Featured Photo by NickK

If you’re in the country for longer than a week, you will be sure to find a soccer game in every major town – I strongly advise you go.

We sure don’t have the American football studs, or baseball professionals or NBA stars, but we have great soccer. And players with smoking hot bodies.  Soccer is great for the sports fanatic guys, as well as their curious girlfriends. It’s time Americans learn how to appreciate SOCCER!

What are you waiting for? Buy the tickets!

The Entrance

Go to the stadium one hour ahead of time and take your time walking through the crowd. Buy yourself a 10 euro scarf in one of the thousands colorful stands at the entrance – you don’ want to stand out without one. Once at the entrance gates, throw away your bottle caps, push yourself in and start getting excited.

The best moment is when you start seeing the field and you take it all in. Especially at nighttime, I assure you, you will get shivers. The lights, the fans, the colors, the songs, the screaming – it’s all part of the magical experience.

The Game

One whistle blow and the war between the two teams begins. First half: 45 minutes. Break: 15 minutes. Second half: 45 minutes. Game over.

No extra innings in this intense sport, just 90 minutes of action with a short break to catch your breath and grab another beer.

The Fans

The game is not the only war taking place inside the stadium. The most powerful one is between the rival fans and, whether you like it or not, you are part of it and fall into one of the stereotype fan categories.

Powerful Pipes

He’s standing up and singing for 2 hours without even looking at the game.

The Dirty Mouth

He’s yelling and cursing at the umpire, blaming him for every missed action and the weather as well.

The Nervous Wreck

He’s sitting quietly in his uncomfortable tiny seat; no words coming out of his mouth, only bitten nails.

The Wannabe Commentator

The most annoying of all: he is running commentary for every single action and is not willing to take a breath to allow the crowd some peace.

Be sure to cheer for the home team if you are sitting among its supporters. Trust me on this. You don’t want to be different. That is, unless you have a strong desire to start a fight with a fat drunk Italian during your visit to Italy. In that case, give me a call. I want to see this!

The Faith

You have to understand that, since soccer is the only BIG national sport, it has become a cult of some sort. Italians call it faith. They may not believe in punctuality or tidiness, but they strongly believe in their teams. Inter F.C., A.C. Milan, A.S. Roma, Juventus, Fiorentina and many more have the most incredible sanctuaries – also known as stadiums. Italians put passion in soccer, and it shows.

If you’re here to experience Italian culture, you can’t leave without stopping by my sanctuary: Stadio S. Siro, Milano. I’m either the one crying like a baby or screaming my heart out.

P.s. Yes, most soccer players are sissies. They throw themselves to the ground several times with no reason; but that’s just part of the game. ;)