Tag: futbol

Ep. 115: CantinaMX Futbol Podcast – World Cup Draw Live!

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A live podcast during the WC Draw in Russia, where Mexico drew a tough group with Germany, Sweden and Korea! We discuss and make our rough draft predictions on the entire bracket as well as upset and dark horse of the tournament!

 

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The Futbol Morality Police

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VidalSo lets summarize some of the shenanigans that have occurred in futbol.

  • Gullit allegedly showing up stinking of alcohol.
  • We all know about Marco Fabian’s drinking
  • Carlos Vela goes to a Chris Brown concert instead of practice
    • Also there is the Monterrey party
  • The Fabian and Company Copa America party
  • Arturo Vidal drinking and driving and crashing his sports car
  • James Rodriguez alleged partying and speeding in his sports car

I could go on. Many would ask, what is wrong with people having personal lives? They can do what they like in their free time. Why hold these athletes to such high standards off the field? It is what they do on the field that counts.

Well, here is my argument. These guys get paid extraordinary amounts of money to play a game. A game that requires them to excel physically. To be in shape and prepared physically and mentally to win games and benefit the club or country that is paying them to do so. They need to be in optimal shape to perform at their best. Would you pay 500 dollars for a blender that only works 6 out of 7 days of the week? Then on every other day it only works at half speed?

When a player drinks, smokes, or endangers their own life by drunk driving, then they are risking the investment their club made in them. They are putting their capability to perform at a high level at risk. If they were to eat right and get enough sleep, with no alcohol or smoking, they may be able to perform better on game day and provide profit to their club/employer. When they skip practice to go to a concert, they miss valuable preparation time for the next game.

The life of a footballer is not long. When a footballer retires, what kind of regrets would they have looking back if they do not do everything in their power to be the best player they can be. What kind of regrets would their club have, to invest millions of dollars in a player that could have been better. What about all the fans that hoped for so much only to be disappointed because of bad decisions? Footballers are held in high regards, with a lot of power to influence and provide good things for club and country. With much power comes much responsibility.

Agree or disagree? Hit me up on twitter @beto_atx or in comments.

Technical skill in USA vs Mexico

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One of the main thoughts I have had in mind and truly believe in, is that the reason Mexican players have greater touch and on the ball technical ability than their US rivals is because they have the ball at their feet from an earlier age among other reasons. Lets analyze some of these reasons.

USA Soccer lifestyle:

  • First, in the US kids play soccer in the back yard if there is time, but mostly during soccer practice and the actual soccer game.
  • Second, kids will always play sports in the house and anywhere they can, but it is more common in the US that they have a pointy shaped football and throw it around. There are other more popular sports, in the US that take away from time playing with a ball at their feet.
  • Third, is it easier to play with the soccer ball in your house in Mexico or in the US? This theory I am not sure on. Do US parents require more order and are strict on their kids breaking something while trying some Ronaldinho moves? I am not sure.

Mexico Soccer lifestyle:

  • Kids in Mexico will play soccer anywhere and everywhere. They don’t need a fancy metal goal with nice white nets. They don’t need nice green grass. They play in the streets, in parks and even in dirt fields.
  • Mexican kids don’t have other sports that are more popular than soccer. This is arguable in some parts of the country where baseball is pretty popular. Soccer is the sport to watch on TV and with balls sold at every market, there is no reason a kid wouldn’t have one growing up.

 

To demonstrate this reasoning. In the last few years while living in the US, never once have I seen kids playing soccer in the street. I have a park behind my house and have only seen kids play soccer there maybe once. I have a full soccer field down the road and I have never seen any kids play soccer there on their own.

Another aspect of this is the Mexican-American population, who admittedly are the ones that are most interested in soccer in the first place. Do they play in the streets, even though they live in the US? I would say no. The US culture seems to sway this, be it playing Xbox or needing a better field, but probably the biggest reason is not enough Mexican-Americans around to start a game. I think in neighborhoods of higher concentration of Mexicans/Mexican-Americans, you would find more kids playing soccer and even in the streets of the US.

Now I have spent the last 3 days in Mexico and going out and about I see the following, which I record for hard proof of the Soccer culture in Mexico. You might even be impressed with some of the moves and skill that these kids do and surely emulate from their favorite players.

Enjoy: