In the history of the World Cup never has there been a more undeserving attendee than SB Nation’s Andrew Feinstein. He outlines what he hopes to discover as a soccer novice during his trip to South Africa.
2010 World Cup: Expectations Of A Soccer n00b Headed To South Africa
If you’re a die-hard soccer fan, you’re going to cringe reading this column and may possibly hate me by the end it. Next week I’ll be heading to South Africa to attend my first-ever World Cup, and I’m probably the least deserving ticket holder in the history of this great international tournament.
You see, like many American sports fans, I know absolutely nothing about soccer. I don’t understand the card system. I have no idea why the game clock goes up and not down. I don’t get the fuss among the fans over corner kicks. I can’t tell you how many players are on a team and how many men are on the field at any one time. And the only players I can name are Pele, David Beckham, Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Renaldo, Ronaldhino, Freddy Adu, Kaka, Landon Donovan, Mia Hamm and some short dynamo named “Messi” - and I’d be hard pressed to pick them out of a police lineup. (Only recently have I learned that just three of those names are playing in the 2010 World Cup.)
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