Brazil! Braaaaziiiil!!
Jul. 8th, 2014 08:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lupestripeBeing a huge sports fan, it will come as no surprise to learn that I have enjoyed the World Cup this year. However, I would go further than this and say it has been the best tournament I can remember, certainly the best of the seven World Cups I have viewed so far. After what was a pretty dire tournament in South Africa in 2010, Brazil has put on a massive party and the quality of football has responded in kind. Leaky defences often lead to fantastic goals and this competition has been flowing with them. Furthermore, the welcome dispatching of Spain early on means we didn't have to endure their dull tika-taka style of play, allowing more positive football to shine. Some games have been frenetic, others more tactical, but nearly every one has had something going for it. I think there is something to be said for giving the tournament to nations which understand the game, which makes me fear for Qatar in 2022 (amongst a load of other reasons), as Brazil have shown once again they can put on a show. The atmosphere has been electric and I think the play has followed this.
I'll be honest and admit I prefer the group stages to the knockout rounds of these tournaments, and this has been proven once again, with the most recent games being far more cagey and tense affairs. That's not to take away from what has been a riveting tournament though and I am looking forward to the two semi-finals this week and the final on Sunday.
In addition to this, I have been heartened to see a large number of furries getting into the spirit of things, rather than just moaning, even if they don't care for football at any other time. I feared that the last month would be full of people complaining about football talk and, while there has been a little bit of that, it hasn't been anywhere near as much as I had dreaded, nor as vitriolic. Even those who hate football have largely been quiet, although I have used appropriate hashtags and filters out of respect for their views. This hasn't stopped a small minority though, and it's difficult to know what to do - if they treat my interests with such disdain and actively wish my pleasure to be curtailed, are they really friends at all? I do accept that football has been everywhere recently and if you are not a fan then it can make you feel angry and isolated, but it isn't pleasant to read someone denigrating your passions simply because you are talking about something they don't appreciate or understand. I used to self-censor to prevent this from happening before realising that doing this was ridiculous. I admit that I used to be the same when E3 rolled around, or when a new computer games console came out, but I realised that I was making people unhappy and endeavoured to stop doing this. Now I am quite successful at ignoring it.
On a more positive note, many furs who I wouldn't have expected to be football fans have started to express an interest, even if it's just through the sweepstakes which have been running on twitter. For someone who struggles in the Fandom largely due to having a lack of common interest with the perceived furry mainstream, this has given me quite the confidence boost and I feel a lot more relaxed in the community now than I did at the start of June. I can certainly talk to more people now about what is one of my primary passions, with even some of my closest friends surprising me with their love of the game. It would appear that as the tournament has progressed, more people have shown an interest and this has been genuinely great to see. I hope they enjoy the final few games before the world returns to normal.
We have had a few World Cup parties during the tournament so far - one for the England v Italy game and a few more on random nights with a couple of close friends. These have been great, with BBQs, beer and chat. The positive thing about football is you can have it on in the background and still have a social event, meaning even non-football fans have enjoyed the gatherings we have hosted. This has certainly been the case with a few friends who admit they are not a huge fan of the sport and this too has been heartening for me. Furthermore, doing this also means you can avoid the pisspoor commentary and punditry from the BBC and ITV, which has been as woeful as I have ever endured. Oh for the German coverage with just one commentator and two men analysing next to a podium on a roof.
I'll admit I will be a little sad when the World Cup finishes on Sunday but in some respects I am all footballed out and will welcome the break. Until then though, I hope to enjoy the rest of the tournament.
ADDENDUM: I certainly wasn't expecting that emphatic scoreline for Germany against Brazil - I really do feel this tournament is getting better and better, and this has lured more people into watching. With shocks, goals and fantastic football, I cannot think of a better football tournament in history.
I'll be honest and admit I prefer the group stages to the knockout rounds of these tournaments, and this has been proven once again, with the most recent games being far more cagey and tense affairs. That's not to take away from what has been a riveting tournament though and I am looking forward to the two semi-finals this week and the final on Sunday.
In addition to this, I have been heartened to see a large number of furries getting into the spirit of things, rather than just moaning, even if they don't care for football at any other time. I feared that the last month would be full of people complaining about football talk and, while there has been a little bit of that, it hasn't been anywhere near as much as I had dreaded, nor as vitriolic. Even those who hate football have largely been quiet, although I have used appropriate hashtags and filters out of respect for their views. This hasn't stopped a small minority though, and it's difficult to know what to do - if they treat my interests with such disdain and actively wish my pleasure to be curtailed, are they really friends at all? I do accept that football has been everywhere recently and if you are not a fan then it can make you feel angry and isolated, but it isn't pleasant to read someone denigrating your passions simply because you are talking about something they don't appreciate or understand. I used to self-censor to prevent this from happening before realising that doing this was ridiculous. I admit that I used to be the same when E3 rolled around, or when a new computer games console came out, but I realised that I was making people unhappy and endeavoured to stop doing this. Now I am quite successful at ignoring it.
On a more positive note, many furs who I wouldn't have expected to be football fans have started to express an interest, even if it's just through the sweepstakes which have been running on twitter. For someone who struggles in the Fandom largely due to having a lack of common interest with the perceived furry mainstream, this has given me quite the confidence boost and I feel a lot more relaxed in the community now than I did at the start of June. I can certainly talk to more people now about what is one of my primary passions, with even some of my closest friends surprising me with their love of the game. It would appear that as the tournament has progressed, more people have shown an interest and this has been genuinely great to see. I hope they enjoy the final few games before the world returns to normal.
We have had a few World Cup parties during the tournament so far - one for the England v Italy game and a few more on random nights with a couple of close friends. These have been great, with BBQs, beer and chat. The positive thing about football is you can have it on in the background and still have a social event, meaning even non-football fans have enjoyed the gatherings we have hosted. This has certainly been the case with a few friends who admit they are not a huge fan of the sport and this too has been heartening for me. Furthermore, doing this also means you can avoid the pisspoor commentary and punditry from the BBC and ITV, which has been as woeful as I have ever endured. Oh for the German coverage with just one commentator and two men analysing next to a podium on a roof.
I'll admit I will be a little sad when the World Cup finishes on Sunday but in some respects I am all footballed out and will welcome the break. Until then though, I hope to enjoy the rest of the tournament.
ADDENDUM: I certainly wasn't expecting that emphatic scoreline for Germany against Brazil - I really do feel this tournament is getting better and better, and this has lured more people into watching. With shocks, goals and fantastic football, I cannot think of a better football tournament in history.
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no subject
Date: 2014-07-09 07:33 am (UTC)Brazil where frankly pants during this world cup. Each match was a massive case of weak opponents and lucking out, Germany ran rings round them and losing their only two good players the match before didn't help. Frankly I am glad the hosts are out, as they didn't deserve the final with that quality football.
I knew they would crash out here, but not by a humiliating 7-1 scoreline either!