The French team is especially fun to watch. It's like their beating their opponents but also teaching a lesson to their own racists. Mbappe is one of the most graceful athletes I've ever seen.
2
International sporting competitions are the most nationalist spectacles in the world. It’s like some kind of ancient fertility rite.
Football, like any other sport, imbues the spirit of sportsmanship to young and old alike. Respect the rules, your opponents, the officials, and equally important, yourself.
Parents should be aware & caution their kids that some things that they see on TV during the game should never be tolerated: diving, intimidating the ref, giving the other team’s fans the finger, and walking out of the stadium with no handshake whatsoever to the winning team.
Parents should also teach their kids to be like the Japanese team & fans: clean up, be gracious, stay classy.
After all, the World Cup is just a game.
If multimillionaire players can’t be tidy, gracious, or classy, why let your kids watch them?
1
I'm British-born and hold dual US/UK citizenship. I still root for England in honor of my late father, a football fanatic--I can not say or write soccer!
1
"Soccer" was commonly used in Britain during your father's lifetime, if not your own.
1
The World Cup can also teach manners, comradeship, and classiness. My favorite example is after Japan had a devastating loss to Belgium, their fans stayed behind to clean the stadium, and the team left its locker room in pristine shape.
Players from opposing teams help each other off the ground and exchange pleasantries on the field. During the Portugal vs. Uruguay match, a Portuguese player helped an injured player from Uruguay off the field.
And although the trust and camaraderie you see on the field is the same across various team sports, it's a nice reminder of our common humanity to see players from all over the world treating each other exactly the same.
4
As sincere and adamant non-sports fans of any sort, my husband and I were surprised to find ourselves caught up in World Cup fever while in Europe last month. It was hard to find any restaurant (except, perhaps, the hoitiest of the toity) that hadn't brought a flat screen into the dining area to allow patrons to watch the games during dinner. We watch the first round disappointment of Germany's loss to Mexico in an old castle in Bad Kreuznach, we cheered Denmark's victory over Australia in a watering hole in Copenhagen, were elated by Germany's comeback over Sweden in Berlin, as well as Uruguay's trouncing of Russia.
I found myself checking the stats, comparing the team records and looking forward to the next day's matches. Both of us felt that, as this administration is, more and more, turning its back on the world, it is a shame that we don't pay more attention to this game that exemplifies so many good things: teamwork, HARD work, sportsmanship, and being gracious in both victory and defeat. I'm never going to be a die-hard fan of any team, but I have decided that I can be a fan of being a fan.
5
One of the positive aspects of the World Cup (or national teams in general), and an important component of international soccer, is the fact that many players play with players from other nations on their club teams, then compete against them in international competitions. And while they are undoubtedly serious competitors, they treat usually each other with respect, because at the end of the day, they know that friendship transcends national identities. I love it when two players engage in a serious one v one battle (say a winger going against an outside defender), and when one wins the battle the other often gives him a quick hand slap ("low five") to say "well done". An example of respect we could all learn from.
3
Dear Ms. Druckerman, I loved your article. Would love to buy you drinks when we're in France for Women's World Cup next year. RSVP here is fine!
2
Born and raised in the USA, I thank my lucky stars I grew up playing soccer, which is simply the greatest game on the planet.
4
At least the World Cup is bringing families together and giving families an excuse to spend time together. In this frantic and chaotic world, good family time is ever needed.
4
Dear Pamela, I was in the south of France -Saint Tropez- on July 1998 when FRANCE won its only WorldCup tournament (in a match vs Brazil). I vividly remember that "EVERYONE" went out to the main streets/square - Place des Lices- to cheer, to celebrate and shout very loudly....and I really mean EVERYONE, from the bar attendant, trash collector, to the "pétanque" players, guests at the very chic Hotel Le Byblos, boat owners from Le Port, etc...everyone was out celebrating with everyone! This was really a true - liberté, égalité, fraternité - kind of moment...and I didn't witness any type of “l’horreur de la gloire”...
