FIFA Soccer 07 review

It's funny - and kind of sad - to watch an American sports fan try to wrap their brain around the international soccer league model. In the good old U S of A, our sporting franchises focus on one path to glory - play a season, make the playoffs, win a championship.

Around the globe, though, each new campaign brings with it all sorts of opportunities for teams to claim a trophy, such as capturing their "regular season" championship, a separate "league cup" or two, even staking their claim in a worldwide tournament. Teams then get relegated or promoted from one division to another based upon performance. Can you imagine if the Kansas City Royals were playing to avoid being sent to the minors?

If all of this sounds confounding, EA Sports' fantastic FIFA 07 will clear away the clouds as it immerses you into the tough life of a soccer club manager. This authentic simulator contains so many different leagues, teams, and divisions that anyone would be hard-pressed to claim their favorite side isn't represented. Even better, they're all stocked with real players and legit uniforms, right down to the advertisements plastered all over the front of them (another soccer trait that causes American brows to furrow in confusion).