Spain Reigns in 2010 World Cup

Spain did it! It was in the 115th minute of the game when Fabregas split two Dutch defenders to get the ball to Iniesta.  Iniesta calmly placed the ball in the net behind Hollands goalkeeper.  This was Spain's year to show the world who they were.  Spain is a little bit like Brazil in terms of the popularity of the sport.  In Spain they say soccer is like a religion, or maybe religion is like soccer. They tend to believe this because soccer is like a devotion, the only thing people used to do on Sunday's was go to church.  Now the "thing" to do is watch soccer on Sunday nights.  It was in 1909 that the Spanish formed it's first soccer organization called Royal Spanish Football Federation.  Spain's fans are said to be the most dedicated fans in Europe.  Soccer is also the most participated and spectator sport.  Soccer is the national sport of Spain.  The capital of Spain, Madrid has three different teams alone.  There is Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, and Rayo Vallecano.  Real Madrid is a well known soccer team.  They are one of the best soccer teams of the twentieth century.  Its been in the most recent years that soccer has become more competitive.  For the past eight decades the Spanish have been active in the premiere league called La Liga.  Jose Maria Acha was the founder of this league.  When La Liga became a professional league it consisted of only ten teams.  Over the years it began to grow, and today it has twenty teams participating in the league.  Among the twenty teams participating, there are four teams that have had the most success.  You may know them as Real Madrid with 31 titles, FC Barcelona with 18 titles, Atletico Madrid with 9 titles, and Atletcio Balbao with titles.  You also may recognize Johan Cryuff, Ronaldihno, and Luis Figo.  All of these players were selected Footballers of the year while playing for their Spanish La Liga teams.  The Spanish soccer team has become known for it's style of play, which involves roaming movement, and positional interchange among the midfielders, moving the ball quickly with one or two touch passes.  Spain has become the World champions by winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  They continue to play within their league teams back home, but hopefully in 2014 they can come out and grab another big win when they travel to Brazil for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  I am sure that all of Spain will be there chearing there team on because well, they are the current reigning champions.

2010 World Cup Champions :)

Soccer and Brazil

Brazil's game of soccer goes back to the nineteenth century.  There are many different beliefs as to how soccer got started in Brazil.  Some people say that it came about when the British and Dutch sailors landed in Brazil.  Others say that the original people of Brazil learned the game. Another belief is that Mr. Hugh was the first person to teach the game of soccer in Brazil.  It was said that he taught the workers on the Sao Paulo railroad in 1882.  Most people believe either the first or second one.  The last one is not the most famous of them.  The very first club team to be formed in Brazil was created in 1888 in San Paulo, and in 1914 the Brazilian football confederation was created.  The very first soccer match ever played in Brazil was played in San Paulo in 1894.  Brazil is the most successful national team in World Cup history.  They have five championships in the World Cup and they have three titles in the FIFAConfederations Cup.  Soccer is the most famous sport played in Brazil. It is said that the first thing a child does after learning how to walk is to play soccer.  That there gives you an idea of how important soccer is in Brazil.  No wonder they are so good! Brazil soccer is not only famous in Brazil, it is famous all over the world.  The Brazil national team has produced some of the greatest soccer players in history, who have a passion for the game and give all they have when playing, practicing, or training for the upcoming season.  Some of those players include Robson De Souza, many know him as Robinho, Ronaldo, Pele, Bebeto, Rivaldo, and many more.  The fans over in Brazil go all out when the World Cup rolls around.  The streets are filled and shops and stores are closed down.  People crowd the streets and bars dressed in yellow, blue, and greeen to watch the amazing Brazil team dominate, and try to get their sixth World Cup win.   This year when the World Cup came around many people had their best bets at Brazil taking home the gold, since they already had five World Cup wins and they are the top ranked team, but that bet was off when they lost to the Netherlands in the first of four quarterfinal games. After the lose coach Dunga was fired.  He was said to have taken the wrong players with him to South Africa.  Soccer in Brazil is the most popular sport and the fans in Brazil take the game very serious.  I read in a couple different articles about mobs being formed and different riots after the lose to the Netherlands in the World Cup.  Altough they lost everyone knows how good they are and any team that defeats Brazil has a great accomplishment.  Brazil is known for its soccer, and  I am sure they are proud to be hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup games.

Brazil's 2010 World Cup team!

Soccer Around the World

Since I was little I have been around sports.  My dad played indoor soccer and slow pitch softball, and my mom played indoor soccer.  Everytime I would go to the living room to watch television there would always be some kind of sports game, or show on.  Whether it was softball, baseball, football, soccer, or ice-hockey it was always on the television.  My parents also took me to all the high school soccer, and basketball games that went on at our high school.  So I have pretty much born into a sports oriented house hold!  The sport I was introduced to first was soccer.  I began playing soccer at age 8.  My dad coached me up until I started high school, then he began coaching my little brother.  I quickly fell in love with the sport and up to this day it is still my favorite sport. 

I choose to do my blog on soccer because as I said earlier I have grown up around it in many different ways.  I also choose to do "what soccer looks like around the world" because I like learning about different countries, and their history.  Not all sports are the same around the world and soccer is one of those sports.  For example soccer is a big hit in Brazil.  In Brazil soccer is there number one sport and everyone goes crazy during the games, cheering and shouting for their team.  Not only does their country support them, but they give them a reason to support them.  Brazil is a very good soccer team and no matter and I think anyone who likes to watch good soccer would love to watch them play.  Meanwhile, over in America soccer is not our number one sport.  In America our number one sport is baseball.  Everyone enjoys going to a good baseball game.  So soccer is different in every country.  Not only is the popularity of the sport something im looking at, but im also looking at the history of it and how it evolved in different countries and how different countries view the rules and regulations of the game.  Thorough doing this blog I hope to learn a lot about soccer and the way it is played in different countries.
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