Burned by my terrible experience of AYSO soccer as a kid, I used to hate the sport intensely. Then the U.S. soccer team's progress almost got me into the World Cup several years ago. It was only when I learned to give up my patriotism that I started to enjoy watching the sport, because I'm sure U.S. fans will continue to be disappointed for a long time. Not that I'm likely ever to watch an MLS game, but the 2006 World Cup games were a blast. The final-game faceoff between two unlikely contenders (everyone having bet on Brazil to win) lent excitement and drama to the proceedings.

Internationally, huge. Here, despite a big push from the print and major network news departments, it has yet to become a major event with most sports fans in general. That's how it still is here to the chagrin of some "cultured" folks in this country.

Ordinarily, I'd give soccer a deuce or an ace but I'll give it trips for this comment. Soccer provides, at least, the poor dopes in Europe a way to celebrate their patriotism in the face of immigrants swamping their civilizations and the faceless Eurocrats in Brussels dissolving what remains of European culture and history.

Always remember that soccer is the metric system in short pants!

I have two Italian co-workers. So offcourse i hoped that the Italians would go out in the first round.
But as the tournament got on it's way I started liking the way the Italians played, and started loathing the Brasilians. That's what I like about tournaments. Every team developes a different personality on the pitch, and some you like, most you loath, since most of them play defensive and uninspired.
Anyway, the Italians won unexpectedly, but they deserved it.
They didn't have the best players, but they had the best team and tactic.

I watched about 1-1/2 games this of this World Cup. Its the most soccer I've ever watched in my life. I've been working around people from other countries. They are very excited.

The Italian national team was seen at CiCis, where the team mom handed out their Capri Suns, Orange slices, and trophies.

Huge story around most of the civilized world, America, evidently, not being a part of that bloc. In the US it is (unfortunately) the cause of many sad jokes of which the French are the butt (at what point in the game did the French actually surrender? Couldn't the American Women's team have beaten the French Men? Etc., etc.).

This is the most important result for the next 4 years in the World's most popular team sport. Regardless of what nation ended up winning, the World Cup final is a huge story.