Champions Of The World Cup

Ever since I could remember, soccer had been in my life. If there was a soccer team that needed a coach, my father was always the first to volunteer. There were almost too many strenuous weekends spent hours away from home for soccer tournaments to count. My entire family, consisting of my parents, my siblings, my dog, and myself, packed in a mini-van heading to a city that I had never heard of for soccer games. But when I entered high school, all that would soon go away. I kept playing the same sport that I always had, although now I had to wake up at five in the morning for six hours of high school soccer practice in the smoldering summer heat in order to make the high school team. High School sports were more competitive than anything I had done before. I put in as much effort as I could to make the Varsity High School team, staying out past dinner to practice even longer. I was utterly divulged in soccer and trying to be the best I could be. Soon, I would regret placing a game over spending time with my family.

Soccer had taught me many things in life. It showed me the significance of family in all forms, to be responsible and appreciative of my peers and elders. I will never forget that day, no matter how old I am, because I had learned an essential lesson, to never give

Finally, my hard work had been rewarded, we made It to the semi-final, the best position that my school has made. I’m very happy to have an impact on our team success. At that time, we had even dreamed of making it through the final and win the cup. Because of that, we approached the game with fully confidential. I still remember that day, one of the most memorable days of my life. As it was the highest position that our school achieved, many students went to the stadium to cheer with us. The vibe in the stadium is something that I couldn’t describe. The cheering from the crowd, the smell of grasses on the field, everything combined to make the astonishing experience. However, thing did not go as we expected. The opponent scored in the early of the game, which made our confident disappeared and came along with nervous.

This was just a few words, but it had a deeper meaning when my dad sat me down. Soccer has always been a driving passion of mine, so when I got to high school my dad explained to me the week before tryouts how I would have to try my hardest and not give up on something I loved. Soccer was the best thing to happen to me when I made the team; soccer allowed for me to meet so many amazing and talented girls; soccer made it possible to get out of this shell I built around myself, and even find my best friend. Stepping onto that large open green field, the humidity that hung the air making my jersey stick to my back, my too tight of cleats that were doubled socked were something I loved feeling, and it wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t commit myself to my activity, and drive my desire

The game of soccer is like a roller coaster. From laughter, during Thursday night pasta nights to tears, as we fought a hard loss, we will never know what to expect. That is the beauty of the sport and life because we have to be ready for anything that comes our way. We see how soccer is not black or white or win or lose. A loss where the team played their hearts out is more acceptable then a win won luckily without sportsmanship. As soccer is a team sport, we have to play until the buzzer rings. Life is full of surprises, like the buzzer winning goal I scored in a golden goal overtime to win the championship. I never will forget the feeling when the entire team rushed the field and the crowd went wild as tears swarmed our eyes and our screams of joy filled the air. The challenges I faced on Fox Run will help me endure through obstacles I face in our lifetime and to be determined until the end of my

Growing up in a Hispanic household my family’s culture has had a significant impact in my life from avoiding a different variety of salsas and thinking twice about my immature decisions. Yet their love for the beautiful game known as Fútbol or soccer has always held on to me and is inspiring how it brings together an entire world or in this case my fanatic family. With soccer in my blood, as many relatives love to think, I’ve grown to love the sport, but my love was limited by restrictions. With an un-financially stable high school placing soccer in the bottom of the list of funds, my love for the game only stretched to amateur pickup games and watching ninety minute games on FOX Deportes. With limitations affecting my passion I began to follow

Right when the trophy came to my hands, it felt great. Everybody was cheering for us when I went to go pick up the trophy. That could have been the most exciting times in my life. Throughout my life I will never forget that day I scored the winning goal.

When I was younger I used to play sports especially football. I remember playing in the championship game for Coral Reef Senior High against American Heritage Senior High. It was my last high school game and for us to remain undefeated throughout the season. I also knew I had to bring my “A” game because of college scouts were going to be at the game. Our game was to be played at Florida International University at 7pm. My team and I went to the FIU stadium two hours before the game started to stretch and loosen up. So as the time was winding down for us to play we step on the field, all I could see was a lot people in the stands cheering us on. I kind of had butterflies in my stomach but I had to put that feeling aside and help my team win.

The one moment that I was lucky enough to be part of took place at Wembley stadium.

I remember walking off the bus as we all went into the hotel and coach heaps assigning us all our rooms. As my group of teammates got into our room we kind of just stood there; I think that we all realized

It was a cold day in November: an icy breeze blowing across a green soccer pitch in Jackson, Mississippi. Fans along the sideline cheering on the Jackson Elite FC. I took the field feeling the pressure of gameday bearing down like i had weights on my shoulders. This was the first time I had every started as a forward in a soccer game. The referee brings the ball to midfield and sets it down. I hear my parents cheering from the sidelines. The opposing team kicks off and the game is on.

We were all set up on the field ready for the game, I remember closing my eyes forabout a minute before the game started, that minute felt like 10 years, I froze and thought aboutmyself when I was 3 years old and how I first fell in love with the game and how my ultimatedream was to become pro, I remember the hours of pain and suffering I put myself through tobecome the player I was today, I remembered waking up at 4 a.m. on school mornings to go forruns so that I could run longer in games,I remember skipping parties and hanging with friendsso that I could train, I remembered everything, but one thing truly hit me was how much soccerwas there for me growing up my parents argued a lot and when I was feeling sad and lonely Iwould go train at the fields and it would hell my sorrow. Growing up in a household when yourparents are constantly fighting is difficult, but soccer was my out lit it was my therapist. Duringthe time of their divorce I felt like I had no one but soccer so I decided I need to give back to thegame. Soccer did so much for me, so I wanted to prove to it that it wasn't a waste of time andthat I would make something out of the game. I opened my eyes and didn't feel human anymore Ididn't feel in control of my own body the sport had taken over me for the better. I remembermoments when I was running and it didn't even feel like my feet were touching the floor

“I’m the best in the game,” said my seven year old self. I’ve played soccer for most of my life and was in the car on the way to a game. That day was foggy and wet; our

“McClure, you are a waste of oxygen and life”, my verbally abusive coach spit from him flaming mouth one last time as I walked out of his office. I was numb, and in shock, but relaxed, oddly feeling at peace with myself and my decision. Soccer had brought so much confidence, passion, work ethic, and pure joy to my life, it was something so stable and rewarding for 15 years. 15 years of endless passion enwrapped in pain and sweat, accompanied by life lessons I could not have gone on without, yet within 2 years, this wonderful aspect of my existence collapsed.

Soccer (a.k.a.: football) is the most popular spectator sport in Italy. (Travis, 160). In Italy, soccer has more fans by far than any other sports played in this country. Statistics show that it has more fans than the fans of American football, baseball, basketball, and hockey put together. (DiFranco, 98). All major cities in Italy, and most smaller cities, have teams that play in one league or another. The league games are played every Sunday afternoon in September through May. (Fodor's, 38). Every Sunday the teams play under the eyes of sellout crowds of 100,000 fans or more per game. (Stein, 83). However, the excitement of the crowds can rise to an exuberant level at times. The fans are known to hold massive celebrations after a big win such as a World Cup or other international tournaments. (Travis, 160). In many of the celebrations the fans were known to go into the streets of Italy and sometimes get out of control. For example, after the World Cup in Spain the Italians filled the streets to