Watching the United States women’s soccer team upset the top ranked German team Tuesday night was an exercise in the kind of tension that comes with world class futbol.

It was a game full of drama and chances taken and opportunities lost.

As a fairly recent convert to the "beautiful game," I was struck by how wonderfully attractive this game was, especially on television.

Here are my top six reasons watching the Women’s World Cup is a great experience.

1. Soccer is such an intellectual game. It may have something to do with the size of the field and the pace of the game, but you can just see the brainpower being used out on that field. I have rarely seen any sports that places such a premium on being smart and where intelligence can often prevail over physical talent.
2. The way the announcers talk. First of all, of course, is the curious use of the verb "have." Let’s say the U. S. is staging a fast break down the right side of the field. We’d say, "The U.S. has a fast break." Soccer announcers say "The U. S. have a fast break." "Has" is third person singular present of "have." Soccer announcers think of teams as a single unit (I think). Also, soccer is the only place where I hear the word "nil" used by people who actually know what it means. And the third thing is that soccer announcers don’t call the score tied. They call it "level." Listing to soccer announcers makes me feel smart.
   
3. Tobin Heath and Tabea Kemme. With 44 minutes left in the game, Heath, the American, and Kemme, the German, were running toward the baseline, fighting for the ball. It went out of bounds and Heath crashed into the boards, clearly knocking the wind out of herself. She crumpled to the ground. Kemme stayed with her and lifted Heath’s arms over head in the time honored treatment for getting the wind knocked out of you. It was a touching display of the essence of great sportsmanship.
4. The penalty kick. First of all they are rare. Secondly they are far from a sure thing. Just look at the game against Germany when the goalie went one way and the kicker went the opposite, but kicked it wide of the goal. A soccer goal is 24 feet wide and eight feet high. The kick comes from 12 yards away. And the kicker has to shoot from there, no dribbling up as close as they can get, unlike another sport that has penalty shots.
5. The ball and field. The ball is so big and the field is so big that it is an almost perfect sport for television. You always know where the ball is. You can see the ebb and flow of the game, the back and forth and the strategic decisions being made throughout the game. It's about the easiest game to watch. 
6. The little kids. When they start the game, each team walks out with a little kid holding the hand of each player. I’m not sure why they do it or what it means. But it is so damn cute. And it seems to bring an atmosphere of joy to the whole thing.