Kicking a Ball and Pretending to Be Hurt

"Kicking a Ball and Pretending to Be Hurt" is the 41st episode of the second season of Teen Titans Go!, and the 93rd overall episode of the series.

Summary
Robin teaches the Titans how to play soccer. They quickly become obsessed, and accidentally uncover the secret reason why the sport is so popular - Soccer Trolls.

Plot
The episode begins in the Titans Tower, wherein Robin announces the Titans that it is Sports Day. The other Teen Titans do not recall that it is Sports Day, so Robin yells at the top of his lungs at them. After all, he did post fliers all over the living room. Robin announces that today, they will be playing the world's most popular sport, "fútbol." The Titans reply in excitement that they perceive they're going to play "football". Robin corrects their ignorance, explaining that he is saying fútbol, not football. They are confused, until Robin shows them how to accent it. He says that fútbol is another name for soccer. The Titans are greatly disappointed, complaining that soccer is the most boring sport ever. They groan that it just consists of a ball and players faking injuries.

Raven decides to be a comedian, and she jokingly states she doesn't like soccer but she prefers "sock-him." She delivers the "punch line" with... punches! Unfortunately, Beast Boy is mercilessly punched by her huge dark magic fist. Robin understands her pun, awards her an iota of accomplishment, and then goes on preaching about fútbol and its passion, which can bring nations together or tear them apart. Cyborg wonders if they are still talking about soccer, but Robin tells him to stop calling it soccer, but rather fútbol. Raven believed there is something sinister about the sport, and how people get so worked up over a ball. Starfire also has her doubts about the sport, thinking it seems unlikely a game could inspire such intense emotions. However, Robin reminds her about Cyborg when they played Duck-Duck-Goose (he went ballistic when he was chosen to be the goose), confirming his theory about fútbol. They all attempt to pronounce "fútbol" with passion, without confusing themselves with the word "football." Beast Boy nailed it. Raven just socks him again.

The Titans go outside to the field and are amazed by their sports attire. Beast Boy decides to test out his shin armor by letting Cyborg kick his shin. Cyborg doesn't hold back - Beast Boy feels tremendous pain. Starfire tests her shin armor as well, and soon afterwards Raven in the beat down, punching him again with her huge fist. It's like a gang imitiation-meaning pain. Robin calls off their violent treatment of Beast Boy and shows them the fútbol he bought from a different country (apparently, soccer isn't played in America). After beholding its good looks and polygon contents, Robin lectures them on the rules, the main one being to make a goal in the net. Beast Boy attempts it first; he picks up the ball and throws it into the goal, followed by celebration - and yelling from Robin. He shouts that he cannot use his hands. It takes the other Titans a few moments before they realize they use their feet to maneuver the ball. Raven claims she doesn't have feet, but Robin lifts up her cloak revealing her feet, which she forgotten. He shows them a proper demonstration of kicking the ball into the goal field. Afterwards, he exclaims the correct celebration for scoring a goal, by shouting "GOOAAL!" as long as possible. Raven's shout was too emotionless, Starfire just couldn't stay in key, Beast Boy had the pitch but lacked length, and finally Cyborg nailed it, so Robin congratulated him.

After intense training on the field by playing fútbol, with Silkie even trying to kick the ball (followed by pretending to be hurt, as taught), the Titans feel full of energy and exhilarating emotions about soccer. Robin was right about the spirit of the game, thanks to the magical ball. Raven cannot argue with feelings due to so much emotions, leading her to say "GOOOAAALLL!" for more than twenty seconds.

