Euro's

[kregoron]

After we lost from Denmark i dont think we dutchy's want to talk about the Euro cup anymore

Im so sorry to rub it in

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Tho gotta admit, was quite surprised that we won that round, tho not a big football fan myself

[Snokio]

Where's Alan Shearer, Paul Ince, Tony Adams and that other chap?

It's been kicking off in Poland, fans from Russia and Poland causing riots

[Penfold]

Where's Alan Shearer, Paul Ince, Tony Adams and that other chap?

It's been kicking off in Poland, fans from Russia and Poland causing riots

If I may refer the honourable gentleman to my first post (satis veborum).

[Benny]

Breathe in.....

So, the fighting yesterday was entirely related to football. UEFA basically applied no common sense and scheduled the matches around the Russian national holiday. Thankfully the media were all forewarned so they could record such debauchery for our viewing disgust and we can all agree football is a disgrace.

or

UEFA and football has nothing to do with the violence yesterday. By making themselves accountable for what was a political situation UEFA are making a mistake. The march of the Russians through Warsaw was sanctioned and arranged, 6000? police prepared and ready to go. What is clear is that there was a minority of far right individuals, masked and ready to start trouble. Within the stadiums fans have been mixing with no issues, as they did last night. The extremist behaiviour outside the stadiums is not a football problem but is being associated to the teams. The media hype it and make it worse.
What's equally annoying is that if it was England fans, which it isn't, UEFA and the world would be asking us to withdraw and ban ourselves from leaving England again. Corruption and mentalities in football are atrocious.

In addition I'll support the fact that the footballers are whining pansies and the game has bordered on farce for a while, but...

Watching a match and seeing a moment of team brilliance or individual skill is a joy to behold. Messi, Maradonna, Gazza, Waddle, all putting smiles on faces for more than their fair share of airtime. When I you get a minute, watch this and don't smile. Pavs goal, Shevchenko(sp?) turning it on at 36ish. Joy and pain of losing. We hate watching England because we are watching a child fail despite the ability to succeed. We are seeing potential and witnessing failure. Football unifies because we can all get a ball and play in the park. No other sport does that.

Opening statement complete, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I put it to you that no other sport drives such passion and argument, because no other sport can capture a nation in such a way.

Apart from Kabaddi.

/case rests.

[Penfold]

What's equally annoying is that if it was England fans, which it isn't, UEFA and the world would be asking us to withdraw and ban ourselves from leaving England again. Corruption and mentalities in football are atrocious.

sad but true.

I don't know zip about Polish-Russuan relations. I didn't even realise there was much bad blood nor, indeed, over what.

Watching a match and seeing a moment of team brilliance or individual skill is a joy to behold. Messi, Maradonna, Gazza, Waddle, all putting smiles on faces for more than their fair share of airtime. When I you get a minute, watch this and don't smile. Pavs goal, Shevchenko(sp?) turning it on at 36ish. Joy and pain of losing. We hate watching England because we are watching a child fail despite the ability to succeed. We are seeing potential and witnessing failure. Football unifies because we can all get a ball and play in the park. No other sport does that.

Right link?

Opening statement complete, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I put it to you that no other sport drives such passion and argument, because no other sport can capture a nation in such a way.  Apart from Kabaddi.

Kabaddi - hah yes, and Beach volleyball also comes close in my book.

[Tutonic]

While I agree with (almost) everything you say, I have to take exception to...

I put it to you that no other sport drives such passion and argument,  because no other sport can capture a nation in such a way.

Having been to New Zealand, I can safely say that nothing even comes close to the obsession that Rugby Union generates in that country. I imagine cricket in India probably comes pretty close too.

[Benny]

I should have said civilised world.

/bait.

[Snokio]

While I agree with (almost) everything you say, I have to take exception to...



Having been to New Zealand, I can safely say that nothing even comes close to the obsession that Rugby Union generates in that country. I imagine cricket in India probably comes pretty close too.

Also in the states, they love their baseball and American Football

I should have said civilised world.

/bait.

oh, I then retract my previous statement

[Benny]

Baseball, handcatchball and basketball...all need special equipment.

I like all 3, but they all suck for the sake of my thread.

