I say well done to England. They have progressed beyond the group stages. OK, so they will be knocked out in the next round. So what. They can hold their heads high after coming top of their group. Well played lads and congratulations on a fine achievement.
Tony Kelly
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Steven
Yes: human rights (that's the clean answer, anyway). I find it much easer to be passionate about human rights than football, "dull and unrewarding" though it may be.
I absolutely respect, however, that some people have different priorities to mine, and accept that football is very entertaining.
The real question, though, was not about why people like football, but about their reasons for supporting a team comprised of their compatriots. Why should I (or anyone else), as an English person, support England over any other team? What do I lose if England loses?
Given the UK's support for brutal Latin American dictators in the past, maybe I should support a Latin American team; Argentina maybe, by way of an apology for the Belgrano (one of the few times we stopped supporting their dictators).
Steven, It was Britain that had the Empire.
I hate to be pedantic, but it does upset us Celts when England and Britain are used interchangeably.
There's some mileage in the old horse yet
I disagree, they will get to the last 4, possibly last 2. There needs to be a coup within the team to make this happen, however. Sven's decisions have been poor all along.
Let's take last night's game for example:
(a) This game was his only opportunity to use Walcott. His failure to use him (for pace) together with Rooney is inexplicable. Crouch has been disastrous, the three bounces in the 6 yard area of the england goal that cost us a victory over Sweden were the fault of Sol Campbell, Beckham and Crouch, who stood in the net behind the hapless robinson and headed the ball north.
(b) Owen's departure is a good sign; england have always done better after taking him off
(c)hargreaves did well last night, and Rooney showed Gazza signs of brilliance. Generally the team were excellent in the first half, and then Sven spoke with them.
(d) Donkey shold have started in goal, as Robinson is off form
Bring on Neville, expand the midfield to include Gerrard, Lampard and Terry, stick Rooney up front and tie Rio to the left side of the goal post
Its not over by a long shot, lets hope the players organise themselves and do what they do best, England to win (from an irishman!)
Patriotism?
Why do people feel compelled to support a particular team simply because the players were born in the same country as them, and why do they allow their emotions to be dictated by that team's success or failure?