It’s official. I am in a complete depression due to the outcomes of this World Cup. Not only were all my favorite teams sent home prematurely, but what looked like South American domination of the tournament has reverted to a European grand finale. In the past two days, all four teams I was rooting for – Paraguay, Brasil, Argentina, and Ghana- lost, many in unfortunate ways. Paraguay was robbed of a goal on a purported offsides call and later preceded to miss a penalty, albeit with a clear Spanish invasion of the box prior to the kick. After dominating play the first half, an ugly own goal caused the Brasil team to panic, foul, and thereafter disintegrate, leading to the first Brazilian loss to Holand since 1974 and the second consecutive ousting in the quarterfinals for this legendary soccer nation. Argentina was decimated by a tough German offense, and ended their winning steak in a 4-0 humiliating defeat. In the most heart-wrenching and morally questionable game of the tournament, Ghana was deprived of a legitimate goal when Uruguayan forward Suarez deliberately blocked a goal with his hands on the goal line in the last seconds of the game. Although given a penalty kick after playing time expired, Ghana’s Gyan hit the crossbar, sending the game to penalty kicks which Ghana was unable to covert, and breaking the hearts of millions of Africans and others alike.
This World Cup has reminded just how much emotion this monumental event can stir. For one month every four years the world seems to pause; work productivity plummets, young and old unite, and whole nations cheer and fall at the hands of a goal. In this, the World Cup is a beautiful thing. It can reinvigorate country pride, and remind citizens to be proud of their origins. It can teach powerful nations that small, forgotten countries can still yield power on the field. It can bring grown men to tears. Reveal the emotions of the apathetic. Energize the lazy.
Yet, it can also crumble dreams. Deprive countries of their rightful glory. Destroy careers. Lives, potentially. More than other sports, soccer captures the volatility of live. Without technology, instant replays, or goal-line technology, much of the game is determined by human instinct. Inherent in the game is human error. This World Cup has reminded us just how fickle soccer can be. Teams have been denied rightful goals, detrimental calls have unfairly castigated players, and offsides calls have been inconsistent, among other things. In this, soccer reflects the harsh realities of the world. Sometimes the best team does not prevail (Brasil). Sometimes cheating and rule- skirting pays (Uruguay). Sometimes luck is the deciding factor (Paraguay). Sometimes you get so far to lose it all (Ghana). And, sometimes you are just happy to be there (Honduras).
Maybe these realities are why the United States has not adopted soccer as a national sport. To many Americans it is incomprehensible that a team be denied a rightful goal. That one bad day doom a team for four years. That a crossbar can impede due glory. That Oscar worthy acting is commonplace. That money can’t buy victory and personal will doesn’t always ensure destiny. Yes, in these respects, soccer can be a difficult game to stomach. Soccer isn’t always fair. In fact, it mostly isn’t fair. But this is also why it grips our soul and captivates the world like other sports can’t. It reminds us of ourselves- life, and the world at large. In many respects, soccer is us. Soccer, and the World Cup in particular, takes us through the spectrum of emotions. In these highs and lows thereby lies the beauty of the game. Perhaps it’s time for Americans to view soccer through a new prism and cast aside our exceptionalist mentality. After all, at the end of the day, we are just another team. A team that like others experienced highs- winning in the final seconds, plateaus- hindered by a series of tie games, and lows- losing narrowly despite a well-played double over time. In that we are quite ordinary, after all.
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