Will England fans ever learn to have dignity in defeat?

Row Z Royal · by **Row Z Royal** » 03 Jul 2006 14:30

No.

SpaceCruiser · by **SpaceCruiser** » 03 Jul 2006 15:01

What about the Argentines?

Big Ern · by **Big Ern** » 03 Jul 2006 15:07

No, it's always has to be someone faults, if not how whould the tabloids sell papers on the back of vilifying someone.

Ginger Ninjas · by **Ginger Ninjas** » 03 Jul 2006 15:15

Right, as this is in response to my poll....

I personally think that 'England fans' will never show dignity in the face of defeat becuase they are led to believe many things by the media, both before and after the tournament, most of which are unworthy opinions. The inverted commas were to suggest that the majority of people who follow England in the world cup have little or no knowledge about football, and only pay attention for a few weeks every 2/4 years. These are those most commonly led astray by the media. I would like to think that the majority of people on here would be able to subscribe to the truths about the England team:

a) we have a good squad of players
b) there are few better squads
c) rooney was a silly boy
d) mistakes have been made

Dignity is about accepting defeat gracefully, something I fully adhere to. I also think that we did not deserve to progress. There does however need to be room for an inquest, why did we not reach our capabilities? How can we improve for 2/4 years' time? My poll was designed to see what "real football fans" felt were the main factors for our demise

Ginger Ninjas · by **Ginger Ninjas** » 03 Jul 2006 15:16

Big Ern wrote:No, it's always has to be someone faults, if not how whould the tabloids sell papers on the back of vilifying someone.

That's a more succinct way of saying what I spent time typing!

Bournemouth Royal · by **Bournemouth Royal** » 03 Jul 2006 15:19

No-regrettably we are amongst the worst losers around.
It wasn't always like this-historically we had a great reputation for losing honourably.
Now we are still a nation of losers but do so dishonourably.

Big Ern · by **Big Ern** » 03 Jul 2006 15:29

Ginger Ninjas wrote:
Big Ern wrote:No, it's always has to be someone faults, if not how whould the tabloids sell papers on the back of vilifying someone.
That's a more succinct way of saying what I spent time typing!

So why didn't you read my earlier post and leave it at that?

Ginger Ninjas · by **Ginger Ninjas** » 03 Jul 2006 15:32

Big Ern wrote:
Ginger Ninjas wrote:
Big Ern wrote:No, it's always has to be someone faults, if not how whould the tabloids sell papers on the back of vilifying someone.
That's a more succinct way of saying what I spent time typing!
So why didn't you read my earlier post and leave it at that?

Because I got distracted after started typing (work to do!), and it took ten minutes, so when I clicked submit, it appeared after your post

strap · by **strap** » 04 Jul 2006 21:05

Being beaten fair and square is not an issue for most people. Being cheated out of a competition is an entiely different matter. As I've pointed out on other threads, the best team in the competition will not win the WC. The WC will be won by whichever team is luckiest to win in the referees lottery. Simple as.

shadesrwrf · by **shadesrwrf** » 04 Jul 2006 22:41

strap wrote:Being beaten fair and square is not an issue for most people. Being cheated out of a competition is an entiely different matter. As I've pointed out on other threads, the best team in the competition will not win the WC. The WC will be won by whichever team is luckiest to win in the referees lottery. Simple as.

You might want to revisit that statement in the light of this evening's match. Some superb football and very good refereeing.

Alan Partridge · by **Alan Partridge** » 04 Jul 2006 22:42

shadesrwrf wrote:
strap wrote:Being beaten fair and square is not an issue for most people. Being cheated out of a competition is an entiely different matter. As I've pointed out on other threads, the best team in the competition will not win the WC. The WC will be won by whichever team is luckiest to win in the referees lottery. Simple as.
You might want to revisit that statement in the light of this evening's match. Some superb football and very good refereeing.

As long as Portugal get knocked out by France there will be a proper winner. Italy and France have easily been the best two sides I've seen, Germany 3rd. Argentina were good early on but faded.

alad · by **alad** » 04 Jul 2006 22:48

France were pathetic in the three group games.

Only played well in two games

Alan Partridge · by **Alan Partridge** » 04 Jul 2006 22:49

alad wrote:France were pathetic in the three group games.

Only played well in two games

when it matters. Got better as the tournament went on after a scare early on.

Argentina started great but where are they now? Buenos Aires. (sp)

shadesrwrf · by **shadesrwrf** » 04 Jul 2006 22:50

alad wrote:France were pathetic in the three group games.

Only played well in two games

And you point is exactly?

alad · by **alad** » 04 Jul 2006 22:51

Obsessed

AP answered my post, no need for you to stick your nose it.

alad · by **alad** » 04 Jul 2006 22:52

Alan Partridge wrote:
alad wrote:France were pathetic in the three group games.

Only played well in two games
when it matters. Got better as the tournament went on after a scare early on.

Argentina started great but where are they now? Buenos Aires. (sp)

Fair enough.

I think Argentina still played the better football.

They were the better team by far against Germany, at one stage it was 70/30 posession. They were very unlucky to go out, especially as Germany got lucky with their goal.

Alan Partridge · by **Alan Partridge** » 04 Jul 2006 22:56

alad wrote:
Alan Partridge wrote:
alad wrote:France were pathetic in the three group games.

Only played well in two games
when it matters. Got better as the tournament went on after a scare early on.

Argentina started great but where are they now? Buenos Aires. (sp)
Fair enough.

I think Argentina still played the better football.

They were the better team by far against Germany, at one stage it was 70/30 posession. They were very unlucky to go out, especially as Germany got lucky with their goal.

Argentina were very pleasing on the eye but France as the tournament has gone on have got better and better. The last performance against Brazil is still the best performance for me by a side at the World Cup. To have more posession than Brazil takes some doing and they should have won by more.

A France v Italy final would be an excellent game.

alad · by **alad** » 04 Jul 2006 22:58

Portgual deserve it, a small country as footballing nations go, they put out Holland and England, two pre tournament favs. They get no credit at all.

Alan Partridge · by **Alan Partridge** » 04 Jul 2006 23:02

alad wrote:Portgual deserve it, a small country as footballing nations go, they put out Holland and England, two pre tournament favs. They get no credit at all.

The way they did put England out will get no credit over here, who knows what some of the foreign press are saying about them?

They are a well organised team but not in the same class as the other two IMO. Apart from Ronaldo and Deco there isn't a great deal of flair in that side. the game against England was one of the worst games I've seen during the tournament.

I don't want another Greece style winner, would be nice to have a proper World champion who have played consistently well and played the game in the right way the whole way through. Italy have been excellent from the 1st game so it would be nice to see them win. Personally I will be hoping for France I would love to see 1 of the truly great players of all time (and without doubt the best player I've seen in my lifetime) Zinedine Zidane go out on the ultimate high. He deserves it.