England

[davek]

It's a shameful record really isn't it? England in the WC, that is, and particularly in relation to our continental cousins. Since England's last bit of 'glory'...going out in the SF of Italia 90...we've seen:

Italy win the WC and runners up once

Germany in a final and two semi finals

France champions and losing finalists

Spain Champions

Holland finalists and SF's once

Bulgaria, Croatia, Turkey, Portugal and Sweden all semi finalists.

Even at the European Championships the likes of Denmark and Greece have notched up a trophy since Italia 90..

It's a humiliating record.

 

[chicoazul]

But they're an international powerhouse and will win it in 2014.

 

[Cena]

Euro's lad 2012 and GB will win Gold in the Olympic Footy

 

[davek]

They're [Poor language removed]. Really, really [Poor language removed]. Bulgaria and Turkey have better records than them. They play hoofball and humiliate the nation. They should pack it in. Or qualify and send Wales in their place. Let them shoulder the humiliation for once.

 

[teppic]

Agreed. At least I have memories of us reaching the semi's in World Cups and Euro Championships. I wonder why the kids today are so confident? England have been poor for the last 15 years.

All of Europe's power houses have far superior recent records.

 

[davek]

England: population of 50 million with one of the richest leagues in the world. You cant expect them to compete with Bulgaria and all their advantages. It's irrational.

 

[chrissyjack]

Maybe, if England had a manager who could pick his own squad and not pander to the FA , Media and Nike , Adidas etc sponsorship deals, we could do better than now. For example--How many of the German team played in the 2006 World Cup ? How many of the England team played in 2006 ? And , for that matter, 2002 ?

 

[teppic]

England: population of 50 million with one of the richest leagues in the world. You cant expect them to compete with Bulgaria and all their advantages. It's irrational.

The league is a who's who of A-/B list foreign internationals though.

Beards ago Arsenal fielded a starting 11 to not contain one player from the home countries. It's just spawned through the league now. Check Blackpools starting 11 after the transfer deadline. Nailed to have at least 5 foreigners.

 

[Goat]

Its down to the FA, as long as they keep employing utter clowns the National Team will struggle.

Nothing to with foreign players, shall we compare the Spanish League? Or the Dutch?

 

[teppic]

Its down to the FA, as long as they keep employing utter clowns the National Team will struggle.

Nothing to with foreign players, shall we compare the Spanish League? Or the Dutch?

Perhaps the answer lies more in the bizarre inability of English players to travel. It would do them good to do a 'Platty' and travel about a bit at various foreign clubs.

I really don't get it. If I was lucky enough to play at that level I'd push for a move to different top leagues around the world.

Why are English players so shy to leave the premier league?

 

[Ezekiel]

Perhaps the answer lies more in the bizarre inability of English players to travel. It would do them good to do a 'Platty' and travel about a bit at various foreign clubs.

I really don't get it. If I was lucky enough to play at that level I'd push for a move to different top leagues around the world.

Why are English players so shy to leave the premier league?

i would imagine the same reason that a lot of foreign players want to play in the premiership, money and kudos of playing in the 'best league in the world'* plus do we have that many players that are good enough to adapt to foreign leagues?

*seems to be an accepted fact, i'm sure the money wins out though.

 

[Goat]

Defo money.

Wages and fees.

 

[chicoazul]

It's weird that with so many players playing at a very good level that England just play utter garbage football.

 

[Goat]

It's weird that with so many players playing at a very good level that England just play utter garbage football.

It comes back to passion, it always does.

Oh and money of course, always the money.

 

[davek]

Beyond all the stuff like technique (they have it); tactics (they have a first class manager and have had some half decent ones before Capello) they should have a more humble approach to their task (not helped by the huge media expectations - but that's a feature of all big national teams). They actually think they're on a par with the likes of Holland, Italy, Germany and France. They're not. They're not even at Portugal's level. They should have the humility to approach games as underdogs. They only got a result at this WC by treating the Slovakians as their equals...which they are. It'll take a revolution in thinking for that to happen, of course.