Appreciate a Soccer Game on TV

Don't just sit around and stare at the ball on the screen -- get engaged! Getting the most out of a soccer game on TV means doing more than just sitting down and following the ball around the screen…it means making an effort to immerse yourself in both the game and the sport from the comfort of your own living room -- or the local bar!

Steps

  1. Learn about the countries that are playing, including their history, culture and political state. How popular is soccer in those nations? Which countries have particular rivalries with each other? Often in the World Cup, former colonies are keen on winning against the country they gained independence from, or have tense environments due to strong political differences and conflicts.
  2. Analyze the touch of the players. Can they control the ball in the air in one touch and then immediately be ready to shoot or pass? Do they control the ball in anticipation of what they want to do next? Can they avoid a defender when pressured, shield the ball and still find an open teammate? Focus in on free kicks and corner kicks, known as set pieces, which often result in goals.
  3. Identify the key players. While watching their moves, try to pick out individuals and understand the roles they each play for the time. In particular, look out for:
    • The Star - Usually there’s one player who every play the ball runs through. Like Benzema of France, Messi of Argentina, Muller of Germany, Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, or Neymar of Brazil - they run the show for their teams.
    • The Breakthrough - Identify the upcoming and future stars. There’s usually one new young player that breaks through in the World Cup and dazzles the World, such as Fernando Llorente (Spain), Eden Hazard (Belgium), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (England), or Rafael and Oscar (Brazil).
  4. Scrutinize the tactics of the teams. Is the team that is winning stalling the game to get the ball for a throw-in? Are they trying to keep possession of the ball rather than go forward? Do they keep possession of the ball and slowly work up the field or do they send a long ball up to the forwards (the best teams do a bit of both)? Watch how teams defend: do they play an off-side trap and move the defensive line up the field or play deeper, compact and near their goal? Do they double team one player when he receives the ball? Are they stretched or organized?
  5. Observe the speed of play. Good teams vary and control the pace of the game, a few short passes and then a long pass that splits the defense and puts a teammate through with a chance on goal. Great teams play the ball at speed – sharp passes, driven balls, and whipped in crosses. Pay attention to how momentum changes games. They often say the first five minutes and last five minutes of each half are key moments of the game; don’t concede an early goal and look for a late goal when the other team is tired. Teams pounce on other teams just after they score.
  6. Feel out the emotional level of the teams. Are the teams playing with energy and being aggressive or sitting back intimidated? Watch how each 50/50 ball is challenged for. Sometimes, a great fight and challenge for a ball is a thing to appreciate, as they jump up into the air to head the ball to a teammate amongst two defenders, an elbow to the face in the process. Listen to when the fans cheer, sing and whistle. Listen to their national anthems. See how the crowd sings, jumps, claps and stands nearly the whole game.
  7. Delight in the goal celebrations. A goal is hard to come by and a player can be overcome with emotion and deservedly so; a run to the bench to celebrate, a dance, sliding on their chest towards where their fans are located, ripping off the jersey and revealing an undershirt with a message and so on. Don't hold back; if you're excited, show it!

Tips

  • Watch the games on a Latin channel or foreign station – the announcers are better, you might not understand a word but it won’t matter much – you’ll know when something exciting is happening. This is best used if you understand the game and non-verbal signals. If you don't understand signals, such as yellow cards and fouls, start watching games in English and then as you understand the game more, progress onto foreign language commentaries.
  • If you just can't bring yourself to attend a live game then the game is best watched on a big TV, preferably a 32 or higher and in High Definition.
  • Look out for a team that is a man down. Often a team will be a man down due to a red card and play better just because they are forced to. Every pass and run is a bit more precise since they know they are running for that player who is gone and they know they have to work that much harder. Sometimes watching a team a man down fight and battle against a full team is exciting.
  • Find out where players earn their wages, as in which club team they play for week in week out. You often see team mates of the same club team battling against one another, as their countries go head to head at International level.
  • If one really wants to find soccer more interesting, put some money on the game. Betting helps those who find themselves usually rather apathetic towards soccer, find some intrigue in the sport.
  • Check out highlight videos of some of the world's greatest ever players, such as Steven Gerrard, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o. It's worthwhile checking out videos of soccer greats such as Diego Maradona, Pele, Marco Van Basten, Zico, Zinedine Zidane, Dennis Bergkamp, Johan Cruyff, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Alfredo di Stéfano, Gianfranco Zola and Eusébio, to see how the game used to be played. There are also all time great games worth watching- The 1999 Champions league final where Manchester united came back to win in injury time against Bayern Munich , The 2008 demolition of Real Madrid by Barcelona in the aforementioned "El Clasico" or Liverpool Football Club vs AC Milan Champions League Final in 2005, where Liverpool came back from 3-0 down at half time to win on penalties.
  • The best way to experience a football match is to actually be there. The sport is followed passionately in most countries across the globe, but there are a few countries who claim to have the best support. Perhaps the famous of games is the match between River Plate and Boca Juniors in Argentina - definitely worth the trip just for the simple passion and volume the supporters give. Similarly, the Auld Firm Derby between Celtic and Rangers in Glasgow, Scotland or that of Barcelona vs Real Madrid ("El Clasico") in Spain are always heated affairs.
  • Finally, there is England, which is described by FIFA President Sepp Blatter as the "Motherland" of soccer and is widely recognised as the inventor of the modern soccer game. The Premier League, which is the English game's highest placed league, is the most watched soccer league in the world and live games are beamed to 600 million homes worldwide. Manchester United is the most famous club in England, with a worldwide fan base that exceeds any other club in the world. Games to grab include The Manchester Derby, featuring Manchester United and Manchester City, The North London Derby, featuring Arsenal and Tottenham and the Merseyside Derby featuring Liverpool and Everton. Although it's worth noting that due to the nature of soccer in England you are likely to see a high standard of soccer no matter what team you go to see. If you do go to an actual game, exercise caution. Soccer hooliganism still exists in all countries and in Derby games like those above, fans can get very "passionate".
  • Be smart. Wear neutral colors, meaning check the home and away jerseys for both teams and avoid wearing any of the colors associated with either club. Check where you are in the ground, it is always better to sit with the home fans. Double check which team is at home before you go and be sure to cheer for the home team, even if your preference is for the away team.
  • If you plan to go to one of world famous derbies like the ones listed above be prepared to sit and listen to expletives and threats of violence. If you are not comfortable with this then pick a game that does not have a rivalry as your first game.
  • Be alert to the mood of the people around you. They may not appreciate your presence if your chanting or choice of clothing is wrong.

Warnings

  • Persevere and rewards will follow. A soccer game, much like a boxing match, can seem slow and tedious initially, but one punch, or in soccer, one pass, one save, one goal, a red card, or a number of other events can turn a game on its head.
  • Some people, especially fans of the game, call "soccer", "football". You should be aware of this when looking for games on 'foreign stations'. If you call it "soccer" you will be liable to come under scrutiny from proper fans of the sport. "Football" is the term accepted in most countries, and internationally.

Things You'll Need

  • A TV.
  • Possibly some snacks and some buddies or other people close to you.
  • A cool beverage (sodas, beer, etc.) of some sort. Watching all that running can make anyone thirsty.
  • Something that makes an ungodly amount of noise.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

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