Colombian Soccer
To see the passion for Colombian soccer you need to only go as far as one of its most recognizable stars “El Pibe” Valderrama. He was ejected from a game when he flashed money to the referee taunting him after a bad call. While I do not agree with what he did, it does show the level of passion some people put into a game that was a qualifier to the finals in the tournament.
Last week Colombia’s national team beat Argentina 2-1 in a world cup qualifier match. This victory is injecting new energy to a nation that loves soccer and giving them hopes for the 2010 World Cup.
Even though Brazil is the country known around the world for being the powerhouse in South America, Colombia is also a country rich with talented players. They have participated several times in the World Cup, but some believe bad coaching and big star players not being hungry enough have caused the national team dearly.
South American soccer is based on a lot of dribbling and not as aerial as the Europeans used to be. However now Europe has changed the way it plays thanks to so many stars being imported from the Americas.
Colombia has players born in its beautiful country playing all over the world. Juan Pablo Angel plays for the NY Red Bulls, Iván Ramiro Córdoba plays for Inter in Milan and Mario Alberto Yepes plays in France for París Saint Germain just to name a few. Several stars have played in the MLS in the US and hopefully many more will.
Soccer its just waking up in the US, thanks mostly to the legendary US Women Team that helped promote the sport as a profitable venture, that and the late Lamar Hunt really building and supporting the league. Colombia like the rest of the world already loves soccer and will hopefully host a world cup in the years to come.
Some information taken from (Colombiamania.)