How Soccer Explains the World

For the uninitiated.

• Sport is humorous.  I remember in the ’06 World Cup when Germany played Sweden, and the Germans fans chanted toward the Swedes, “You are nothing but furniture makers!” (think IKEA and you’ll start laughing)
• Sport is deadly serious.  I remember being in Rio de Janeiro a few years ago, and I saw a football match at the famous Maracanã Stadium, featuring two Rio teams:  Flamengo vs. Botafogo.  The fans sit on opposite sides of the stadium, and after the match the police let one side out first, then the other side 30 minutes later, otherwise there will inevitably be fights on the subways and buses.  Even more appalling, in the ’94 World Cup, Andres Escobar from Colombia accidentally scored an “own goal” while playing against the United States.  Colombia lost that match 2-1.  Ten days later, back in his hometown of Medellin, Escobar was gunned down for his mistake.