What the International Break Feels Like ...

I freely admit that I’m a soccer nut. A day doesn’t go where I’m not watching 2-3 matches a day (or more sometimes), so the coming down from a soccer high to cold turkey during international breaks is oftentimes a shock to the system to me. It may feel the same way to you, too.

Some critics would argue “get a life,” or “go watch another sport,” or “get out of the house.” All those are worthy criticisms, but even when I’m focused on other things in my life, there’s still that feeling at the bottom of my stomach that something is missing in my life.

Thinking about it today, an international break feels like following soccer before there was the Internet and before almost every single match was televised live. It reminds me of childhood, hearing the sound of the grandfather clock slowly ticking away while being dead bored at a relative’s house.

To me, that’s how soccer felt growing up in the UK — unless I was fortunate enough to be going to a match.

What does the international break feel like to you?