I used to be a very avid fan, watching my favorite teams nearly everytime they were playing. It used to be one of the only things I would sit and watch on TV. However living outside of the US for nearly 5 of the last 7 years has changed that. Suddenly though my wife and I found ourselves watching of all things soccer.

The tournament that it being co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland is quite important. From what I've gathered it helps with earning a spot in the World Cup soccer tournament. Here in Europe, soccer is THE sport, unlike in the US where we have hockey, baseball, football and Nascar (sorry can't leave that out). I think the fans here are so hardcore because it is a matter of national pride. In US sports we have the Celtics and the Lakers, the Red Sox and Yankees, the Patriots and the Colts, interstate rivalries.

Considering that all of Europe would fit inside the continental US it's understandable how these rivalries are formed and taken so seriously. But you could feel something, an air of excitement when our host country, Holland was playing. All the cafés are packed, everyone is wearing the national colors (orange). There is electricity in the air, and you felt that as you sat watching the game with everyone else. Truely an amazing feeling.