3
immigrants, how do you feel being an immigrant in France? European nationalism applies to you? please elaborate. thanks
There are two lessons from the World cup that Ms Druckerman needs to teach her children.
1. Don't take Neymar as a role model when he's rolling around on the floor like a big baby.
2. Do emulate the dignity of teams like Japan when they lose.
7
Thanks for saying that!
Neymar can be so annoying with his "cai cai".
Japan is a class act.
What I love about soccer is all you need is a ball. I once attended some outdoor function where, while the adults were eating and chatting, a group of kids used a vacant grass area to play soccer. The kids were ages six to sixteen, most closer to six. They chose up approximately equal teams and had at it. A genuine "pickup" game. That was the first good thing. The second good thing was when one of the six-year olds got kicked and started to cry, his Mom made a move to go out to him and someone stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm and said, "Wait." So she waited, and soon one of the teens was comforting him, he recovered bravely, and the game went on.
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I read the first paragraph and was ready to write off the piece as puffy. But happily, I read on - and it captures the essence of my appreciation of the sport - and definitely hits the mark for my grandkids - They are world aware Seattle and Chicago kids - wearing Neymar jerseys (and it had to be the World Cup version).
2
In every city and hamlet you see kids with a ball on grass or dirt streets. That's why we love the beautiful game. Just a ball and your feet and your friends and your heroes like Ronaldo; Mo Salah; Harry Kane and your country. My uncle was capped for Scotland in the 1950's. We Scots live in hope despite not qualifying since World Cup 1998. Our Scottish premier league has youth teams. Haste ye back.
1
I enjoyed the article and saw her references to be the macro lessons of soccer and would like to include a few micro versions on display. I love that they march on the field holding hands with youth soccer players. In the event of a serious injury to an opponent a team will kick the ball out of bounds to stop the game. Watching a player help an opponent up off the ground or giving them a pat on the head after a good play is good to watch. Shaking hands with the referees at the end of the game as lovely as well. Seeing “respect” as an important value on shirts grew out of some fan player ugliness, but seems to have taken hold. The game, unlike hockey or the NFL game, shows ballet like athleticism’s beauty. I love the game, for the micro as well as macro lessons!
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Stick it to President Trump, yeah! The rest of the article was pretty good too, but that ending statement, as they say, resonates.
5
Pam, just make it clear to Simon: no three-some @ 50 unless he gives a football tutorial. Cheers. As an American at home abroad, I enjoy your take on things. Will not read a piece on football unless it is dispatched by Simon or Robert Hughes....
2
Every game begins with handshake; the greetings at the end of the game are genuine. The Final should take less than 2 hours to play. No TV time-outs, no commercials, no time-outs called by the coaches. Constant action. Played with skil and finesse without the showboating. 2.5 billion viewers will watch it. And if you must have higher scores, count each goal as 7 points. The NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL could learn something from these broadcasts.
22
Really? A soccer bias is showing (a common problem among upper class, suburban soccer fans).
FIFA is corrupt beyond imagination. While American soccer follows a different (read: better) air of sportsmanship, international soccer is a joke. Players are groomed to feign injury for advantage. If someone smears their pomade, they fall and whimper only to run like Ulysses himself 30 seconds later. When their not failing as roles models on that front, the players step on one another, headbutt one another, bite one another (on multiple occasions). It's a joke, much like NBA basketball and NFL football.
I agree advertising ruins a lot of sports, but in games with stoppage it's at times a necessity. (Hockey has rare TV timeouts, one per period) In hockey, near zero showboating is permitted, lest you end up with a slashed wrist or self-regulated punch to the jaw. Players are complimentary to one another before and after games, even if just for show. Baseball condemns showboating to the point where one man's celebratory bat flip gets him slugged in the face months later and beaned by pitches in the interim. Playoff hockey ends with long handshakes, same with baseball. NFL football and NBA basketball also end that way, come to that.
Open your eyes. World Cup soccer is no different than Olympic sports in terms of being "genuine"...Rotten at the core, but charming if you don't think about it.
Agreed but FIFA's corruption has/had a lot to do with what you write. On the other hand, watching American soccer vs European soccer is like watching a High School Match. American soccer is more of a joke! Much more!
