To me soccer is a passing interest I have, but I've got to say that Wednesday nights victory by Australia had me as passionate as I have ever been at any event.
Like many in this thread, I don't believe Soccer will be a major threat to the likes of league, but I disagree with the bagging by some that its a boring game, low scoring etc etc. That's just plain ignorant.
Soccer has completely different skills to league, and so comparisons on this are irrational. Like any sport, it can be boring at times. Saying soccer is boring is just a generalised opinion from ignorant sources. Would 4 billion people or more around the world like a boring sport?? No. But they passionately follow their sides like it is life & death.
In australia, he overwhelming majority of us have never followed a soccer side. The debacle that was the NSL was very divise and not conducive to wholesale interest in the game. Whether the A League takes off or not is yet to be decided either. But even if it does do you seriously think thousands of fans will stop following the bulldogs, eels, rabbits etc???
When watching a game of footy when your side's not playing it loses passion for the fan. You can appreciate it, or think its boring, but when your side is involved it winning is everything and you get completely absorbed.
Wednesday night gave all australians a soccer side to follow, and with the high stakes that were involved many people who wouldn't even know the shape of a soccerball threw on the green & gold and yelled til they were hoarse. I was at my local and any time we were advancing with possession the crowd were yelling and carrying on as loud as we could. It was unbelievable.
As is the case with any sport, when you have a vested interest in one of the sides anything can become interesting. Look at Olympic sports such as beach volleyball etc - if we're playing for a gold medal more likely than not we'd all be cheering as hard as we could.
Good luck to the socceroos and I'll be ranting and raving and carrying on when we play for the World Cup next June, can't wait. I also can't wait for season 2006 when the mighty dragons grace the paddock against 14 other sides for the premiership.
It doesn't have to be one or the other. Support your country when it needs you, don't be a sourpuss.
