10 Things U.S. Soccer Fans Need to Learn About Football

The U.S. National Team recently (on September 2nd) lost to the Costa Rican National Team, 1-0.

While there is a huge population of the United State that loves soccer/football, it still doesn’t come close to the enthusiasm around the world.

Many Americans have misconceptions about football, and I hope this list puts some of them to rest with those who believe them.

Soccer Isn’t the Only Sport with Flopping

I’ll admit it, this part of football makes it difficult to fully enjoy.

Too many times you’ll see a player flop and stay on the ground way longer than necessary, only to hop back up and be completely fine for the rest of the game.

But isn’t flopping a part of every sport?

Take baseball, for instance. Do you recall when Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter pretended to get hit by the ball, when it really went off his bat?

Or basketball, where flops occur on many drives to the basket.

Football (NFL football) is probably the least fake of the major sports, but it still has its fair share of embellished contact on pass interference calls.

Not Every Game Is Low-Scoring

Yes, I know that soccer doesn’t score nearly as many points as say (American) Football, Basketball or Lacrosse, but there are still a fair deal of goals scored.

Many games are 1-0 or 2-1, but go watch a Mariners baseball game and you’ll see similar score production.

Soccer players do score goals.

Football Is Fast Paced

In football, the game and clock is always going.

There’s little time to catch your breath.

If you take a second off, someone will make you pay.

Unfortunately, this video doesn't do my point justice.

America Does Produce Good Football Players

Here are some names for you:

Jozy Altidore

Tim Howard

Clint Dempsey

Landon Donovan

The United States has been producing great soccer players over decades.

Football Is a Physical Game

I’m tired of hearing that football is a non-contact sport.

I call some bull on that.

Watch an actual game and you’ll see lots of contact throughout.

Football Doesn’t Last That Long

The misconception that football lasts so long really gets under my skin. 

An average football match is just under two hours, whilst (American) football is around three-and-a-half hours, baseball is over three hours, basketball is over two hours and golf lasts all day. 

Soccer has two set 45-minute halves with far fewer commercial breaks (by fewer, I mean none interrupting the game).

Not Every Game Ends in a Tie

I hate ties. I really, really do.

With that said, a lot of soccer matches do end in ties, but hardly enough to stop me from watching.

Many soccer games do end in a tie, but it’s not the majority.

This misconception is just that, a misconception.

European and South American Countries Don’t Completely Dominate

Yes, they do win a lot.

But there is a reason to that.

Essentially every country in the world has soccer as its most popular sport, but most Americans would place soccer at fourth or lower behind (American) football, baseball and basketball.

The United States is beginning to improve, Japan hasn’t always been terrible, Nigeria has been competitive.

There are other regions that can compete.

The U.S. Team Isn’t That Bad

It has been a gradual improvement, but it is improving. 

The Americans have a more than decent goalkeeper in Tim Howard, and a star in Landon Donovan. 

The women’s team has always been a force, going back to Brandi Chastain and the 1999 Women’s World Cup. 

The U.S. national team isn’t a power, but they’re not by any means terrible.

There’s More to U.S. Football Than Hope Solo and Landon Donovan

I made sure this would follow the previous slide. 

In the past two World Cups (men and women) two main figures have emerged as the faces of American football. For the men it’s Landon Donovan and for the women, Hope Solo. 

Along with Solo, forwards Alex Morgan and Abby Wambach have come close to becoming household names.