I wrote this post a few years ago and have revised it for the 2014 World Cup

Football (soccer) is a great metaphor for life.

Showing off my England Shirt but cheering for the USA

We have been watching a lot of games in the group stage of the World Cup.  I forget how enjoyable it is to watch a good game.   Of all sports football (soccer) is the best metaphor for life.  Think about it.  Just like in life, in football (soccer):

• There are very few breaks in the action.
• You have to play offense and defense.
• Most of what you try doesn’t work.
• A lot of what goes on is important but boring.
• Bad things happen but play goes on.

To win in football (soccer):

• Teamwork is necessary, but so are heroic individual acts.
• Luck counts.
• Lots of the time you know the score, but not how much time there is to play.
• Conditioning is incredibly important.
• It has some silly rules like “off sides” and “hands.”

Just like in life.