1
Not for nothing, but NHL hockey has three tv breaks per period
It really is a world sport, but what I enjoy most is enjoying the game sans 3 minutes of commercials every 5 minutes of play.
Children need to play sports to learn teamwork, and to watch sports to learn that the world is so much bigger than America and we should be part of it.
Bravo!
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When you win the World Cup you really are World Champion , as you have played the rest of the world to get there.
Good for you!!! Enjoy your respite, and keep sticking it to Trump!!!
6
I think we’d be good friends Pamela!
2
Bravo!!!
4
Just to clarify: the lesson is to let one’s kids watch tv coverage of the World Cup all day long because they learn about geography and team spirit?
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Raindrop, I think you should read the article again. You clearly missed a lot in the first round.
Thank you Pamela. As a football fanatic myself, I think we at times take the game too seriously.
It was a delight to read your lighthearted and funny piece. It brought a smile to my face.
No games today - dread. I think I’ll cook today. Tomorrow, back to the madness. Wife cooks.
9
What a relief, every two years, to enjoy real world sports - just enough to survive the hoopla of the narcissistically named, but typically American, "world series" every year. Viva Mexico - how unfair to be matched against Brazil in the round of sixteen, while lower ranked European countries had it easy.
6
World Cup is every four years!
1
True, Mick, but for many of us, WWC helps fill the void. I admit that WC and WWC are in consecutive years, creating a three-year gap. But we always have the Olympics, Champions League, etc.
1
Women's world cup alternates with men's so there is a world cup tournament every two years.
1
Football’s Coming Home
Three Lions on the Shirt
Jules Remet Still Gleaming
52 Years of Hurt
Never Stopped Us Dreaming
It’s Coming Home
4
Jewels remain LOL
Can NFL or NBA contribute to mankind anything comparable to the beautiful game
5
Ha!
At what age do you teach your kids to take a dive; to roll around on the ground and pretend you’r injured to gain strategic advantage?
Otherwise, I agree with the rest of your article
1
And don’t forget match fixing and corruption!
1
"I managed to read several books, cook a lasagna from scratch and cheer on Mexico’s national team, just to stick it to President Trump."
And here I thought that Ms. Druckerman managed to get through an op-ed on parenting and sports without the usual sop to the anti-Trumpism that permeates NYT editorial policy, even from American expatriates in France.
I was wrong.
I doubt though that Mr. Trump cares much about the World Cup, Mexico's team or for that matter the amount of free time it allows Ms. Druckerman.
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You’re right. Trumps doesn’t care, nor does he have the time to care. He is too busy sending derogatory tweets to US athletes in other sports for their lack of patriotism and unwillingness to visit the WH for a photo OP.
1
Well put!
Fun column to read. I was intrigued when you wrote, "Some French people said my children, who were born and raised in Paris and practically worship France’s national team, must be gutted that America didn’t qualify for this World Cup. They assume that since I’m American and my husband is British, my kids aren’t fully French."
That is true in America and part of the national angst here. Kids born here from parents not born here are considered not true Americans. It is petty and mean and rolls from the Presidency one down.
11
It's not a stretch to imagine that your kids might support America, Britain, or many other teams, as you point out. They're not "fully French" if that means being born to native French parents, and their world is probably richer for it.
janice, janice, janice..."petty and mean it is" and it's been that way since before you were born (a guess, but the shallow poke at "the presidency" suggests lock-step recitation)...the meaness began in elementary school when teachers often disallowed first generation kids to fill in "american" on their class cards, "no, you are italian or irish or german, or..."
not to let "the presidency" off by any means, you can look up lots of federal bigotry going back as far as you choose, before the present president was himself born.
1
I really enjoy soccer in so many ways and the WC is the culmination of all. Best of all, there can't be any annoying commercials to disrupt the flow of a full half. And that's true of all soccer games. Without America, it's a heartbreak, but allowed me to watch more games than I ever have before (ah, retirement surely helps!). I'm sure Ms. Duckerman's kids will be glued to the Uruguay vs. France match. I really love both teams and their prior wins, it should be outstanding soccer. I will be routing for Uruguay because it's such a small country.
