While monitoring the USA vs. Ghana game today (while at work) via the Internet (God bless it, couldn’t imagine work without it), I was again reminded of the dynamics of the European/American relationship. It boils down to this: they don’t like us, and we don’t care. Our collective attitudes about soccer seem to follow suit as well. Bear with me here, and please note that if you happen to be a socialist, America is the blame for everything, liberal…I will not be writing this from your perspective. This isn’t necessarily a political piece, but I thought that warrented mention.Why doesn’t Europe like us? I’m not going to go into a long disortation here, but for any possible reason you could think of to support their disdain for America, you could easily spout off 10 examples in contrast (saving the entire continent in WWII seems to be one on the tip of my tongue). That being said, I think that it is nothing more than jealousy…pure and simple. They wouldn’t give a rip about us if we weren’t infinitely more powerful, and the fact that we are fully aware and assured in our power just adds fuel to their fire. This brings me to my next point.

Americans don’t care what Europeans think. Just as Europeans wouldn’t loathe Americans if America wasn’t so powerful, Americans are generally apathetic over what Europe thinks of us because…well, they aren’t powerful enough to get all worked up about. America is like the 800lb gorilla, goes where it wants when it wants. You may not like it (Europe), but what are you going to do about it. I know that this is simplifiying things a bit, but I don’t think that it is necessarily inaccurate. Please note also (dang it, I said I wasn’t going to get political…but I digress) that I believe America is great because She is good, and I strongly support all of our efforts around the world. (Right now I am holding myself back from launching into a 20 page essay on America’s role in the world).

How does soccer fit into all this (and I’m not going to take time to discuss the ridiculous red cards and calls made against us this World Cup…which happened to be played in Europe…hmmm)? In direct contrast to our positions in the world, in soccer Europe reigns supreme, and America lags far behind. Ironically though, our attitudes remain the same. Europe dislikes us for not being interested and excited with the world’s game of soccer (football, if you will), and you know that they would love to talk so much smack to us about our lack of soccer prowess. It’s just that we don’t care that we suck at soccer, and I’m sure that makes them mad, because what fun is it to trash talk someone who could care less?

In conclusion. Europe doesn’t like us because we’re powerful. They don’t like us because we know that were powerful. They don’t like us because we don’t care about soccer. They don’t like us because we don’t care that they can beat us at soccer. Most importantly though, they don’t like us because we are apathetic towards them. What’s our response?…genuine apathy, and you know they don’t like that. “Oh well,” we say, “we don’t care. We’re the 800lb gorilla, remember? Don’t like it, what are you going to do about it?”