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Saturday 12 June 2010

Soccer time!

Yes, it's that time again when all red-blooded males (and some females) get excited. No, it's not the mating season it's the 2010 soccer World Cup (I use 'soccer' so as not to confuse our American friends). Today is an important day of course as England kick-off (excuse the pun) their World Cup campaign with the opening group match against the USA. So here I am sat in my hotel room in Seattle waiting as the clock slowly moves around to 1130 am local time when the match begins. Bit sad really as it's a beautiful day outside which is very welcome after a week of rain.

Despite the USA's participation in the World Cup there doesn't seem to be much excitement here. Soccer will never take the place of American football or baseball (or even basketball and ice hockey) although Seattle is one area in the US where they have a Major League Soccer team, the Seattle Sounders. Soccer in the US appears to be more of a participation than a spectator sport with a huge raft of players at kids and college level.

All over England thousands of fans will be keeping their fingers crossed for victory today so that the team lives up to the usual hype surrounding the English team. Of course, living in Scotland the locals are, in the main ABE types (Anyone But England) and will solidly behind the Yanks today seeing as Scotland have, once again, failed to qualify for a major tournament.

So, all you soccer fans sit back and enjoy and let's ride the roller-coaster that is English national football and try to end 'forty four years of hurt' - 1966 being the last and only time England won the World Cup.

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