Seeing the World Cup from `the other side’

The distorted, emotionally charged voice of the play-by-play announcer blares from television sets out into the dusty street.

The words are incomprehensible because of his rapid and pulsating delivery. Suddenly, the piercing cry of GOOOOOOOOOAL! echoes through the neighborhood, making the announcer’s message clear to all within earshot.

People walking down the street veer quickly toward the nearest house to find out who scored the goal. The people in the tiny Central American country of Costa Rica are captivated by the World Cup soccer tournament.

American sports fans don’t realize it now, and it’s possible they never will, but for the past month the United States has played host to what is arguably the premier sporting event in the world.

The excitement and pageantry of the World Cup has been featured at several venues around the country since mid-June. On Sunday afternoon, Italy and Brazil will play for the World Cup title at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

I don’t think most Americans are able to grasp the importance of the World Cup to the international sports community. Perhaps no other sporting event is so closely scrutinized by so many people worldwide.

Sure, we’ve seen the thousands of frenzied fans waving their flags from the stadium seats at Giants Stadium and the Rose Bowl. But they represent only a minute fraction of a massive audience.

To really appreciate the international impact of the World Cup, it must be experienced from “the other side.” I was fortunate to have that opportunity recently during our annual family trip to Costa Rica, a Spanish-speaking nation of 3.5 million people located between Nicaragua and Panama.

Costa Ricans are soccer-crazy. One can’t drive any distance in a populated area without seeing groups of young people kicking a soccer ball around.

The World Cup has altered the daily routine of many Costa Ricans. People who are able to do so take their television sets to work in hopes of catching at least an occasional glimpse of the day’s action.

Americans need either cable TV or a satellite dish in order to catch the majority of the World Cup games, whereas Costa Ricans can choose from at least two stations.

Last Wednesday, I was running an errand here in Bangor and tried to tune in the Italy-Bulgaria game on my car radio. It was nowhere to be found.

That would never occur in Costa Rica, despite the fact its own team failed to qualify for what in Spanish is known as “La Copa Mundial.” Those who aren’t able to watch or listen to a game need only ask someone nearby.

It’s almost as easy to find out the score of a World Cup game in Costa Rica as it is to ask someone what time it is.

News reports are dominated by World Cup soccer, with extensive game highlights and interviews with players, coaches, and fans from all around the world.

Initially, I was surprised that the United States team seemed to have a considerable following in Costa Rica. When I asked why, it became clear that Coach Bora Milutinovic was the main reason.

Milutinovic, a native of Yugoslavia, is a hero to Costa Rican soccer fans. It was he who directed Costa Rica to its first-ever World Cup appearance in 1990, and many thought he might work similar wonders with the American team.

Naturally, Costa Ricans also favored the Spanish-speaking teams, including Spain, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Bolivia. With the final at hand, the majority is likely to support Brazil because of its relatively close proximity.

Sunday afternoon, Costa Ricans will gather around TV sets with family and friends to watch the Brazil-Italy game. For about two hours, one soccer game will captivate soccer fans in that nation, and throughout much of the world.