Futbol or Football?

January 6, 2018

Today was the first day to sleep in, woo! But of course, most of us want to take advantage of the city we’re in and keep exploring so a group went to a traditional English breakfast instead of getting those couple extra hours of rest. Personally, I opted to stay back for the hotels free breakfast because I am obviously a cheap college student. 

After a morning of either adventuring or sleeping, we split into two groups, one to go sightseeing and the iother to attend a futbol match. The sightseers traveled all around the waterfront checking out views such as the London Bridge and the Tower of London. Those (including me) who went to the Queens Park Rangers versus the MK Dons had a different experience altogether. 

When arriving at the stadium of the home team, the Queens Park Rangers, I did not know what to expect but the few on our trip who are very involved in European futbol (Pete and Scott) seemed very excited. 

We were all seated on QPR’s side and the game was great! The MK Dons were a wild and rowdy bunch in the visitors center and somehow kept their voices alive singing chants and rants the entire game. I personally wish the QPR side was a rambunctious. The MK Dons scored in the first half followed by what appeared to be a score by the QPRs. Unfortunately, there was a fowl in the penalty box so the QPRs were left high and dry and the opposing team fans all shouted over “Sit down! Shut up!” among many other choice words. 

The game ended with MK Dons winning 1 - 0. 

It was my first futbol experience and I can see why there’s such a large following. The pride in your home team flows through European blood like American football does in mine. I just can’t seem to not let out a little laugh though when players exaggerate injuries for fowls. The soap opera that unfolds between the two teams is something yet to be paralleled haha. 

Elisha Parslow