Opinion

Soccer is a sport that is very different from others, it's rare to find another sport where the feet are the most fundamental role and where the talent has to be from that part of the body. However, a soccer player must not only have "magic feet", but must also possess other physical and mental qualities to shine in this game.

When it comes to the Summer Games, you can’t go wrong watching any event. They are all the ultimate culmination of dedication, sacrifice and mastery, amplified by the impossibly high stakes of a quadrennial competition. But some events captivate more than others with their sense of drama and skill — not that race walking doesn’t have those elements. 

According to a recent study of my brain performed by me, these are the best events at Tokyo 2020 based on how much I found myself yelling at the television during Rio 2016. 

Following the Euro 2020 final where Italy narrowly defeated England on penalties, both sides displayed the true highs and lows of soccer.

Italians were put on top of the world as they secured just their second-ever European Championship and first since 1968. From their fans pouring onto the streets and erupting in joy to Italy’s team stripping down to tighty whities, Italians made sure to properly celebrate the moment.

But the spectrum of reactions following the Euro 2020 final from both squads and their fans couldn't have been further apart.

When Brazil was preparing to take on Argentina in the Copa América final, it was widely acknowledged that while many Brazilians were tacitly supporting the Seleção, they’d also partially warmed to the idea of Lionel Messi finally reaping from what he’d painstakingly sown over the last 16 years with the Albiceleste — so much so that Neymar felt compelled to issue a stinging rebuke on Instagram that told those Brazilians to “go to hell.” 

International tournaments often seem like a red carpet event for the biggest names in world football, yet often the most intriguing players on the pitch are the up-and-coming stars, the b-listers of the footballing world, if you will.

Euro 2020 introduced us to a wide range of talented young players. Some were familiar by name and statistical output, but this was the first chance for them to prove themselves on such a large stage. Others were relative unknowns, ony entering the public footballing consciousness within the last month.

LONDON - While England exulted at reaching a first major final since 1966, there was increasing outcry abroad over the penalty awarded for a foul on Raheem Sterling in extra time to give them a 2-1 win over Denmark in their Euro 2020 semifinal.

An array of media and football figures joined Danish fans in condemning the penalty as too cheap for such a big game, some saying England's haughty views on diving looked hypocritical in view of Sterling's tumble at the lightest of touches.