Tonight is the final of Euro 2008. Having watched about 75% of the tournament with friends here, and conversing back and forth with friends world-wide, I have found this to be one of the most entertaining soccer tournaments I can remember. But let all the professional writers comment on the quality of play. I want to talk about supporting sides.
Tonight, it’s Germany v. Spain. Hopefully, this game will be as good as the tournament as a whole. And I am wondering whom to support. In considering (as much with my head as my heart), I have come up with a list of reasons anyone supports any particular team. Would love your additions and thoughts.
Why to support a team (in no particular order):
- You are from the same place as the team. So, in Pretoria, you support the Blue Bulls in rugby. This also applies to your national team. You can also claim this one if your ancestors came from there.
- You KNOW someone from the same place as the team. I have found this to be a pretty common one as well. Example – my uncle is the grounds keeper for Fulham, so they become my team. Or, we had an exchange student from Germany once. You get the idea.
- You’ve BEEN to the same place as a team. Bonus if you’ve actually seen them in action at home, but most can’t afford it. Case in point – I like Glasgow Celtic. I’ve been to Glasgow 3 times…
- A particular player you like plays for the team. This, btw, is why I began supporting Chelsea – because Frank Lampard went there. You can also use this one if someone from your country plays for the team (Lucas Radebe from SA plays for Leeds, suddenly their jerseys are selling on the street here).
- You like the coach. Not as common and this one seems to happen more in America. So, perhaps you like Larry Brown. If coaches a new team, you suddenly find yourself watching their games.
- You love the way a team plays. Best example I can think of is Dutch football. Total football is beautiful to watch, regardless of if you are from there or know any player’s name.
- You just do. Allowing for all those intangible/subjective reasons people love a team.
- Last, and sorta least (but worth a mention because it DOES happen) – you like the team’s colours or uniform. No comment.
So, would love some comments. Which factors are most important to you? Anything I am missing? NOTE: these various factors can also carry different weight!
If I were to personally take each team through the list above:
Germany: 5
(know people there, been there, like most of their team, defenders score as much as their strikers, they are deserving/due a tournament win)
Spain: 5
(ancestors from there, know people there, been there, gotta at least respect Torres, love the way these guys are playing
btw, teams have the same colours 
I think I’ll be happy if either team wins tonight.
you forgot to mention that you might like them because the players are cute.
I’m going with the colours of the jerseys, especially the cute ones!
You should have gone with Spain. They won…
Of course, I go with Germany since I have had German exchange students.
i was going with spain. partially because the germans sort of bore me. they looked really good in the last wc, but this euro they just didn’t do anything for me. and spain has been playing exciting football. that torres goal today was super nice.
so, i was pulling for netherlands in euro ucp, and was very disappointed in their finish. here’s some reasons:
storied history
total football concept
orange looks nice
two of my favorite players (van persie & van nistelrooy) play for them.
drawback: i’m not dutch. and they wear nike filth.
reasons for other teams i support:
arsenal: van persie, london, history, morrissey
real madrid: van nistelrooy, when they were the galacticos, madrid seems like a nice place to visit, super cool kits
l.a. gaLAxy: cali team, cobi jones, rose bowl as a former home, landon & becks
glasgow rangers: it’s scotland, they’re not celtic, and now they’ve got demarcus beasely
but this is just soccer, and are teams i became attached to later in life. for baseball & football i’ve been a fan for much longer. i feel like i was born a giants fan. and the rams, well they were the anti-49ers when i was younger so i latched on to them.
for basketball, i bought into the bulls because of the jordan era. i really admit it, i got into basketball because of jordan but have stuck with the bulls since then.
I thought of another reason to support a team – someone you love supports them. I have to say I’m a Raiders fan for no other reason than because Brandon is a Raiders fan.
Supporting Germany because they have good players and play (largely) clean soccer. I think one big reason they lost is Ballack couldn’t control his temper on the day.
My daughter supported German and Intermilan when juergen Klinsman played for them, because she thought he was cute. We support Sundowns because its local, the Sharks because we come from Natal, in cricket we support South Africa and any team that’s playing against Australia. And Manchester United because my great great grandfather came from Manchester.
and from Mariah – sometimes you cheer for the underdog.