World Cup!!!

I think this is part of the problem why football is not taken seriously in the US.  I've heard lots of comments on this from various people and because we, Americans, aren't use to the behavior and not very familiar with the European leagues, we don't know it's common.  I know I didn't.

I just re-read this...I didn't mean anyone on here.  I'm so sorry if that came across that way.  I meant people in the US.  I constantly here comments on TV, radio, friend and people I work with that no one in the US cares about World Cup...And then there was all the hype for the game against Italy so I think a lot of people watched and after there are comments about all the dramatizing of injuries.  We don't know it's common so a lot of people just think it's a joke "sport". Again, this is just what I have witnessed, not my opinion.   
I'm so hooked - I may have to call in sick on Thursday to watch the US!

i'd like to point out something that I hate, and I am not a fan of Rooney so i'll single him out.  Why do some atheletes decide that they are not going to sing along while their national anthem is playing.  Every country has players who are guilty of it, i only single out Rooney because I was just watching the opening of the England v Ecuadore match and he was the only one.  He just looked like he could care less about being there.  All the other starters were belting it out and then every player for Ecuador sang along with theirs.  I just think its embarrasing to the team and the country.  Of course some of my local mates around here explained to me that Rooney is so stupid he probably doesn't know the words.  That made me chuckle.

Bloodied, but not beaten! 

'Erm...they have been beaten...

Rooney is just...the super-diva.  He throws little tantrums when things don't go his way, and relishes the limelight ever second eyes are on him.  It really doesn't surprise me that he wasn't singing along - he probably is jealous it takes focus away from HIM.  He strikes me as the type that would transfer teams in a heartbeat provided they gave him more money & attention than the other.  He's a good player, but that sort of behavior is distasteful in any player.

I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't know the words. 

More likely, it's probably superstition whether they sing or not. They all have their weird things.  And to be honest, it's not like in the US where we sing the National Anthem in school and at every possible occasion.  I doubt very much that my kids know the words. 

'Erm...they have been beaten...

that's the beauty of it, you can't keep us down, we'll be back

More likely, it's probably superstition whether they sing or not. They all have their weird things.  And to be honest, it's not like in the US where we sing the National Anthem in school and at every possible occasion.  I doubt very much that my kids know the words. 

oh i see, so it's our fault for being patriotic before sporting events?  Got it, thanks for pointing that out.

Neville doesn't sing it, I think because he's an anti-monarchist, Hargreaves doesn't sing it, I assume because he is Canadian, and I don't know about Rooney.  I don't like that he doesn't, but he had a good game so I am forgiving him.


Vicky

oh i see, so it's our fault for being patriotic before sporting events? Got it, thanks for pointing that out.

No that's not what I meant.  I was making two points so may have been confusing.  My first point was that Rooney might not sing because he is superstitious and believes he wins if he doesn't sing-sportsmen are notoriously superstitious. 
I don't know if that's the case, it's just a thought I had.
My other point was that not all British people DO know the words-at least kids don't(and Rooney is pretty much a kid imo) because it's not like in the US where it's learned in schools and sung at the drop of a hat.
Neither of these things have anything to do with my opinion of why the USA team lost.  In fact, I don't have ANY opinion of why the USA team lost.  Sorry, they held my interest momentarily while they were playing and now it's gone.

no, really,I got your point, I've just never heard someone say that a country uses their National Anthem too much.  I just find that rather amusing.

  Why do some atheletes decide that they are not going to sing along while their national anthem is playing. 

To me, that's one of those 'who cares?' type of things...  some people sing in the shower, others dont.  Some people sing along with the car radio, others dont.  Why should singing along to the national anthem (or not) be any different?   

Some people don't sing because they can't!! :-)

no, really,I got your point, I've just never heard someone say that a country uses their National Anthem too much. I just find that rather amusing.

  Is that what she said? I don't think so. She said we sing it far more. Which is true.

on a slightly different thread i think Englands national anthem before games should be either Jerusalem, or land of hope and glory

But they are not our national anthem!!!


Vicky

But they are not our national anthem!!! 

Yeah, but if I were English, I'd rather sing one of those -- Jerusalem, I think...than My Country 'Tis of Thee.