One gripe: I hate the tie breaking penalty kicks. I'd prefer they play until a goal is scored. Maybe be like cricket, have continue a game the next day if necessary.
4
after playing for 2 hours each player running or jogging approximately 5.5 miles penalty kicks is necessary.
Pamela, while I appreciate your desire to find a silver lining in the seemingly endless sea of grey that is the news, the dark sides to the World Cup are far more than someone (not unreasonably) thinking your kids might be disappointed that the US team did not qualify. What about the rampant and disgraceful corruption in FIFA, and the human rights abuses the migrant workers have suffered while constructing the arenas??
1
Couldn’t agree more with your comment. But please don’t forget match fixing? Diego Maradona’s comments about the Columbia/England game ring true. An American referee and a lot of very bad calls!
2
a long way around, but ms druckerman finally gets to the requisite trump dump, the obligatory flash of credential that identifies the oh-so-smart among us (lest one be mistaken for a deplorable or worse an irredeemable).
as for soccer, the kids here, who themselves play the game, have wearied of the bad acting, rolling about, shin-clutching, game-delaying cheat that demonstrates rather routine chicanery than sportsmanship.
the shoot out (not actual play, unlike other sport overtimes) but a convenient tv trick to protect programming schedules (as is the tennis tie-break but, at least, it's tennis) has also denatured the game, making the overtime periods little more than no-risk holding patterns...better to chance the shoot out than risk giving up a goal.
for all the skills on display between whistles, the patina of sleaze (off the field, too, btw) sticks.
2
I agree with the author completely, except in calling it soccer. It's real football, in Spanish, futbol, with accent on the u. International football , or football soccer, not only contributes to admiration for other contumelies accomplishments in the World Cup, bu all yearound, because teams have players from any country. tanks to big screen HD TV, Americans can enjoy this great spectacle.
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@ perdiz41 — You’re perfectly free to use the word “football”, or “fútbol”, if you like; I won’t tell you you’re wrong! But it’s bogus, if you suggest that “football” is the “correct” word, or that “soccer” is a mistake. To point out the obvious, we don’t have a corollary of the Académie française, proclaiming what words are “correct” in English!
And in fact, there is no basis to proclaim that “soccer” is not the correct name of the sport — not because the “correct” name •is• “soccer”, but because there’s •no• such thing as the “correct” name.
The nature of language is that customary names vary from place to place. Sure, “football”, or its translation, is in common use in many countries. But it is most certainly not the case that the whole world calls it “football”; that’s simply •not• the universal name of the sport.
In Italy, one of the game’s great powers (except when they stink up World Cup qualifying . . .), it’s “calcio” — literally, “kick”. In China, the world’s most populous nation, the name is 蹴球 (tsùchiú — literally, “kickball”).
And in addition to the U.S., in English-speaking countries like Canada, Australia, and Ireland, distinct national sports called “football” are popular, so people there commonly use the word “soccer”, for the sensible reason that it avoids confusion. (In Japan, too, “soccer” (phonetically, “sahkkah”) is the most common name.)
And in Britain — where the word was •invented• — “soccer” remains in common, if secondary, usage.
— Brian
2
Go France!
After Mexico’s elimination, I am rooting for France!
I love a saying that I overheard here in Mexico: “Football (soccer) is the most important of the least important things”
17
Last month in Berlin, when I stopped in the street to congratulate three flag-draped Mexican girls celebrating their team’s victory over Germany, I wasn’t just trying to be a good sport (or to chat them up!) — I wanted to stick it to Trump too.
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"Parisians used to dismiss soccer as a lower-class pursuit. But they’ve softened over the past few World Cups."
I guess the author wasn't in Paris in 1998 when France won the World Cup here ... pure bedlam, I've never seen anything like it. The partying went on for days. Parisians never "used to dismiss soccer as a lower-class pursuit."
13
Oh, Pamela, you had such an opportunity to discuss "Parenting Lessons" in your article, then basically told us how you spent your vacation!
