Soccer: The Human Sport

Soccer, like all sports, is more than just a game. However, there is something quite distinct about the sport best known around the world as “football, futbol, or even fute-ball.”

The aspect that makes soccer different from all other sport is that its history and connection to mankind is second to none.

The earliest form of the game for which there is scientific evidence dates back to the second and third centuries B.C. in China. The Han dynasty created the sport called “Tsu’ Chu” as a military exercise in which the player kicked a leather ball filled with feathers and hair through a small net fixed onto bamboo canes. The point of the game was for the soldier to use his back, chest shoulders and feet while trying to withstand the attack of other opponents.

Essentially, the Chinese gave birth to soccer in their efforts to create a full-body workout.

England then further advanced the game by establishing the first set of rules in 1863 and limiting the game to 90 minutes.

The first World Cup came in Uruguay in 1930 and the worldwide competition has been held every four years; the only exception being the 12-year stop to the tournament due to WWII.

My point being… football/soccer is the sport most engrained into our blood as a human race. There is something about the simplicity of the game.

Just one spherical ball and two goals.

Just like life, soccer’s simplicity is what makes it so imaginative and complex.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup didn’t disappoint in showcasing the game’s beauty and passion. 171 goals were scored, tied for the most all-time with the ’98 World Cup in France. Germany led the way with 18 goals. Ironically, that is the same amount of goals that players from Bayern Munich had. This just goes to show how dominant Germany has become as a football powerhouse.

Everyone has to tip their cap to Germany as they were truly the class acts of this tournament and never hesitated for a moment to take what was rightfully theirs. The Germans are my favorite going into the next World Cup in Russia because they have youth and an extremely disciplined youth academy that produces star after star.

As I sit back and reminisce about the World Cup I’ll be left with many memories.

The USA’s incredible opening game win against rival Ghana. How about Tim Howard’s historic game against Belgium in which he had 16 saves in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss. From an American perspective, this World Cup was special because it truly felt like our entire country was behind our boys whether you liked the game or not.  

How could anyone forget Luis Suarez’s biting incident? Or Messi’s late game heroics against Iran in stoppage time?

Though, the thing that I’ll remember most about this World Cup is how much I got to observe the passion and energy exuberated by the fans and people of the countries in this tournament. From seeing little children to even grown men sobbing like babies, I truly appreciated the gravity of the situation taking place right before my very eyes.

This was more than just a game. This was as close to a religious experience I’ve ever been a part of, and what was surreal was that I was thousands of miles away. Yet, I could still feel the energy from the fans of every nation.

My friend Cody Sanchez taught me an ancient saying regarding soccer that goes, “Faith, Family and Football.” I’ve been baptized by the game of soccer again in 2014 like I was when I watched my first World Cup in 2010.

I wasn’t born into the sport of soccer, but I’ll gladly be adopted into this mysterious game that continues to fascinate me.