including in HS, I understand it just fine and had a good time playing it. My guess is you probably didn't play anything growing up, like most soccer fans, and went on a mission to some soccer loving country in Europe or south America and like so many other missionaries that did they became soccer "fans" as a way to show they are different and open minded. Good for you I guess but it still sucks to watch.

As for your other "points" about football, well you obviously haven't played it and do not understand it at all. I've actually been a football coach, and a successful one, for over a decade. Every single play we run, including a dive on what's considered a "short yardage" play, is still designed to go for a score, all of them. Now of course you settle for less when the situation dictates but that doesn't change the fact that all of them are designed to break away and go to the end zone, all of them, and it can actually happen on any play, that is not the case with soccer. There is no threat of a score occurring when they are passing it back and forth at mid field.

And no one in football is trying to end a game in a tie like they do in soccer. Soccer wants to end in a tie because they are still awarded points for doing so, it is ridiculous for a sport to award "points" based on winning or ties, just let the standings decide and you'll see a lot less of that laugh inducing outcome.