For instance, the Belgium/Japan game had an endless supply of lessons for a young child. The number 61 ranked team (Japan) scored twice against the number 3 team (Belgium). But they say that a 2-0 lead is one of the most dangerous because caution and complacency can set in.
Also, Belgium never gave up. In the extra few minutes after the regulation 90, they scored the decisive 3rd goal. Never give up!
Finally, games like these are lessons for life. Team effort. Humility. Dealing with defeat.
So many lessons you could have taught your children while you were making lasagna!
8
I agree. As a Brazilian, though, every World Cup is a torture, because, as five-times champions, everyone here thinks it is an obligation to win again. I prefer to watch matches without Brazil playing, so I can enjoy the game without the angst.
9
Soccer has never achieved a level popularity in the US equal to that found in the rest of the world because of some particularly American negative characteristics. Soccer demands patience. Americans want everything now. Soccer lacks scoring. We need constant stimulation. Soccer requires speed and skill, but not size. Look at the changes that have taken place in the size of football, basketball and even baseball. Size is important in the U.S. Soccer is the only sport that does not require the use of hands. Americans must use every part of the body, and they manipulate the tools of the sport (softened footballs, juiced baseballs, etc.) While we could learn much from this internationally popular sport, I doubt that will happen. We are resistant to change and learning.
19
But Americans love a no hitter in baseball or a perfect game. No, it’s because the USA cannot compete on a national stage with the better European teams. That is why Americans hate soccer.
8
Or because we haven't been playing it for generations.
No, as Hope Solo recently stated, American soccer is an White Elitist game that excludes minorities and hence, our best players. The US has been playing soccer long enough to compete but opts to field players that aren't up to the game. I agree with Hope Solo's assessment and hope the USA lets minorities play.
Excellent article, funny and straight to the heart. My husband and I, both Americans, have lived in Brazil for 16 years, and have become great fans of the "beautiful game." It was hard not to!
Agree that this World Cup is the best in many years. We can't wait for tomorrow! Big day for your kids as well. And you get another free chunk of time!
By the way, All these years, and I still don't understand "offsides."
5
Offsides for dummies (without legalese):
The basic idea is simple, but there are some complications.
(we ignore the goalkeeper, who can be replaced by a field player)
When at the moment an attacking player plays the ball forward, the player that is about to receive the ball is behind the last of the player of the defending team, then the attacking player is offside, and the defending team gets a free kick.
Some complications:
1. A player cannot be offside while still on his own half.
2. A player cannot be offside when the ball he receives has been played backwards, for instance by an attacking player who has made a run along the sideline.
3. When the attacker is level with the last defender, i.e. he is not behind the last defender, he is not offside.
4. When more attacking players are present: an attacking player that is not involved in the game (cannot receive the ball) cannot be offside.
The rule requires good observation by the linesmen, who must keep track of both the position of the attacking player and of the ball; disputes are frequent and repetions are therefore often given on television. It makes it very easy to those sitting at home on the couch and have been drinking beer to assume a superior attitude and make derogatory remarks about the referee. It has been tried to play without the offside rule, but the game then becomes rather boring. Without the thankless refereeing there would be no game: another educative similarity between football and society.
7
Teaching offsides as a coach for my son and his 8 year old team mates was tantamount to teaching physics. Finally I simply said, “Go out and hav fun.” And they did.
6
Dank je! I'll study this before tomorrow!
1
Very well said. I like the term 'positive nationalism". There is indeed so much to learn. The teams have a recognizable authentic national style. Both individual creativity and collective effort are important. Even the fans are remarkable: the mad antics of Maradonna, and the Japanese fans tidying up before they leave the stadium.
Maybe most important lessons consider dealing with ethics, with good or bad behavior. Sometimes the referee makes mistakes, which has to be accepted, although today the referee can also correct his mistakes.
Most important, it is obvious that no nation can claim a monopoly on righteousness and that both good and bad behavior are -- almost evenly -- distributed across all nations.
Finally, as Holland does not take part, I now root for Belgium and France, which has a very good team. Success!
