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I guess I fall into the latter category.

I realize that soccer is the world’s game, but I’m not buying into the excitement you represent in your article (maybe if I was from Luxembourg).
Honestly, I fell asleep during all the matches I attempted to watch (3 matches).
And don’t get me started on the flopping!! I witnessed more flopping than a Bassmaster tournament. I can’t tell if the footballers are the frailest of athletes or the best of actors. All the theatrical wincing and limb clutching got frustrating after a while.

I agree the fans appear passionate;the singing, the drinking,the face painting and national pride seems like good fun. I guess they have to come up with something to compensate for the monotony of the match itself.

Typical American insularity when it comes to the game itself. Not much credibility in picking on an unacceptable behavior in a sport you don't care for and then using that to condemn the sport as a whole. Diving is not acceptable, but then neither is throwing pitches right at a batter or grabbing someone's facemask or throwing elbows on the way to the basket. (Soccer joke: If you dress up as an Italian soccer player for Halloween, you will spend all your time on the floor.) Every sport has aspects that are ugly or irritating, and I will agree tha PK's are an unsatisfying way to end a match.

Monotony? How about a no-hitter? Great exhibition of skill, but a whole lot of nothing going on there, and frankly, not very exciting except when it is over. How about the last two minutes of a b-ball game taking 30 minutes to play because of all the 'fouls' and timeouts? Annoying and boring when it happens. I don't begrudge people liking whatever sports they care to watch, but one thing I'll never understand is why so many of my fellow Americans always criticize soccer for the supposed lack of action. As far as monotony is concerned, how about 2 goals in about as many minutes near the end of extra time, by a Russian team no one expected to make it this far?

I like football and basketball and baseball, but find them hard to watch because of all the timeouts, cutaways, fouls, etc. add up to a lot of time where nothing is happening. Just play the game, for God's sake! Huddles are boring, and I get sick of seeing a batter tap his cleats and step out of the box.

Soccer has unenlightening aspects just like any sport. But it isn't overly complex (I believe there are only 17 official rules at the international level), there aren't a lot of long pauses in the active part of the game, and it takes a mix of skills and attributes to truly excel. Not of lot of specialists (at least on truly good teams). You don't really need a lot of equipment or a helmet. It doesn't require physical bulk or incorporate violence into the way it i

this has been a great tournament so far!!

Ted:

I didn't think you were speaking for all Americans (neither am I), and I didn't think you were being insulting. My point was that so many people rip soccer for a concept that could be applied to any sport. Some are even actively hostile to soccer because it isn't American. Witness Jim Rome's misguided rant (ESPN a few years back) about having his kids "watching golf before I'd let them watch soccer!" (Something very similar to that, anyway).

I have to give you props for two things:

1) You actually tried watching more than one match, which is more than many who criticize can say. In that respect, you gave an honest opinion because you had some actual experience to inform that opinion.

2) That Bassmaster quip was a hoot! I'll have to use that in conversation the next time soccer comes up. Point well taken about the diving: I abhor it.

No hard feelings, I hope. Salut!