I am looking forward to the Euros with about as much enthusiasm as a STD check up. We have a crap team, an appalling injury and suspension list and this is taking place in two countries where wearing tracksuits is compulsory and smiling is banned. There is also a extraordinary high chance that the whole thing will be a hooligan bloodbath. Thoughts?
I'm interested in watching Spain, Holland, Germany and many of the individuals on show. Thats about it.
I think maybe that no CAFC or ex CAFC are involved (although Randolph) possibly? there no real players of interest. The big names are just not appealing to me, maybe I am sensitised now to the purer forms of lower leagues footballers but I can get that excited about any individual in the tournament, Van Persie might be worth looking at or Iniesta but cant think of that many that really rock. interesting prigramme tonite Panarama 8.30pm
Are you going to watch that Panorama? I must admit, after watching the Sky Report, I did think there was a lot of scare mongering and following a handful of individuals for 6 months wasn't a reflection on the situation as a whole. I'm not saying there aren't problems out there, but when we went to Germany some of their fans were apparently siding to take on the English, and in SA people from all over the world were apparently going to be murdered.
Having watched panarama it is quite clear that a terrible mistake has been made. The chief of police describing 2000 people giving a nazi salute as a method of pointing shows that the cops are corrupt and weak. The beatings of the Indians students was deplorable as was pretty much everything that these mongroloids belived in.
The police chief bit was the most alarming part of the documentary. Not sure about Ukraine, but a black friend of mine does a significant amount of business in Poland (even has a missus there and travels to see her too) and he says he's never encountered any problems. Really hope it's a point of it being 1% of the population, and the bbc just sensationalising it.
I think that in general the population of these countries are not racist, or anti-semetic. Having read a couple of articles written by ethnic mi0norities who live out there, it seems that the prejudice is based in ignorance and as the countries become more multi-cultural they are headin to a far more tolerant place than say the tv programs make out. However the football ultras are the vocal minority that are racist. This does beg the question if the worst parts of their (Polish and Ukrainian) society is to be found in the football ultras, why is the tournament being held there? Another political gaffe by the footballing politicians, which shows how out of sync with the general populace they really are. We will have to see in time whether the decision for the Euros, Russian world cup (which experiences similar problems e.g. Samba and the monkey chants, bananas) Qatari stance on women/ homosexuals etc will be vindicated or vilified.
I think the problems will be outside of the ground, as I see it as highly unlikely that the groups who were together for the domestic matches will be anywhere near eachother inside the grounds. Also, I think it will be a rare occasion when a very heavy media presence will help because with all those cameras around the police will know there every move will be scrutinised and will take a very different stance to the ''officials'' in the documentary last night. I'm not going, but I wouldn't be afraid to based on what I saw last night. The greater part of the population will be friendly and welcoming I'd imagine (and from what I know of people going to Poland). I'd like to know if anything comes against the head of police who failed to acknowledge the racism though - surely he will be forced to step down now Panorama has gone global?
I'm looking forward to seeing Ireland in a major competition for the first time in 10 years, but I'm still not very excited. The Euro's always feel a bit like a poor mans World Cup. I'll have to watch the Panorama documentary on IPlayer, didn't realise it was going to be shown last night.
The Euros are often a better tournament than the World Cup IMO - the teams are generally better (New Zealand and Honduras in 2010, anyone?). I'm looking forward to them a lot. Some of the fancied teams are showing some signs of weakness (Germany and Holland lost to Switzerland and Bulgaria respectively on Saturday), and although friendlies are sometimes misleading, I think this tournament will be very open. Anyone can win it.
Hmm I quite like seeing some obscure teams, North Korea lining up in a 6-3-1 formation or whatever it was, was pretty entertaining It would be interesting to see which teams slip up. With rumoured conflict in the Spanish camp (between Barca and Real players), and a few of the Italians being investigated for match-fixing, perhaps only the Croatians stand in the way of Ireland progressing beyond the group stage
I'm still backing the Germans - can't see Spain retaining and think the Dutch will bottle it as usual. I mean- England are going to go all the way, it's Rooney's time, etc etc
