(06-19-2018 10:29 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(06-19-2018 09:58 AM)VA49er Wrote:  

(06-19-2018 09:52 AM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 03:33 PM)VA49er Wrote:  

(06-18-2018 03:29 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  It is a recurring theme on the few occasions soccer is discussed on sports radio in town, although they do not talk much about soccer because most of their listeners do not care. And in this very thread the “ignorant” notion was employed.

Nevertheless, I was disturbed when I saw America did not earn a WC spot. I hate seeing my country fail in anything - especially when Iceland (!!) can do it.

You keep mentioning Iceland. Iceland is a good team and just tied Argentina. Heck, if the US did make it to the WC I'd bet on Iceland to beat us.

Iceland’s population is less than Wichita, KS. If they can make it to the WC, then the USA (a weathy, diverse, and 3rd most populated country in the world) should make it too. The USA, despite proclamations we are turning into a soccer loving nation, is actually regressing on the international stage. Our best athletes and best coaching minds go into other sports. The main root cause is most Americans do not care about soccer. I do not understand the difficulty in acknowledging it.

I agree the US should have made the US. However, IMO, it has nothing to do with anything regarding the "US turning into a soccer loving nation". It has to do with a broken system starting with pay to play. IMO, a ton of potentially good players never get the chance because they simply can't afford to play. Soccer isn't an American sport. I get that, but there is no denying its rising popularity. I'm a convert and there are lots more like me.

Soccer’s popularity is increasing, but not at the rate or amount soccer evangelists (the ones stating Americans not enjoying soccer are ignorant, stupid, or provincial and soccer is perfect without need for change) proclaim.

I understand folks across the globe like watching soccer, cricket or badminton, but most Americans prefer other sports. There are valid reasons for not liking soccer (namely futility, flopping, and tedium) and the people adhering to that opinion should not be subject to condescension and personal attack.

While I agree with your overall sentiment, that people should be able to have their own interests and disinterests and not be berated because of them...I hope you do see the immense irony of people coming onto a thread about soccer telling people why it's bad, then saying that people should not have to be subject to condescension about their choice in sport.