World

Europe

Spain

Who Should I Support? Spain or the USA?

June 4th, 2008 | By: Cesar | 18 Comments »

Ryan did an excellent job previewing the upcoming Team America vs. La Furia Roja match, so I’ll spare you the technical details.

My question concerns allegiance. As Ryan said, many of us are ‘adopted Spaniards,’ people that weren’t born in Spain but who passionately follow the goings-on, due to a love of the country or following a club team there.

As many know, I love Valencia. I am the writer of the Valencia Offside blog and spent many years living on the Iberian peninsula.

I’ve also spent many years in the United States, due to my mother giving birth to me in New York City. So I’m American. Yet I’m torn.

Who do I support? Spain or the United States?

For starters, I support Spain because of my Valencia players. Marchena, Albiol, Villa and Silva lend me to support La Seleccion, even if Marchena is a bumbling defender at times.

But of course, I’m divided. How could I not be?

The United States is my home; where I’m from. While I don’t wave a flag in front of my house, I adamantly adore this nation. I want to see us do well on the soccer stage, for pride and to see better soccer in my country.

But this is Spain! Land of flamenco and la corrida. A land I fell in love with many years ago … it’s also la madre patria (motherland), home of my ancestors and home of the football league I most adore.

I follow names like Villa, Silva, Puyol, Casillas, Sergio Ramos and Xavi week in and week out. I want Spain to do well so they go into next week’s Euro 2008 opener on a high, with their heads held high. I want Spain to score goals, to solidify their system, to make sure their defense is rock-solid.

But I also want the USA to do well, to not embarrass themselves, to not let their guard down and cower under the Spanish offensive assault and technical ability …

I honestly can’t name many USA players. Dempsey? Bocanegra? Does Tim Howard still play for them? I know. I’m a bad USA fan. But I still want them to do well.

This is a hard one … can an 8-8 scoreline be possible?

I don’t know what to think. My heart is divided between two lovers. One I can’t leave, one who tempts me.

Who will you guys be rooting for?

Tags: Euro 2008, United States

Spain World Cup RSS Feed

del.icio.us:Who Should I Support? Spain or the USA?

digg:Who Should I Support? Spain or the USA?

newsvine:Who Should I Support? Spain or the USA?

reddit:Who Should I Support? Spain or the USA?

fark:Who Should I Support? Spain or the USA?

Y!:Who Should I Support? Spain or the USA?

stumbleupon:Who Should I Support? Spain or the USA?

Comments

By AJ | June 4th, 2008 at 11:58 am

motherland >>>>>>>>>>>>> adopted land, anyday.

In the end, you’re more a Spaniard born in USA. Rather than an American of Spanish decent.

Posted from Canada

By Jason Lujan | June 4th, 2008 at 12:00 pm

Im a totally with you Ceser. I to am a an American a Spanish one at that.Spain is home to my ancestors who crossed over from the Canary Islands nearly two centuries ago and most of my family have lived here for well over 7 generations and still speak spanish. I love the USA and I love Spain my team is Valencia who I have followed for two years now since entering the football world. I want the US to do good but I want Spain to win the Euros and hopefully they will play a good game and us people who are torn can be proud of both teams.

By anonymous | June 4th, 2008 at 12:34 pm

I am truly a wannabe Spaniard. My heart is painted red and gold, however…so even though I’ve lived in the US all my life, home is where the heart is. =)

I mean if I am white as can be, but I follow La Liga closer than the players themselves do, can I please be an honorary Spaniard? Pleeeease?

I’m learning Spanish I swear!! And Catalan one day!!! cmon!!

By Ian Rose | June 4th, 2008 at 12:36 pm

I think all American fans have this problem at one time or another, since most of us support a European side that we feel very close to. If it was Scotland playing the US, I would have to go for Scotland, even though I (like you) love the US and love living here. But wherever I’m from, or wherever I’m currently living, Scotland is my footballing nation, and it sounds like the same with you and Spain.

By june16_1904 | June 4th, 2008 at 1:06 pm

Go for the USA! Everyone knows that you have to get a bloody nose before you win everything and clinch the deal with your sweetheart at the end of the movie. Wouldn’t you want Spain’s one defeat (or at least humbling) beofre lifting the cup to come from the US rather than from Sweden or Greece?

