On an interview that an English coach had (i forgot his name), they asked him if football is matter life of death something like that he answered, no. Is much more that that. (If someone remembers exactly what happened on that interview please correct me), but i am giving the meaning.
On the official Liverpoolfc.tv website, it states that the official quote is "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."
Do you ever wonder if Michael Jordan had been born in Italy or England or Brazil if he would have been the greatest soccer player ever?
What makes soccer (even if i am not big fan, i follow only my team Panathinaikos), is that you need very little to play it. Just a ball, and empty space...You can play it everywhere, and i think that this is the biggest reason that is the most popular sport on the planet.