Although they do SOMETIMES exaggerate their injuries, you should not underestimate the impact when a (let's say)80 Kilogram (170/165 pound?) heavy dude hits you at full speed, with possibly iron spikes underneath his shoes.
But yeah, tbh this worldcup is not the greatest advertisement for soccer.
That last sentence is a matter of upbringing, childhood heroes, what did you play as a kid yourself ect. still , the rest of the planet seems to disagree with you, but I kinda understand where you're coming from..
For me Hockey is so limited; you need a lot before you can play. Helmet, ice,skates, a puck, a stick , a protective space suit..and oh I forget
actual skills to skate. Skating is somewhat ghey-ish. (A tiny bit), as the next stop is figure skating. The puck is difficult to follow. Players are masked and hard to recognize. It's also rare to see great individual skill. Not many unique situations, only few possibilities.
Then somehow you are allowed to punch each other and fight? Why?
Read a great comment yesterday. Something like " imagine when we(USA) will stop sending suburb pssies but send our inner city poor hungry people".
And it's kinda true . When the USA will have more participants in soccer, eventually they will win a WC. Their mental abilities alone are already great. Combined with French/Brazilian surplus of talent, and their whole philosophy and pov towards sport in general, and the USA might eventually become a powerhouse in soccer. Might take another 10/20years tho..