European Soccer Championship 2016 - My View
By M.-L.
@MALUSE (69413)
Germany
June 26, 2016 2:31pm CST
I'm not interested in sports in general and even less in soccer if that is possible. Yet I know that Germany has just beaten Slovakia 3:0 in the European Soccer Championship.
How's that? Well, I know what's going on. I know that the European Soccer Championship is taking place in France this year. I read the newspapers, and hear something from my husband who is mildly interested. He watches most matches. I watch none, though. You would have to pay me to sit through a whole match. I listen to what's going on in the town centre and to news on the radio when I'm in the kitchen.
Today I was sitting on the balcony reading. People gather in the town centre which isn't far from where we live to watch the matches in the gardens of restaurants or tents on the market square. Whenever there is a goal for Germany, they cry enthusiastically and blow several kinds of wind instruments. Whenever there is a goal for the opponents, they groan. As my hearing is still good, I'm always up to date.
If Germany - or the team of one of the ethnic minorities living in our town - has won, the great hullaballoo begins. Hooting and tooting cars with people riding shotgun and waving flags cruise through the centre. I think the Italians are responsible for introducing this custom to Germany. (The Turks have introduced hooting and tooting car processions for weddings) Today I don't envy the people living in the centre. With the victory today Germany has reached the quarter finals. The speaker on the radio told me so.
Does that please me? No, not at all. No triumph in sports pleases me or makes me proud. Why should I be proud? I don't play soccer. I'm of the opinion that one should only be proud of things one has accomplished oneself. And as to waving a flag, well, you'd rather see me hanging dead across a fence. Me and demonstrative patriotism aren't compatible.
I don't look forward to the finals. What if Germany and Italy will meet? We had that already, hadn't we? The same old, how boring. My dream match would have been Albania vs. Iceland. A chance for the underdogs! But I know it's not to be. :-(
---
Photo: Wikimedia, public domain
15 people like this
17 responses
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
26 Jun 16
I watch the England games, but I'm not so much interested in the other matches. If Iceland beat England tomorrow I'll be supporting Wales. Bless them!
2 people like this
@xFiacre (12593)
• Ireland
26 Jun 16
@maluse I am baffled by people "supporting" football teams. I couldn't possibly be interested unless I was playing it myself which will never happen. I also don't understand the blowing of wind instruments and waving of flags - what is the connection to football?And why oh why do people spend so much money buying football outfits as if they were team members themselves? It all defeats me.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
26 Jun 16
Well said. At this juncture in the football sporting calendar, it is usually all I hear about, from getting into work, at breaktimes, lunch time right through to hometime. Like you, I also have no appetite for the game, although hearing the headline as I brush my teeth on a weekday morning is enough to prepare me for who might be debating with whom at work.
Alas, something closer to home caught everyone's attention on Friday past, and it has been written about here on MyLot by a number of people from the UK and from other parts of the world. 22 grown men chasing a ball around a grass pitch interests me little, but what happens to my family, affects their future and threatens to turn everything upside-down for a few weeks, months or longer, does grab my attention.
@allen0187 (58438)
• Philippines
6 Jul 16
Not everyone is born a sports fan!
I do love the dream match-up you mentioned. Too bad, Iceland's run in the Euro came to a halt. By all means, France won the match but Iceland won our hearts!
I do love the dream match-up you mentioned. Too bad, Iceland's run in the Euro came to a halt. By all means, France won the match but Iceland won our hearts!
@Tampa_girl7 (48908)
• United States
30 Jun 16
I don't really keep up with sports. It mostly bores me.
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
28 Jun 16
I am afraid I am just like you too. I can not see the fascination in it in the slightest. The only time I love football is when the roads are empty because all the idiots are at home watching football. I once drove from Cornwall to my home in 3 and a half hours because England were playing. Normally it would take at least five hours! That is the only time I enjoy football.
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
27 Jun 16
I've found it very hard to take much interest in this tournament.
@TheHorse (205618)
• Walnut Creek, California
11 Jul 16
People go nuts over sports here in the United States as well. The wife of an NBA (basketball) player was in my class last semester. She told me she thought it absurd and thanked me for teaching her the "proper" term for the absurdity (projective identification). I root for some teams, but stay away from parades and rallies and such like.
@KnehKnah (3584)
• Philippines
27 Jun 16
I am also not fond of athletics, like my husband. I prefer theatre presentations. But, when my husband cheers for a team in any event, I feel his joy so much that I am made to sit & join him too, watching the particular event (he's into basketball, lawn tennis, soccer, etc.).
@DianneN (246643)
• United States
30 Jun 16
I could care less about soccer, although I am not oblivious to what is going on. My two sons and husband are huge fans of of their American football and baseball teams. I support them by not watching the games and bringing my bad luck into the room. Lol! Actually, I don't mind a game or two.
@zebra2222 (5269)
• United States
27 Jun 16
I have casual interest in sports. Professional athletes earn way too much money.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
27 Jun 16
I think it has to do with National Proud and even when I am not interested in the sport I am proud of my country's performance.
@JudyEv (325648)
• Rockingham, Australia
27 Jun 16
In Egypt there is much tooting and hooting at weddings - and 'paparazzi' riding sitting backwards on a motor-cycle while their friend drives. Very scary stuff.
