World Cup unites Reading players
It is finally here! The FIFA World Cup, the pinnacle of international soccer, will begin in Russia next week and teams from all over the world will compete for their chance to be named the best team in the world.
This year the United States came up short in the qualifying rounds and will not be participating in the event. That won’t stop from Reading United players from enjoying the World Cup.
United’s 2018 roster features players from all over the world and we wanted to learn more about how the event is perceived around the world and how the guys think their teams will fair moving forward.
Brazilian midfielder Felipe Hideki knows the passion his home country has for ‘jogo bonito’, the Beautiful Game. “The World Cup is huge for us,” Hideki explained. “Our country sticks together and the country stops to watch every single national game. Every single neighborhood will get together as one to paint the streets to support the team. On game day, no one is in the street everyone is either inside or at a pub watching the games.”
Hideki has high expectations for the team, saying, “I think we are one of the favorites, we’re the national team with the most titles so I feel that gives us a little bit of an advantage.” He feels that the two most dangerous teams that his countrymen could face are Germany and France.
Daniel Krutzen’s home county of Belgium also has a very different look on the World Cup. ”People love all of that. People will come together with painted faces and jerseys to watch on giant screens either in stadiums or in the street to watch the games. Its just crazy how football can bring people together to watch for one team,” explained the young Belgian defender.
Krutzen thinks his countrymen can make a deep run in Russia this summer. “I expect them to make it to the semi final but anything more than that might be asking too much this year.” Reading’s left back conceded that France, Brazil or Spain will likely take home the trophy at the end of the tournament.
Steven Hernandez, who is of Mexican descent but has lived in the United States, says that in his neighborhood in New York is home to many Mexican-Americans. Hernandez reflected on how some of the streets in New York City were shut down after the incredible performance by ‘El Tri’ at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Despite the United States Men’s National Team not being in Russia for the World Cup this summer, there is no shortness of excitement here with our United players. The squad of players from across the globe are just excited to see the top players in the world competing at the highest level. Much like the rest of the planet, the Reading United players will be watching and rooting on their favorites throughout the four action packed weeks of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
