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SportFootball
Tim Noonan

Opinion | US tours prove need for quality

Sold-out stadiums and high TV ratings indicate strong and growing interest in soccer - but fans want only the best

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Manchester City's Fernando and Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho during the Guinness International Champions Cup at Yankee Stadium, which attracted huge crowds in the English clubs' preseason tour. Photo: AFP

Dick Young did more to change the profession of sports writing in the 20th century than perhaps any other American. From the 1940s through to the mid-80s, his searing and influential prose sought to demystify the previously deified players for the first time. And while his honesty was refreshing, he was also crude, caustic, churlish and overwhelmingly xenophobic.

So it was no surprise that at a press conference to announce the seminal signing of soccer god Pele with the New York Cosmos in 1975, the uber-patriotic Young used the opportunity to loudly voice his disapproval of the Brazilian and the game he mastered. "Soccer is going to ruin baseball, it's a game for foreigners," he howled as a stunned gathering looked on. "America is a baseball country and if you don't like the way Americans do things you should get out of America."

Forty years later it's a safe bet to assume Young is rolling over in his grave after the unprecedented summer of soccer that has gripped large parts of the US

Forty years later it's a safe bet to assume Young is rolling over in his grave after the unprecedented summer of soccer that has gripped large parts of the US.

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A spirited showing by the national team at the World Cup in Brazil produced the highest ratings ever for televised soccer and was followed by tours from the top teams in Europe, including English sides Liverpool and Manchester City playing in front of a sold-out crowd at Yankee Stadium, baseball's most hallowed cathedral. From Florida to Colorado and over to California, Michigan, Illinois, New York and Washington DC, attendance for games has been staggering.

Italy's Roberto Baggio puts his penalty over the bar in the World Cup final against Brazil at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in 1994, the last time the US hosted the tournament. Photo: Reuters
Italy's Roberto Baggio puts his penalty over the bar in the World Cup final against Brazil at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in 1994, the last time the US hosted the tournament. Photo: Reuters
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English clubs have been all over the US this summer with teams like Swansea, West Bromwich Albion, Fulham, Aston Villa and Tottenham involved in friendlies. But it's the big boys of English footy who have been bringing out the mega crowds. One week after playing in front of 86,000 at the Rose Bowl, Manchester United drew the largest crowd ever for a soccer game in the US when 110,000 fans showed up to see them play Real Madrid at the University of Michigan. The game sold out in less than two hours. United also drew 55,000 to a match in Denver and 62,000 in Washington DC.

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