I think it's back to never having been here before plus absolutely no pressure or expectation on their shoulders. I was thinking, when the team were celebrating tonight with the fans, that even if England were through to the semis, they just wouldn't show the same joy and delight. Maybe I'm wrong but can you see Rooney et al singing along to Don't Take Me Home with the rest of the team and fans?
We have very little connection. Its why we all wet ourselves when Lambert scored on his debut, we knew that meant something.
I'm probably going to get into trouble for this answer but... I have a lot of English friends (I lived in London for 20 years) and not one of them cries or gets remotely emotional at God Save the Queen. I blub every time I hear Hen Wlad fy Nhadau, I stand up and sing along to it every time I hear it on TV. I speak Welsh, my family is Welsh through and through so much as I love Saints, I love Wales more
But I'm very proud of England, I love this country, & I wouldn't hear someone telling me different, its just I don't have an affinity with the nat-team, they've literally never earned it.
Funnily enough, the reason why I chose Saints [well, chose is the wrong term. You are chosen by your home city] was because England won the World Cup during the summer. Simple as that. I'd never considered watching any sport. I was always playing it. So back then I had a huge affinity with England, but you could keep the two things separate. Southampton FC was really special because the team existed just for my city. We didn't share it with the rest of the country. And England was a team to be really proud of too simply because they represented the whole country. But then, when I was getting into my teens and starting to take a bit of notice of these things, I realised that the players singing the English National Anthem weren't lustily singing about the country [they never sang lustily anyway]. They were singing about an allegiance to one pampered family, who were largely nothing to do with me. So my disconnection started there. When I heard other national anthems being sung, they were all about the countries and the people. People like me. They were being represented. I know our royal family are meant to be a symbol for the country. Queen and Country, one and the same, but I've never gone for that BS. And GSTQ is such a ****ing dirge anyway. Add to the fact that the England football team began a slow disconnect from the nation's supporters, hardly ever playing to the sum of their parts, barely opening their mouths to sing that awful song, that I almost completely turned away, because to try to retain a connection was becoming laughable anyway. It didn't feel right. Yes, I am sort of pleased when they win, but it means surprisingly little [it even surprises me how little]. Seeing the Welsh win tonight meant an incredible amount to me because they played with intelligence, heart, fervour, soul, passion, and skill. And of course, they were the underdog, long unfairly cast in England's shadow. England did none of that against Iceland and barely did it at all in their three previous games. Yet they should have been able to play like the Welsh. I had tears in my eyes when the Welsh won tonight, just as I did when Italy won. I felt like Wales were representing me [sorry Helen]. And that Welsh anthem is so rousing too. I don't expect England to play with the tactical skill of my other country Italy, as they are the masters of tactics. But I expect them to have conquered this lethargy by now. Nobody has ever tried to get to the bottom of why England routinely play so badly, when the expectations are raised. Even when they play well they are not really playing well. And generations of extremely good players international careers are going to waste. As is our national footballing pride.
That was so bloody brilliant - I watched the game with my friend Simon, who is the Welshest person I know, and also the Manic Street Preachers official biographer. His joy and pride were amazing to be with. I don't have a drop of Welsh blood in me, but I am so Welsh right now.
96 was the last time England played well. Gazza, Shearer, Sheringham, and Venebles who tied it all together. The only failure was not having a clear plan when it came to penalties. I was proud of England then. Now I'm ashamed.
A friend of mine knows a current England player (I won't name which one); apparently a few of them were disappointed to qualify and be called up, as they would rather have the summer off. Pretty much sums it up. Most are self-centred and don't really give a **** about the national team/country themselves. Then the FA appoints cretins that have no clue, and the underperformance makes us even more disillusioned. Wales were amazing tonight, I thought they'd do it.
After seeing Iceland knock out the United Kingdom last Monday, I've gotta say I'm very pleased to see the United Kingdom progress to the semi-finals.
I was lying awake last night for a while (really don't know why I couldn't sleep... ) and started thinking about what HistoryRepeating said about not having a connection with the England team. This may be more to do with rugby but could also bleed over to the football team - a lot of people, especially where I live in south west Wales, actually know a lot of the ex and current Welsh rugby internationals. One of my colleagues' best friends is Shane Williams, another is Dwayne Peel's brother-in-law; I was in school with Mike Phillips' parents; the referee Nigel Owens lives two miles away from me and lots of other players and coaching staff live within 5 miles. You can walk up to one of the current or ex-players at a pub and have a chat. They're a damn sight more accessible than any England player would be and I do wonder whether this makes a difference. Welsh sport seems to be much more... inclusive isn't the right word but I don't know what is. As I said, it's different for the football team, especially in this part of the world, but I love the fact that Joe Allen not only comes from 10 miles from where I was born but also speaks Welsh. Don't know if that makes any sense - my brain is still mush after last night
It makes perfect sense. Summed up by Gareth Bale's attitude. He is the biggest name by far, but he's been such a leader. They mentioned on the radio, that after the defeat to England he stepped up and wouldn't let anyone else do interviews. He just looks like he's loving it and getting so involved. It's wonderful to see. Compare that to our captain - who hasn't said a word since our defeat.
People have very high expectations for the England football team despite tournament results....something they don't have for other sports. We have good rugby and cricket sides at the moment, but I don't think there would be major rending of shirts (outside the actual people involved) if we went through a dry spell. Tennis fans have survived a lifetime of failure...lightened occasionally by a few players. Murray is our first truly top male player in living memory....though we shouldn't underestimate Henman's career. And every four years we love our marginal sports and turn Olympic medal winners into heroes (possibly because we feel they are like the lad/lass next door). Football is just a bit different...I suggest that the enjoyment of NI, Wales and ROI is partly because of low expectations. Getting there was an achievement....whereas we'd be horrified if England didn't. There's just more fun to be had where every round is an achievement. And this is why the England managers job is no longer an honour....every incumbent ages a decade in four years.
Rooney got drunk and fell over on a boat. That is the only thing I have heard from him! It would be funny if it wasn't so tragic.
There is definitely some truth in that. But having said that, outside influence shouldn't matter if you have charismatic leaders building a strong team spirit. I'll use Italy as an example. Their media is also tough on them, called this side the worst Italy side in ages, yet they have risen to the occasion massively. You could also use Saints as an example! We meltdown in the media every year, but it doesn't matter because the club know what they're doing.
Not just the manager, I'm not so sure the players feel it is such an honour to be selected for England....at least after their initial call up. A player in a top side plays so much and is paid so much that he is more likely to value time off. Not saying that is true for all, but probably true for a number of them. That is a great shame, especially when you consider that all the fans who watch would love a football career. As Osvaldorama said, perhaps a leader on the field and an admired manager could change that.
Italy is another great story from the euro's. They were supposed to bomb, in one of the toughest groups, but under the stewardship of Conte (he is going add something to the prem for certain) they have been excellent. The players he selected fit perfectly into the plan he implemented. Why does everything lead back to our dreadful England!
