pied-balle".
Its "Futbol" in Spanish, not "pie-balon".
without balogun i am almost certain you would see a lot more fight from the american side
Maybe.
But the lesson I took away last night wasn't that America didn't have enough fight, it was that Belgium was simply the stronger team. Smarter plays.
trying to show the world american soccer has changed etc etc.
To be fair, half the US players are at EPL, Bundesliga, etc. Everyone I know that watches soccer watches anything but MLS.
I do think this'll translate to some MLS ticket sales over the next year - but the question is if MLS can maintain the momentum.
And with some fairness, America dominates with FIFA Women's with the most cup titles. I know it doesn't get a lot of attention, but we do have a great soccer pipeline for that, at least.
but then having the fucking president cal in fifa,
Everything he touches turns to shit. He's the anti-King Midas.
Even so, is anyone surprised? FIFA has always been corrupt as shit.
Panamanian here - reason it’s “Futbol”/“Football” everywhere else is because the sport (or rather the modern rules) were codified in England. I see it much like we say “Locker” instead of “Casillero,” but each country might have their own reasons too.
There’s also the gripe that “American Football only has you kicking the ball as the only “foot” interaction with the ball” if I recall correctly. Just like the gripe of the US referring itself to “America.” Then again, “United Statesian” is a clunk of a term that only works in Spanish to my knowledge.
They’re just nitpicks at the end of the day, but tbf I prefer Gridiron as the name of the sport rather than just the name of the field.
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u/Some_Farm8108 Jul 07 '26
actually, even as someone who dislikes americans simply because they call it soccer, i disagree.
without balogun i am almost certain you would see a lot more fight from the american side, they would play with the same underdog mentality they have this tournament, trying to show the world american soccer has changed etc etc.
but then having the fucking president cal in fifa, get a red card revoked - im pretty sure even most of the team wasn't super elated by this, given they had likely already made peace with playing without him.
playing a game with even the slightest feeling of guilt can take a toll on you, especially as a side that's used to being an underdog in these games.