Back in the kitchen, Robin is eating his cereals and asks Raven to pass the milk from refrigerator. She deftly bounces it with her feet to Robin, who in turn, ricochets it right back (while simultaneously supplying himself with delicious milk) into the fridge. Perfect execution...calling for the other Titans to crowd around and yell "Goal!" again. Beast Boy randomly hits Cyborg, causing Cyborg to stumble back into the lobby, faking his injury while he's down on the floor. Beast Boy receives a red card from Robin for rough playing, but Beast Boy claims that he barely even touched him. Robin does not want to hear his excuses nevertheless, so he is ejected out of the game. Meanwhile, Starfire run around as if she is on the field, while Raven claims that they have never lived their lives with such emotion. Robin completely agrees with them, thanks to their magical ball, which invigorated themselves. He holds up the ball with his hands, making the other team members gasp in horror at the sight; Robin is grasping it with his hands! He releases the ball, and it falls on the ground with a sudden crack. A magic wave illuminates from the ball, and Robin pushes the top half of the ball off with his staff. Inside awaits a Soccer Troll, a purple creature who greets them. The other Titans are startled and jump back in fear. The Troll introduces himself and explains about his job of bringing magic and passion to soccer, knowing that kicking a ball and pretending to be hurt is so boring. The Titans feel foolish for liking the idiotic game and ask for the Soccer Troll to take them to his leader.

Deep underground, a huge soccer field arena filled with an audience of Soccer Trolls are waiting for the game to begin. The Titans arrive through a secret stalagmite and find the factory where Soccer Trolls are packaged in soccer balls to make them enjoyable. The King Soccer Troll welcomes the Titans as they assume the field. Robin demands him to give up his roll of making people like the game of soccer through magic. Unfortunately, the King refuses, as he reasoned no one wanted to watch a game where people kick a ball and pretend to be injured. King Soccer Troll floats the idea of betting on a game of soccer, sudden death rules. If the Titans win, the King must call back all the Soccer Trolls... and if the Trolls win, they receive sudden death. The Titans start to do perform incredible soccer moves, using the power of teamwork and well-timed kicks to advance the ball to the goal. It does not work out too well, however, as it bounces off King Soccer Troll's leg. He effortlessly kicks it straight into the goal.

Since the Teen Titans lost, the King is about to kill when Robin and the others display a huge sore loser fit, one of their attributes they had learned earlier. They are so annoying that King Soccer Troll goes back on his word, allowing them to live. The Titans start kicking and punching the King, who begs them to stop, saying that he will call back his Soccer Trolls, but the Titans ignore him. King Soccer Troll eventually passes out, so Cyborg suggests a game of bowling instead. The Titans are ready when all of a sudden, Cyborg drops his bowling ball. It reveals a magical Bowling Turkey. Cyborg is not going to take this again, and blasts the Turkey immediately.

Characters

 * Robin
 * Starfire
 * Cyborg
 * Raven
 * Beast Boy
 * Silkie (cameo)
 * King Goal (debut)
 * Soccer Trolls (debut)
 * Bowling Turkey (debut, cameo)

Trivia

 * This episode aired one year after "Grandma Voice", and two years after "Driver's Ed" and "Dog Hand".
 * The seagull and crab that are usually on the rock in front of the tower have gone on a vacation, as the rock shows a sign saying "On vacay!"

Continuity

 * This is the second episode revealing all of the Titans doing an official world-wide sports game, the first time being in "Artful Dodgers" by playing dodge-ball against the H.I.V.E. Five.
 * Starfire is seen wearing her football helmet that was first seen in "Thanksgiving".
 * Beast Boy's and Cyborg's soccer uniforms resemble their other uniforms from "Artful Dodgers" and "Boys vs. Girls".
 * This is the second time the Titans play "duck duck goose" which they first did in "Pie Bros".
 * It appears Starfire has now learned how to correctly play the game, and no longer uses real ducks and geese.
 * This is the third time a joke is shared that only Raven and Robin find funny. ("Uncle Jokes", "Hose Water")
 * Cyborg is wearing the same shirt as he did in "Artful Dodgers."

Errors

 * Robin said that in other countries, soccer is called "fútbol." While in reality, it's just called "Football."
 * Beast Boy incorrectly says "We use our foots," but in "Rocks and Water," he uses the correct plural form "feet" when complimenting Raven on hers.

Running Gags

 * Robin yelling at the other Titans for saying "fútbol" wrong.
 * The Titans saying "Gooooooaaaaaaaallll!"
 * Raven playing Sockhim then hitting Beast Boy.
 * The Titans getting mad and being sore losers.