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Comment by megablast | Hacker News Reader

I am not sure that it is stats that make most other sports more popular than Soccer, in countries like Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand.

For some reason, soccer nations seem to enjoy the fact that any team can win any game, due to the nature of the game. It is such a low scoring game, that one goal can decide the game. So all it takes is an incredibly lucky kick, or cheat, for a side to win.

You don't see this in many other sports.

So while the Premier league the result is certain (either Chelsea or Man United), the World cup, where in the later stages one game decides whether you move on or not, anyone has a chance.

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But this also means, from a supporter's perspective, that football is unsatisfying because there is a dearth of scoring (one lucky kick undoes 90 minutes of effort from the opposition), and this does not reflect the nature of the match. Also, draws are common, even when there is a clear imbalance between the skill/ability of the teams. I've heard it concluded that the reason football fans are seen to be more 'thuggish' (media hype aside) is that the game often does not satisfy the primal urge to defeat someone/something.

True, the 'one lucky kick' possibility also means that your team wins when it really shouldn't have. Is this really satisfying to a supporter?

(I've also heard it concluded that the glut of scoring makes basketball less appealing for similar reasons, but I haven't followed it enough to determine whether this is true).

It is attracting precisely because of the chance of a lucky kick. You can very rarely turn off when winning, especially when good teams play each other, because there can always be a moment of magic to tie the game.

It means as a supporter, you are always on the edge of your seat, cheering your team on, because you know what can happen if they falter.

It also means that the rare occasions where you are 3-4 0 up and the game is safe are just that much more satisfying ;).

I'm a huge football fan (Barcelona FWIW), so take what you will from the following comment. I watch way too many European games on late night cable, and the low scoring complaint is kind of a fallacy when you watch most games in Europe.

This season just gone, i think the average goals per game in England this year was about 2.5. Sure this average has an upward trend by games like a 7-0 thrashing that Chelsea dished out in the last game of the season. The German league has an even higher average goals per game (cant seem to find that stat at the moment..)

There are low scoring games, but that is part of the way the game works, but I definitely would not say a low score is a regular thing week in week out anymore.

As to the hooligans that truly are complete idiots, there is no other explanation for their behavior other than stupidity. Its a gang mentality that causes the problem, not the game itself. There are some epic rivalries in Europe where the fans do really hate each other, and it goes back to an identity/gang thought pattern.

It's true that the Premier League is very predictable, but the new influx of cash to the likes of Manchester City could shake things in up a few years. Look where Chelsea came from - mid-table mediocrity.

You should also point out that La Liga (the Spanish Premier League) while very easy on the eye, is possibly the most uncompetitive league in the world as only Real Madrid or Barcelona will ever win it.

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