Show World Cup and soccer buzz Gavin McCallister Staff Reporter Its It's true Its It's already been four years and mens men's World Cup soccer is upon us once again If you think that the Olympics are the foremost event in all of sports youre you're sorely mistaken Nearly a quarter of the worlds world's population about 2 billion plus are estimated to tune rune into this years year's World Cup hosted by bySouth bySouth bySouth South Africa The 2010 World Cup started June 11 and goes through July 11 An estimated million viewers watched the final match of the 2006 World Cup in Germany To put that mat number in perspective the 2010 Vancouver Olympics held an average per event of million while the World Cup averages around million viewers per match The World Cup is a team 32 tournament that begins with a grueling year three-year qualifying phase Once the field of 32 is set and the tournament begins a group phase in which teams compete for points by defeating or tying opponents within their given group takes place Then a single-elimination single phase follows In group play wins are worth three points and ties are worth one The top two teams in each gr group up advance to the next phase which is often referred to as the elimination round Once teams reach this phase of the tournament its it's win or Due to the location of the tournament most games willbe will willbe willbe be televised fairly early in the morning here in the United States Many games have off kick-off times between 7 and 10 am a.m. There are a myriad of local businesses including The Puck Piper Down and The Fiddlers Fiddler's Elbow that will be opening their doors door's early for soccer fans fansto to come in take advantage of specials and enjoy some time big international soccer Traditionally nations like Brazil Italy Argentina France and England are the favorites inthe in inthe inthe the World Cup The US U.S. mens men's team has never won a World Cup The US U.S. men have no chance to go very deep in this tournament said head women's soccer coach Amanda Evans who is a big fan of Italian Soccer Cont Continued Dued on AJ Soccer 1 Continued from Al Aland Aland and Dd German soccer The Americans were recently beaten by the Czech Republic a team that didn't eren even even qualify for World Cup competition The Americans are talented but still have havea a long way to go in terms of competing for the world title said Evans mens men's head soccer c coach ach Enrique Velasquez has a slightly more optimistic outlook on Team USA I believe they'll make it out of group said Velasquez I feel that game of soccer He played competitively in all levels of school and in the semipro semipro semipro semi- semi pro ranks Velasquez has coached for many years and has seen just about every soccer situation imaginable If the World Cup gets you pumped up about soccer theres there's some great soccer action to catch right here on campus Both the themen's themen's themen's mens men's and women's soccer programs here at are expecting to be very competitive this upcoming season and would really love more student support and attendance this year All home games are played on the field west of the understand the kind of commitment these girls are making They have summer jobs classes and lives to lead along with practices games and travel We definitely keep these ladies busy said Evans The ladies of willbe will willbe willbe be playing their four home games on August 7 14 1422 22 and 24 Evans is also committed to the sport I spent most of my honeymoon four years ago watching the World Cup with my husband who has a gift for the game as asa asa asa a player and has a brilliant soccer mind He coaches with me and we sort of game against the Columbus Crew Velasquez needs to sell or more ticket vouchers to this event and greatly appreciates the support soccer club in conjunction with Student Life and Leadership are putting together some on- on campus events at which students and faculty can watch World Cup matches and purchase ticket vouchers in support of mens men's soccer To note these are club teams and arent aren't part of Athletic Department As such these teams are almost entirely self 1 f 1 j t tl 1 l t L i ii r h I Photo courtesy of or Amanda E Evans ans The Women's soccer club team shakes the hands of their Western Vestern Wyoming Community College opponents after fter a game last season the USA could even pull off a draw against their first opponent England which would give them momentum going forward The dark horse in the group is a dangerous Algerian I team that should not be I overlooked Coach Velasquez grew up surrounded by soccer in Guatemala You wake up football at recess football lunchtime football Its It's the culture in Guatemala said Velasquez Velasquez has been with for 22 years and has a rich knowledge in the V Lifetime Activities Center at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus Due to scheduling conflicts we only have four games at home this season and then were we're out on the road for the next sixteen said Evans We really need the student body to show up strong for us and help us make the few home games that we do have count Evans and her squad will be seen in the Student Center selling t-shirts t to raise money for t the e brutal road trips ahead for Women's Soc Soccer er Most people dont don't have a good-cop good cop bad-cop approach at times said Evans For mens men's soccer there are a couple of key early season contests taking place The team is traveling to Provo for a friendly match with BYU on June 22 mens men's soccer has the unique opportunity of playing on Real Salt Lakes Lake's home field at Rio Tinto Stadium as well They'll be playing their season opener against the University of Utah at Rio Tinto on August 14 in a match that precedes an This makes your yOU support both as students and fans even more paramount to the success of these programs Evans and Velasquez would like to thank everyone at Student Life and Leadership namely Curtis Larsen Peggy Hoffman and also Norma Carr Athletic Director for their support S |