True Futbol

The majority of the soccer games I played in Brazil weren't really soccer games. Most of the time my brother and I would find an open spot and start juggling a ball, like in the picture from my last post.

It was always a good time. We did little tricks and showed off for each other and sometimes made fun of each other. But this year we got the opportunity to play an actual soccer game on a turf field in the middle of the city. It was the night before we were heading home and some of the guys asked if we could come play. After some begging to our group leader, he allowed us to go. So we hopped in the car and went off. We pulled up to a complex I had seen all week. It was made up of a big building with two small soccer fields in front of it. 

The game was pretty simple, seven on a team and first to 2 wins. Our team was made up of 2 Americans and 5 Brazilians. One of the Brazilians even played semi-pro in Bauru. 

It was fun watching the new people come on the field and looking at my brother and me. We were big and tall strangers who could only speak a few words in Porteguese. Our teammates introduced us and we knew when they said where we were from because it always got a laugh. Again, the stereotype Americans suck at soccer. It didn't take long for them to realize we weren't the typical American. 

We played the most fun soccer game of our lives that night. 

It wasn't like American soccer. 

It was true futbol. It was smooth and elegant. Truly a beautiful game. 

futbol norteamericano

The idea behind this blog is to give an American's view on the world of soccer in another country. The country I chose was Brazil, partially because I have been there and partially because when you think of good soccer players, you think of Brazil.
To begin this blog series I just wanted to be very basic and broad. As time goes by I'll pick a few different areas and highlight them.

Going to another country had always been a dream of mine. When my dad went to Brazil in 2007 I was pretty jealous. He got to go and build a church and talk to people for a week. So when I got the opportunity to go in 2008 I was ecstatic.
I really didn't know what to expect to be honest. Brazil is one of those countries no one really talks about in America, besides when the World Cup is on TV. It didn't take me long to find out I loved it. There are so many things about that country I wish I could take and bring back here. If I had to choose one I think it would be easy.
Futbol.
I have never seen a country so passionate about a sport. Sure, Americans love football. We love watching people of all ages run into each other and hurt each other. But there, they loved the simplicity and beauty of soccer.
Let me explain. How often when you and your friends are just hanging out do you say, "Hey, let's go play football," then you walk outside and do it? I can think of a total of maybe three times for me. But in Brazil, I did that five or six times a day with random people and a soccer ball.
Football seems to be reserved for the stereotypical football player. A big strong guy that likes to be rough and arrogant. Not many Americans fit that description.
Soccer is free to anyone.

This was taken this summer on the fifth day at the job site where we were working. It my brother and I along with some Brazilians who were somehow connected to the church. This little circle of juggling became our little chance to get away from working. There's te