Re: Close your eyes and think of Germany


"Adam Whyte-Settlar" <grawillers@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:44768059@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"allan connochie" <allan@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:447596cd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<mack54@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1148454971.461939.261380@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Adam Whyte-Settlar wrote:
"Jren 57" <jren57@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:KNmdnTBROfJ-u-7ZnZ2dnUVZ8qudnZ2d@xxxxxxxxx

"allan connochie" <allan@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:4473ef6f@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I suppose the difference between the fans of the Scotland and *ngland
football teams is that when we qualify for the World Cup, European
Nations, we go along to wherever it's played looking for a holiday and
to take in a bit of football when we're there. We don't EXPECT to win
it, unlike the *ngland supporters who get all in a tizzy when they are
unceremoniously dumped out if they can't play all their games at
Wembley.

Sure it would be nice to win it, but it's not a serious blow to our
national pride when we don't. It's a sport that sometimes we're good at
and sometimes we're not. At present we're not good at it, but we'll
rise again!

That attitude took some hard learning though. Many thought we had a real
chance in Argentian 78.

You *did* have a real chance in Argentina 78.
I can never understand why Ali McLeod got such stick for saying so. For
once
in Scotland's history almost the whole country were right behind the team
and excited by the thought they were actually capable of winning a major
competition - that was a great managerial achievement and exactly what he
should have done.
If you don't think you have at least a chance of winning then don't insult
the other competitors - just *stay home* and whinge about how pathetic you
are.
*Any* team on their day has a chance - do you think Gretna (population
about
what? - 4,000?) would be going to Europe if they had started out by
thinking
they were no-hopers?

I never said we were no hopers! What I meant was that we dismissed the
Peruvian team as no hopers. They were in fact the South American Champions
at that time. Then we treated the defeat as a national disaster. In many
ways our attitude then mirrors the English attitude but we seem to have
learned a lesson. For instance the talk now force fed to us every night is
that England could only win the World Cup if Rooney is fit. We are told he
will miss the first three games but will be ready for the Quarter Finals.
They seem to forget that they may have a realtively easy group, but they
still have to actually qualify from the group stages. The first game against
Paraguay is probably pretty vital. They are not the strongest South American
side but they are also no pushovers. After that England have an atrocious
record against Sweden. Plus the Trinidad and Tobago team may be the small
fish of the pond but of all the games they have, they will be focussing on
the England game which is their World Cup Final. Besides their has only ever
been won time where it could 'arguably' be said that one man really made
such a difference for a winning side and that was Maradona in 86. Rooney is
undoubtedly great but he's no Maradona. The worrying aspect though is
'Maradona asides' man for man I'd rate the current England team as
potentially as good as, if not better than, that Argentinian team. My life
would be a personal hell for decades to come if they won. I've given my wife
and her family a hard time for too long :-)


Allan


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Never Fear !
    ... Unfortunately for England I think it's going to take a bad 6 Nations ... How many games do you think England will win in the Six Nations? ... To be honest, I'm not bothered, I'm more concerned at how many Wales ...
    (rec.sport.rugby.union)
  • Re: Six Nations winner Vs. Tri Mations winner
    ... There is more than one country playing in the Six Nations, ... England. ... Irish, Scottish or Italian teams, but I've got no idea how many games ... I think Mr.Hog was trying to bait folk with his "who will Wales play" ...
    (rec.sport.rugby.union)
  • Re: oh no. reactionary squad picking.
    ... > England don't have a chance now. ... Barkley and Cohen have a couple of good games and they get back in? ...
    (rec.sport.rugby.union)
  • Re: Dumbest Thugs Award Week #2
    ... Dumped for being a penalty magnet by chance? ... 2-3 games in the last 21/2 years. ... Hmmm, perhaps it wasn't just England that raked him over a few times then.... ...
    (rec.sport.rugby.union)
  • Burma Related News - Nov 25, 2005.
    ... Reuters - Southeast Asian Games to open amid threats, ... DVB News - More Shan leaders sent to prisons in remote Burma ... 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations and East Timor ...
    (soc.culture.burma)