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World Cup nationalism


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By John Metzler
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM

June 20, 2002

UNITED NATIONS Ñ By John J. Metzler United NationsÑSoccerÕs mega-event, the World Cup co-hosted by both Korea and Japan proved yet again what many politicians seem to have missed. Namely that national teams, sporting national pride, and national passion ruled the pitch from Seoul to Yokohama.

I donÕt recall seeing a European Union Team but did witness superlative soccer teams from Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. Part of the passion of the game, much as in the Olympics, centers on an oft-submerged national pride as well as historic longtime rivalries and the more obvious financial lure of product endorsements.

That the USA did so well despite the mediaÕs initial low expectations proved yet again that the pundits were wrong. A combination of American training, resourcefulness, and luck proved the magic combination to get so far.

Part of the globalization of soccer is that teams such as the USA and South Korea are now in serious running for the gold. France, the World Cup winner over Brazil in 1998, met its Waterloo early on. Powerhouse Mexico fell before the Team USA too.

For the co-hosts South Korea and Japan, the games had more to do with national prestige than actually winning the coveted Cup. Being in Korea a number of times prior to the extravaganza Seoul Olympics in 1988, I learned very quickly that the Summer Games aimed at introducing South Korea to the world stage. DonÕt get me wrong, the Koreans wish to win, but the bigger goal here too is global standing.

Interestingly, between its kickoff in Uruguay in 1930 and 1994 when it was hosted in the USA, the World Cup traditionally was shared between South America and Europe. The current World Cup was the first such face-off held in Asia and moreover the first of such events co-hosted by two countries, albeit longtime rivals Korea and Japan.

But despite admirable planning and sports infrastructure, expected sports tourism has fallen short of expectations. While the Seoul Olympics in 1988 was shadowed by a fear of a rash move by neighboring communist North Korea, this World Cup has been pulled down by the undertow of September 11th.

Soccer after all reflects the larger world too. The once powerful Latin American teams are grea t Ñ but letÕs face it, not quite the levels of the past. Korea and Japan-- never serious contenders Ñ are rising fast. Turkey is very tough as is Senegal.

The sports pundits were proved wrong and upsets rule the day. Powerhouse teams such as Argentina and Portugal fell by the wayside early on. Maverick South Korea scored a sensational win over Italy. Power and passion on the pitch always underline national pride and profit. Then thereÕs plain old luck.

AmericaÕs ÒSoccer MomÓ phenomenon should naturally, at least in theory, create a large enough pool of young talent who can go on to the big leagues. While Americans seem decidedly disinterested in soccer, or football as the rest of the world calls it, is not the issue as much as American sports training, technology, and tenacity can bring victory in this formerly unlikely venue.

Will AmericaÕs showing in the World Cup change attitudes and make Soccer mainstream? Possibly, but recall when the US hosted the World Cup in 1994; despite wild enthusiasm and promotions, soccer failed to catch on as a formal spectator sport despite its growing popularity in schoolyards. Despite the urge, I refuse to make any prediction here.

But soccer, like the Olympics, reveals another unabashedly clear point Ñ that national pride and patriotism rules the pitch as much as the desirable mega-billion dollar bottom line.

John J. Metzler is a U.N. correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He writes weekly for World Tribune.com.

June 20, 2002




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