Or you could just let your allegiance to the beautiful game trump all, and wait to see who plays better. A pretty move, please?

By javier de roque | June 4th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

VIVE ESPANA ! AMUNT VALENCIA!

Nosotros estamos con espana. Ive lived most of my life in Canada but in my heart and soul and blood i am Valenciano.. and as a Valenciano we are twice loyal to the crown and Spain!

GIVE US GLORIA FURIA ROJA!

Posted from Canada

By evaldo | June 4th, 2008 at 4:21 pm

is anyone watching this game? its 5:10 and fucking tennis is on espn2. i want to kill someone. dont tell me the result please.

fuck womens tennis, id rather watch grass grow

Posted from United States

By Sherry | June 4th, 2008 at 10:03 pm

hey xavi saved the day…spain 1-0 usa

Posted from Australia

By Ryan | June 4th, 2008 at 10:50 pm

hahaha…oh man

check this out. I did a post on this on my Center Holds It Blog on Big Soccer, and I was torn an new asshole for saying I support Spain instead of the US.

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/blog.php?b=1286

Read and enjoy!

By CoJo | June 4th, 2008 at 11:15 pm

who is usa?

By elisa | June 5th, 2008 at 1:16 am

Great question Cesar. I like Jason have great great grans from Spain and the Basque region. Also everytime I visit Spain, I feel at home and love the people, food, and culture. I support the US, but when it comes to La Furia Roja v USA. Que viva España!

BTW, we played like crap today. We better get our act together and fast. Villa’s injury looks serious. We need more strikers or attackers. We need Ximo and Raul? Not looking good at all.

Oh btw, our lovely American station ESPN2 aired the game DELAYED. Way to go! Thank goodness for Tivo.

By Juan | June 5th, 2008 at 3:19 am

Easy, support both. I do this with Australia and Spain, if they ever meet in a competition I’ll be half happy and half sad!

By anonymous | June 5th, 2008 at 9:56 am

THANKS TO A HURRICANE-ESQUE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM, I DIDN’T EVEN HAVE POWER FOR THE GAME!!!!!!! I’D RATHER WATCH WOMEN’S TENNIS THAN NOTHING! I had to rely on the Washington Post’s blip to inform me, until power came back on. I was furious.

By Tim | June 7th, 2008 at 9:42 am

Same question I’ve been posing. Thoroughly American through-and-through, but a 15-yr Spanish teacher who has spent significant time on the peninsula and who follows La Liga very closely. I guess I have to be for the US in this friendly, I guess. But I’ll be watching every match for la Furia in Euro08. Frankly, I watch the first half “live”, and found myself wanting Spain to score 10 goals. I watch the 2nd half the next day (Tivo) and found myself wanting the US to generate some life. Conflicted to the end.

Posted from United States

By lalmix | June 13th, 2008 at 9:48 am

Spanish are not mexicans, we are not black, as some retards think, we are white, and we are not spaniards, we are spanish, the difference is that “spaniards” are all countries, mexico, colombia etc, where they are black, indians, and poor. In spain we arent poor, we are europe, and we arent indians or black. We have nothing to do with mexico, peru, chile, colombia, cuba or any of those countries, were they are semi-black or black.

Im not racist but im fucking tired of people thinking we are black and mexicans, and spaniards, and that we just fight bulls etc.

Posted from Spain

By anonymous | June 13th, 2008 at 6:34 pm

not semi-black, semi-native. most Latin Americans are a mixture of indigenous and Spaniard heritage.

And no one confuses you, believe me. At least in my experience.

By anonymous | June 13th, 2008 at 10:23 pm

also, what does that have to do with anything??

By Joaquin | June 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

I’m torn between Spain and the US as much as the next person that has heritage and ancestory linked in spain. I see it kinda like I see Los Angeles’ Current situation: DO I want a professional Football(American)team or am I fine with USC and UCLA. I see the United States Soccer team as USC and UCLA They are fun to watch I love them dearly but when it comes to a major competition in the world wide sports A college level team just doesn’t cut it. Spain is like the professional Football that I wish was in my home town but they are a full Ocean Away. ITs like supporting the San Diego Chargers as my home team. But TO hell with it as of right now Viva Espana

Posted from United States

Comments are closed