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Soccer or Football?

Soccer or Football?

Date: May 30 2007

Topic: Reading

Author: madridmatt

Lesson

Football, or soccer, is the most popular game in the world. From Madrid to Milan, Manchester to Mexico City, football packs thousands and thousands of cheering spectators into stadiums worldwide. Why then, is football not popular in The United States?

Some say it's because Americans have a short attention span. In other words, Americans don't like low-scoring games. But this doesn't make a lot of sense because American football is also a low-scoring game. Each touchdown in American football is worth seven points, so if the final score of an American football game is 28 to 14, the actual score is 4 to 2.

Another reason people say soccer is not popular in the United States is because Americans think it's not aggressive enough. American football, like ice hockey and rugby, is a very aggressive game. However, soccer is also very aggressive. Anyone who has watched Wayne Rooney play football knows that.

In reality, soccer is becoming much more popular in the North America. Many young children are choosing to play soccer instead of American football. The television ratings for the World Cup were much higher in 2006 than 2002, and many Americans know the names Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Zidane and David Beckham. Speaking of David Beckham, he's going to play soccer in the United States with the LA Galaxy starting in 2007. There's no doubt that he and his wife Posh will get on well in Los Angeles. Why do you think football is not as popular in North America?

 

Vocabulary

To Pack: In this context, to pack means "to bring." 

Cheering Spectators: Loud, excited fans.  

Short Attention Span: Having little focus. Easily distracted. 

Low Scoring Games: Games like soccer, which have a low score.

Television Ratings: The percentage of people who watch a program or game.  

Comments

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sara54

Algeria

in my country we love soccer to the core

10:25 AM Oct 16 2010 |

Janey elliot

Nigeria

Pls am so confuse pls put me through.

06:59 PM May 06 2010 |

Blizzard.MJ

China

Yes football is the most famous sport in the world

I love play football too

11:36 AM Dec 17 2007 |

kamranebrahimi

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hi Madridmatt

I 'm Kamran From Iran .I love watch & play soccer & Real madrid is my favorite team.

I need your help to improve my speaking english.

Best regards 

08:38 AM Nov 12 2007 |

madridmatt

madridmatt

United States

You don't like this picture? It's the most famous of the sport in the world. 

06:38 PM Jun 23 2007 |

nono_cute

nono_cute

Iraq

ok , this is a nice conversation … but can u tell me why u put this pic ? u dont have another 1 or u like it? plzz i hope u'll answer me….

03:55 PM Jun 23 2007 |

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