Anyone thinking about going? Anyone planning to not even watch on telly? Anyone care? Feel hopeful? Anything? Hoping Young scores 12 in the euros? Or rather loose? Anyone excited about Nazis? They sell newsprint, and the timing with the Jubilee and the Euros is superb for a bit of national pride. I think Roy is going to surprise us all and we make it to the semi at least.
Heading over for Ireland's first 2 games. Poznan and Gdansk preparing for an Irish invasion. Should be a bit of craic. Not sure it's the same for England though. The Ukraine is getting seriously bad press for trouble. Seemingly only 3,000 or so English fans traveling??!!
If that's what excites you LaLa, I really think you should get a once over from your local mental health practitioner. I'm hoping for England to top their group and Ireland to come second in theirs. Then they'll meet in the quarters!
Think I may watch the odd game but depends on kick off times.... Hope those who travel get back safe. TBH..more looking forward to the Olympics....I know..we've done this already !
Swords - I was referring to the fact that the media stir up nazi stories to fill pages and advertising.....
Really? In case England end up playing Germany? Bloody Hell that's rough. For what its worth I think the Krauts are the team to beat in this years tournament.
Lowest ever England travelling support for a tournament in history (well, measurable history) strange, i'd put it down to very large costs, safety fears and that, well, most English really just dont care anymore, there's been pretty much no hype to it this year. Ireland, on the other hand, are bringing 20,000
Was that the same tournament Paul McGrath (legend) was playing in. the one where the guy was trying to wrestle with him on the ground and PMG gave hi a proper elbow ?!! Or was that the world cup? TBH, we;ve not really had much build up over here even on the football shows! Mind you, if it dont involve a rugby ball or boomerang we dont hear much really !!
Good for the Irish, Poland can be a lot of fun. The English get to play in a decaying Soviet mining town a thousand miles further east where the locals are either rubbing their hands in glee about how much the fans can be ripped off, or rubbing their hands in glee in anticipation of beating them up. The local thugs are stuck in the 70s think it's a test of their manhood to attack them and have made that very clear. Even official guides have recommended that black and asian fans don't go because of the racism. It's very depressing, and that's before England have kicked a ball. Even the BBC are anchoring their coverage from a studio in Salford.
I think us English have learned to be even more cynical than is generally in our nature when it comes to our chances in major football tournaments. There has been so much optimism bordering on arrogance in the past, with trumped up, over-inflated footballers giving it large about how it is their time and how they're the golden generation, only to scrape unconvincingly through the qualifying rounds, then mustering one impressive or dramatic performance, before reverting to type and returning home early the plucky fallen heroes of either a good old stuffing or a penalty shootout. Not long after we see the Southgate's selling pizza, Gazza selling crisps and Beckham selling... well, anything. This year, expect Lampard's endorsement of Slimfast and Terry promoting Teflon products. The fiasco of foreign coaches and Wallies With Brollies hasn't helped either. I wish Roy Hodgson the best of luck in his endeavours, and no doubt I'll watch the games. But it no longer seems like a squad of players that I can cheer for. We all love to hate the two Ashleys and of course Terry. Fat Frank is actually a decent pro, despite the name of his full-time employer. Likewise Gerrard. Hart is the best keeper we've had at this level since Seaman and Shilton. But beyond that there's not a lot else. Rooney can't play from the off and we don't really have a decent playmaker and out-and-out goalscorer. Mentally, the team are beaten before they take to the field against the Germans, Spanish or French. We can only manage a one-nil against the Noggies at the weekend. Nah, quarter-final at best. As per usual.
To be honest I wouldn't be surprised if we don't get past the group. France are a far better fooballing side and Ukraine at home will be seriously up for it in the final match. Sweden will be their usual well-organised self so there are no gimmes. I would not want to be an England fan in Donetsk on the 19th June, especially if we beat Ukraine and knock them out. Ireland, on the other hand, have a fabulous draw in the most fan-friendly areas of Poznan and Gdansk. They won't be expected to get anything from their opponents which makes them all the more dangerous as they are well-organised and difficult to beat. Trap would love to put one over the eyeties who are in disarray over the match fixing scandal. I wouldn't be surprised to see Ireland get through but whatever happens their supporters will have a great time, I do feel a bit jealous of them...
I'm not too bothered this year TBH. I'm more excited about getting back to the Le Mans 24hrs and seeing this nutter on track http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=129&i=25360
I think its quite funny, all the locals putting up their prices a thousand fold, and then no f**ker turns up to their empty hotels - not even the team themselves, who are staying in Poland. Obviously I'd like us to win it, but three defeats and a broom to clear out all the deadwood for the future wont be a disaster. I'd like to see the Germans win it - an exciting young team, built after a revamp in training and development by the DFB. To show our FA what a professional football organisation should be doing.
Actually it's rather good. As Tooting says if we lose all three/ don't get out of the group, as I almost expect, chance to change completely, if we do better it's a nice surprise. At least this time they can play with no pressure, but our total lack of a creative midfielder makes it hard to believe it will be pretty.
The press have blown the trouble in the Ukraine out of proportion as per usual. Throwing flares on to the pitch is far worse than a few hand gestures IMO.
I would suggest to any of our Irish friends going to Poznan from here to be VERY careful. I've been to Poland 3 times following England (Including Poznan) and each and every time i have seen and experienced violence like i have never witnessed before. The main train station is a real flashpoint so get away from there as soon as possible. And believe me it isn't just a case of if you dont want trouble you can avoid it. There were lots of innocent guys attacked in bars and in the streets out there. Its just the way of life for the Polish fans and from what i gather it's not changed. The one positive thing is that hopefully the Poles will be too busy fighting each other to attack anyone else, but personally i doubt it.
