Things that are not the World Cup: The Big Four

(via)

Today begins your introduction to the God Tier. The big boys. England, Spain, Italy, and Germany. These four league-style competitions are all situated in countries that boast long affiliations with the sport. That isn't to say that the other countries (and their respective leagues) do not, but these four are a cut above in terms of quality. Their clubs pay the largest salaries and command the most prestige. Eighteen of the last twenty European Cup (a general term, encompassing the Champions League and its forerunners) winners have come from these four competitions, along with 36 of the last 40 finalists. Bottom line, here is where you are most sure to see the best possible soccer.

Things that are not the World Cup.

La Furia Roja, Spain's national team, celebrate winning the 2010 World Cup.

It's the height of summer. Your friends are suddenly and oddly soccer-obsessed. Also strangely nationalistic, often for countries in which they were not born. You tag along to escape the heat and for lack of anything better to do. You see the World Cup, and it's thrilling. Drama, skill, passion, heartbreak, triumph. It's awesome. You love it, and you need more. But those easy-to-recognize national teams only play every couple of years. In between there's a confusing mess of domestic leagues, cup competitions, continental championships, one-off trophy games, and international qualifiers. It is daunting. I remember being intimidated when I first started watching, but luckily for you I am no longer that callow, uninitiated youth.