What is the importance of soccer in the book, The Anthropocene Reviewed?

Soccer comes up several times in this book, both when Green is discussing the way in which soccer stadiums often chant songs from musical theatre to encourage their teams' players and when he is discussing Jerzy Dudek's performance in the 2005 Champion's League finals. Green shows a comprehensive knowledge of several soccer teams and important matches, demonstrating implicitly that soccer is an important part of his life even as he does not elaborate on his fascination with it or the source of that fascination.