Where do you stand? I think it's a bag-o-****e. You can't take a group of players from different clubs who play differently all season, and expect them to perform to any real standard. I am not just an England hater, I think any International football is bollox, and third rate. I'd prefer to watch the ****e La Liga serves up on a weekly basis than endure the bland, uninspiring dross that you see with International football. Every tournament, people get excited, and every tournament, we witness ****e and everyone gets upset and wants the manager sacked. Why can't people grasp that due to it's very nature, International football will always serve up sub standard ****e?
the one and only time i have enjoyed it to be honest was when we hosted it in 96, the atmos in this country was amazing. great summer that was. not old enough to know 66, but was it similar?, for you older folks on here who are older than even me
F*cking disagree, loxy. I don't want to compare it with Liverpool in the league and CL, but yes, the World Cup is still the grandaddy of all competitions and I luv it. Ask international footballers and they'll all tell you to a man, that winning the WC would be their greatest dream. It is not just the audience of one billion buzzing around the world's coffee shops at the same moments, it is the unbridled passion displayed on the pitch as well. They represent their own countries afterall and are united by nationwide mission, culture and war instinct. You will never see a higher fraction of grown men quivering in the chin or simply bawling their eyes out upon losing a QF or missing a penalty. Remember Gazza? Or aggressive passion expressed in untenable games like last WC final or the Holland-Portugal and England-Portugal games of 2006. And the f*cking drama amidst the electricity just adds to it all. I'd keep my curtains open just to peer into the French training camp, make myself a sandwich and wait for a mutiny.
Love international football tournaments. The only thing that slightly ruins them is the media obsession with talking England up just so they can knock them down when they go out in the first knockout round. Its quite cool seeing how much these world cups mean to smaller nations and their fans. And seeing one of them cause an upset is always good.
With the exception of 2010, which was boring as ****, have always loved World Cups. I enjoy the upsets, seeing new unheard of talents emerge and mostly enjoy becoming a Brazilian whenever we get knocked out.
Iternational friendlies are pretty dull. The football is a bit boring and normally against poor opposition with 10 subs thrown in for good measure. It's no different to watching pre-season friendlies and they are only good s you get to see your new club signings! However, World Cup and the Euro's are good (actual tournament). The way to get round the original statement Noble makes about different club players playing a different way is in theory a simple solution. You get a manager of your national team that plays football a certain way (ideally playing good attacking football). You then pick players that suit that system and currently play that way, whether they play for a top team or not. If you want to set your team u with 1 CF and 2 wide players supporting him, then don't pick Rooney & Sturridge in the same side. Pick one that is used to playing as the main striker and then leave 1 of them on the bench. Also picking players from the same side should help. That's why if you played half the Liverpool players, they may not be as good however they will already have that understanding and if you have a manager willing to play a similar way then no reason they can't play the same way. That's why Spain were so good. 9 players were from Barca/Madrid and with those 2 both playing passing football, everyone was comfortable on the ball and the Spain manager could play a similar way, with players who understood each other and the way they were meant to play.
I love international tournaments but agree that the football ok offer doesn't compare to club tournaments. But I like the fact that players are playing for their country, not for a 300k per week pay cheque.
Hi noble!!! In short I am split, I hate friendlies and constant disruption and also how many cheats nip off with fake injuries and get away scot free while lfc players don't especially for England Competitive games are rare in the qualifiers too so it's only now I give much attention Really it's the pub standard 2 days traing then game I hate and tournaments are the only time the team had a month to prepare
What did I say??? Hey it used to be this way before foreign imports in the 60s or was it? If a player like Callaghan can get only 4 caps or something is it the case managers back then picked thier style and players to suit?
I always watch the England games but never enjoy it cos its rare that we play well. the only 2 times it was enjoyable was the 4-1 against the dutch in euro 96 and stuffing the krauts 5-1 in 2001. the best tournament I can remember was euro 2008; we weren't in it! 16 teams all good games and no filler. of course platini has ****ed that tourney up now so that'll be a bloated ****fest where their be pointless games galore. the top sides are always worth watching.
Honestly couldn't give a ****. Hardly ever enjoy any of the games, always worry about pool players getting injured and tournaments always lead to inflated prices for players. Pisses me right off how players are selected for England too. If Johnson, Welbeck, Smalling and Cleverly played for Newcastle, they wouldn't get near the international side.