[smilodon]

The last adjective that comes to mind when discussing football is civilised......

This is a gross generalisation but a long time ago I was at a friends BBQ and there were two conversations in progress related to sport. In one a group of guys were discussing football. They talked about how rubbish the English team was, how this player should never have been included, how that manager was a moron for not playing a certain formation, how the referee was blind in a certain game and that this penalty or that penalty should/should not have been given. It then moved on to national football and there then proceeded a flow of banter about how rubbish one team was even though it was about third in the country at that time? The conversation was generally negative and mainly about how a group of obviously completely unqualified men at a BBQ could manage a professional football team better than the professional mangers employed to do so. A little arrogant I thought.

The other conversation was about Formula One. This group discussed recent races, the genius of drivers like Senna, Mansell etc. the excitement of the races and the general awe in which they held the drivers, designers and mechanics that made up F1 teams. There was an obvious real love of the sport and joy in watching the races. While they all hoped Mansell would win the championship (he did that year 1992) they still felt it a privilege to watch Senna, Patrese, Schumacher etc. These sports fans obviously loved racing first and any specific driver or team second.

And that sort of summed it up for me about football. For a sport that's is supposed to be loved by millions it's amazing how it seems able to create such aggression, conflict, lack of respect for the truly talented and general negativity. Yes as mentioned this is a generalisation and obviously not everyone has this attitude to the game but it seems to permeate TV commentary and analysis, the press and most every pub conversation I've overheard.

I don't really understand why football doesn't command the same respect amongst its fans for the game and reverence for those who excel in it, as most other sports do?

[Tutonic]

So, err, back to the actual football...

Ze Germans are the team to beat. Discuss.

[Benny]

The teutonic machine looks like it's going to get better and better, you have to admire them. From a distance.

To Smilo's point I think the reason is because anyone can pick up a ball and kick it. I played 5-a-side last night, was in goal for a stint and pulled off a tremendous tip around the post. I let 3 others in including 1 nutmeg, but for that moment I was Gordon Banks and am therefore qualified to comment. I also nutmeg'd their keeper at one point, so I am now Gascoigne in his prime. It's an accessible sport and therefore the opinion swells.

We are negative by nature, Henman and Murray, Olympics - we don't want them, bah humbug etc. Football is glorious when played right and I for one love it. Am I negative, hell yes, because I know that in my 1 second of glory I'll get the nutmeg and goal.....yes, the footballers are exceptional atheletes compared to my pasty and lucozade from Memsbury services, but there but for the grace of god go I....or something.

I don't think there's been a bad game in the Euro's yet, Portugal last night was superb. Roll on Friday where I can get into England, start believing and then have my hopes dashed and comment on how crap Milner really is.

Who appointed Roy, it should have been Harry, football causes death and riots, Freddie Starr ater my hamster. Blanket shut down of bad news, that's what I say.

[Penfold]

Ironically, Harry is now free and on the market ....... I bet the FA are kicking themselves.

[Blunt]

I'm a neutral but have some observations.
England should've done what the Welsh Rugby team did a few years back and had a clear-out of all the old players and introduced young talent.
Wales decided to set aside hopes of winning the next couple of tournaments and instead concentrate on building a new young team of experience youngsters.
Most of the Welsh team had 30 to 40 caps each going into last seasons 6 Nations yet were remarkably young to be so experienced.

I've enjoyed the games so far, but haven't seen a team that look weaker than England.

Oh, and Benny, a nutmeg is only a nutmeg if you shout "nutmeg" before you do it. Trufax

Friday night BF3 TS chat will be amusing if people join after several pints.

[Tutonic]

I'm not sure I agree with 'writing off' tournaments as being for development.

The southern hemisphere rugby teams don't know the meaning of the word - they set out to win every game, and I think that mentality gives them an edge. When they need to bring through young players, they do it gently and steadily - young guys are not just dropped in en mass, they pick them alongside established guys who have lots of caps. Examples: Dan Carter playing inside Andrew Mehrtens.

This is what the England football teams ought to be doing, bringing in a youngster like Tom Cleverly or Jack Wilshere and playing them alongside a Gerrard or a Lampard to help them develop into a international class player.