26
My two children, now young adults, played many years of youth soccer. They are as different as two people could be in their interests, but share a love of the game. We are enjoying this WC greatly, sharing texts if we can’t watch together. And scolding the refs just like in the old days!
14
A great article, appreciated by this dyed-in-the-wool football fan.
The World Cup has had its ups and downs over the years, depending on the fortunes of my team (England - mostly down, but at least I saw them win it in 1966) but also on the particular collective character of each tournament.
This year I have egg on my face. I thought this year's World Cup should have been boycotted because of Russia's international shenanigans, but I've been enjoying it more than any year I remember. So far, Belgium's comeback against Japan after being 0-2 down has been the shining highlight - not so much the result as the wonderful sportsmanship during the game and afterwards, when the Belgian players could so easily have swaggered after their last-second win. Instead they showed their opponents the greatest respect and empathy, knowing how easily it could have gone the other way. I hope Ms. Druckerman's kids didn't miss that.
52
Nice that England lost its last game in the last round on purpose so it could play Columbia and be in the easier bracket. Nice!
7
Micky - nonsense. There are no "easy" brackets or opponents in the world cup, and any team that thinks like that usually gets unstuck.
8
Give me a break. Playing Columbia was better than playing Brazil. Please
3
We were just in Paris for a family vacation. My 12-year-old daughter wore her Colombia jersey on the day Colombia played, and ultimately beat, Senegal in the World Cup. She and a Senegalese man whom we met at a grocery store spoke for 20 minutes about the match, the ups and downs of being a soccer fan, etc. It was a moment of shared humanity between two people from two different worlds who found common ground in sport. I don't think my daughter will soon forget it. It's moments like those that remind us that we're so much more alike than we are different. And that's why we love the World Cup!
85
I'm a reluctant football fan. I can take it or leave it. Only watch World Cup matches.
Excellent article. I cheered on Mexico for the same exact reason, Ms. Druckerman!
54
As I did! Go Mexico!
2
Nice article. But you ought to learn a little about the game. It makes it more fun to watch. Just ask your kids, they can fill you in on some of the rules.
15
I had the privilege of being at the France v Argentina game in Kazan. I witnessed some of the best football of the tournament from the likes of Pogba, Griezmann, Giroud and Mbappe. Unfortunately, the experience was marred by the Argentine fans. Describing their behavior as denigrating would be the grossest of understatements. Drunken, violent, abusive, profane, hateful...I thought I was in the middle of some atavistic war dance. Clearly, they didn't get the memo about peace, love and oneness. Here's some parenting advice: keep your children engaged with the beautiful game at home and in your local cafe, but I'd wait awhile before exposing them to a game in the flesh - especially if Argentina's on the pitch.
17
Are you sure those fans where from Argentina? Sounds like the British hooligans!
2
I’ve watched every WC game with my two teenage sons as I did with my father from Italy. I learned where countries are, their national anthems and team colors. I learned that WC soccer is more than a sport to every country except the USA. I learned that corruption permeates the tournament even today and try to guide my children around this complex issues but not with kid gloves. As a group, we have turned off the horrible FOX coverage and watch every game on telemundo and enjoy the games in Spanish (we can’t understand) with announcers who know the game and who love the game. But more importantly, I get to watch the games with my two sons and have a blast doing so. Even as our beloved Italy is not in the tournament, we watch, listen and learn. Americans will never understand that when a national team plays that country shuts down. So when England, Brazil and other play their next game, those countries literally shut down and the whole country watches and prays. That will never happen in America, even if we had a decent national team. Forza Italia!
31
“A World Cup without Italy is like pizza without cheese”
9
Fortunately, the World Cup is much more than pizza. Certainly this one is and this time no amount of cheese would add anything to it. But then if you do, try some of the Camembert.
See you in 4 years (hopefully). Ciao!
1
My favorite moment of this World Cup so far was when my 6 yo son pointed to a picture of an African man and told me that he looked like a typical Frenchmen. I decided that talk of colonialism and immigration can wait till next time.
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