As an originally unplanned event during this trip, Brittany and I have been given the opportunity to experience first-hand the excitement and enthusiasm of the World Cup in Europe. While the United States does participate in the World Cup and there are some big soccer fans (looking at you, Dad), U.S. soccer does not compare to European or even Latin American soccer. Soccer to Europe is like Football to the U.S.; imagine all the energy and enthusiasm football fans have during the superbowl, then imagine all of those fans across the entire country rooting for the same team.
In America, a lot of our sports revolve around immediate satisfaction, time is money after all, and I’ve noticed a lot of people just not being willing to sit through almost two hours on a sport that may end with a 0-0 score. There are no grand displays of brute strength or intense finishes, it’s a lot of running, strategy, and agility. Sporting events in America also tend to be a family affair; bring the kids, get hot dogs and ice cream, and enjoy the game. This differs from other countries in that they don’t mess around; when they go to see a game, they are intending to show complete and total loyalty and commitment to their team with no distractions, including ice cream.
Brittany and I arrived in Dubrovnik at 2:30 pm on June 26th, just in time for Croatia’s next match against Iceland at 8:00 pm. This is especially exciting given how well Croatia has been doing so far, winning their first two matches against Nigeria and Argentina, respectively, after the qualifiers.
We arrived in Old Town just after the game started, and were not surprised to find a sea of red and white checkered jerseys huddled around numerous tvs set up. A lot of restaurants do not normally have tvs outside, but many put up temporary screens to accommodate for the occasion.
Every table was full, bystanders just stood watching the screens, you couldn’t tell where the outdoor seating for one restaurant ended and another began.
During commercial breaks, they’d switch to a channel airing music videos about national pride and their anthems, comparable to I’m Proud to be an American, except for Croatia. Every time their team scored cheering and chanting would ensue, a low rumble resonating throughout the entire Old Town. It was fun to see the locals so excited for their team, especially after Croatia won the game.
The FIFA World Cup is a much different experience in Europe than it is back in the states; it’s fun, energetic, and harbors a unity across countrymen that just doesn’t occur back home. I'm glad I not only got to experience it first hand, but also be able to see the beautiful country I'm visiting celebrate their 3rd win so far in the FIFA World Cup.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/30664-soccer-in-the-us-and-europe