Worldwide Soccer Thread I

[MikeH]

Originally posted by notyoueither
What do I know, I'm just a dumb colonial.

I was only joking.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by MikeH
But there are plenty of other good squads out there in the world.

I'm an England fan and I think that you put the dampers to all hopes nicely with this bit.

[notyoueither]

Originally posted by MikeH


I was only joking.

So was I.

[MikeH]

Originally posted by notyoueither


I'm an England fan and I think that you put the dampers to all hopes nicely with this bit.

Well it's true, and a knockout competition is totally unpredictable, you can have the best squad or play the best football in the competition and not win - see Portugal in Euro 2004.

Or you can be totally crap and get to a final - see Germany in the world cup.

[notyoueither]

Or, you can be Brazil and win.

[MikeH]

Or France the time before.

Actually I think the World Cup tends to have fewer shock winners than the European Championship. There are more crap teams in the World Cup so in theory the best teams get a much easier ride to the quarter finals.

[notyoueither]

I'd have to agree that Europe would be tougher than the WC. You lose Brazil and Argentina, but then you also lose 8 or so also rans (OK, maybe 7 given that Africa can put up one good side per tourny).

But my comment was more aimed at stop making excuses and win one. England have all the talent in the world right now. Thay have to win one or... or I'll hold my breath and wait for the next one. Just like the last several tries.

[MikeH]

Next year is our best chance, no team's ever won outside their home continent except Brazil.

[MikeH]

Other great teams like Holland haven't even won it once.

[notyoueither]

I wouldn't want to be known as the greats who never, or seldom, won it.

England needs to put a stamp on it. The current crop of players could be it. Let's hope so.

[MikeH]

I'd love it but I have had enough crushing disappointment to get my hopes up too much.

[notyoueither]

Given our relative ages, consider times I didn't give a fig, and I'd have to give you an edge on crushed hopes, but I learn quick!

[MikeH]

I don't know if the depths of your crushing disappointment would be quite as deep either.

Where's the crying smiley?

[notyoueither]

I'm saving it in the unlikely event that it is needed after Germany.

See, you old world lot need to learn some new world hope.

[notyoueither]

Speaking of new world hope, is Hargreaves going to ever get a sniff? He's from Calgary, so I would understand if you assigned him to the retards class, but I have it on good authority that he should be a starter for England.