We have been fed a diet by the BBC and then the boycott by the ministers ... (regardless of the scenes shown that would make anyone angry)... We (me included) have visions that these two countries are grey places full of racists and neo nazis ... but that is the intention !! i am going on holiday Also note that German Motorcyclists in our war films cannot ride bikes and always fall into duck ponds, or fall off because someone has put a bit of fishing line around two bamboo poles Now clever people do the maths: BBC SPIN V THE TRUTH / THE FACT THAT WE WERE SNUBBED FOR THE WORLD CUP = Swords is bang on
Staines, Stan, Matt, Sooper and EL TEL. Your responses have made me revise my opinion. Ever since the awarding of the WC to Russia and Qatar, I felt there was a large media-driven element to discredit everything FIFA said or did in the mean-time. The night of the decision, the fall-out was clear. Football people in England were enraged. By pure coincidence, by flicking through the radio tuner, I stumbled upon some Scottish Station (BBC Scotland?) and they were having a debate about the whole thing. These guys were having a good old chuckle about "the English not being able to take the decision". This love-in went on for about 2 hours and I must admit to being amazed that here was one opinion totally different to the one over on Talksport where the participants were hopping mad and destroying FIFA piece by piece. I hastily put it down to the fact that one group was Scottish, the other English. I admit to finding myself agreeing with a lot of what those Jocks were saying. I thought it was sour grapes. Perhaps there still is a tinsy bit of that? Who knows. But having read your responses and knowing the integrity of all of you, its clear that the World Cup issue doesn't come into play here at all. Not for you guys at least. Your abhorrence of racism and discrimination of any kind is undeniably the only factor involved here. I also admit ignorance to not being aware of such deep rooted racism in these Countries. I join you in sincerely hoping that that disgusting incident doesn't repeat itself throughout this Tournament.
Dave have you ever been to Poland for a football match ?? I have more than once and believe me it aint pleasant. Of course I'm no Angel but they take it to a completely higher level.
Fair play to you Swords, as I pointed out on another thread a very good Australian bid got absolutely nowhere after they had been led on by Blatter much as the English bid had been. No sour grapes just the fact that the whole process is flawed. As for the racism, I would love to see a tournament free from such abhorrent behaviour but, for example, there were almost 20,000 unsold seats for the England v France game, if they end up with 'home' supporters filling the gaps we could be in for a rough ride...
I've been to Poland a few times. Not the liveliest place in the world, even Warsaw, but nice people, as is usually the case anywhere. The risk of over generalizing/ stereotyping is huge. But I've not been to a football match there, was advised not to by the locals. However they are very proud of their new national stadium, and I'm happy for them being 1 up against Greece already. The Poles have had the wrong end of history and deserve some success. Swords, the fact that you take the time to read responses and change your view accordingly, along with the laughs and forthright opinions make you one of the posters I love to read. Your not 100% wrong of course. Our bid was arrogant and we were outraged at the outcome. But I honestly don't think it's influenced the views on this thread.
I dont actually care that England didnt get a bid, its the fact that the oil money of Qatar obviously bribed everyone at FIFA and wasnt that the bid that was chosen over Australia? If so only a moron would claim its ours grapes as England werent even involved in that bid.
No i haven't and I hate racism but i am willing to bet anyone that what we are all currently believing won't be the whole story ... Let the Irish lads give us their first hand account. Generally the eastern block states are currently undergoing a real downer via the media.... I haven't worked out why yet but its there in our heads for a reason ... There seems very little glamour associated with this tournament ... am i right? or am I right? ... the easy part to work out is who makes the glamour? ... If the tournament was being held in Italy then I can guarantee you the vibe would be different. If these countries are as bad as everyone says they are then what part are they playing in Europe at all? ... I stand that we have been subjected to a massive generalisation of POLLACKS
That's so Funny! Oddball, you're certainly not a conformist that's for sure! If it wasn't for the persistent image I have of Donald Sutherlland's "ODDBALL", I'd believe you to be George Carlin back from the dead. Its important not get sidetracked though Oddball. Okay, we know the media drives popular opinion and we must be alert at all times to that. However its vital to distinguish between England the Nation, one of the best in the World and rightly Confident in her abilities to do anything she desires, and some of the English footballing public perhaps living in an era of past glories a little bit. With the carry on of the French National team at the last World Cup, you can't tell me its perfect over there. In the '02 WC, the Irish FA couldn't even get the training pitch and correct footballs ready which led to a National embarrassment with the Captain of the team flying home. None of us are perfect.
The fact that some hold this warped generalised viewpoint as a country IMO is also possible the reason why we are thought of as the arrogant British ... at times it is important for me to turn things around so that I can see exactly how stupid I am.
I too am ignorant of the extent of racism in these countries, Swords, football matches or other. As I say, if this tournament shines a light on it, so much the better. And may be when the Polish and Ukranian people, who are not used to dealing with any non-Caucasian in their daily lives, see some great black players, and listen to the likes of Ruud Gullit, Garth Crooks etc, they'll start to be educated. Just as we were in the UK, because 50/60 years ago, racism was rife in England too, in a polite, rather patronising way. We've changed, and now we spread the word...
Lads watch the Tele very carefully esp. the BBC ... the secret is in the essential hand movements of the new readers/presenters this is not an accident! I will remind everyone that we have a lot of moans about MOTD re QPR ... that my friends is just the tip of the iceberg
Dave, of course our views are shaped by our experiences and my 3 experiences of following football in Poland have been rough. To give you a little example, the night before the England game in Warsaw a good few years back the bar we were drinking in was attacked by Skinheads (we were told by the police they were Legia Warsaw fans). We were arrested for our own safety and released in the early hours to make our way back to our hotels, after being told at least a further 3 bars in the city had been attacked. The next day at the same bar (in the old town) 4 of the biggest guys i have ever seen in my life came up to us (about 30) and quite simply asked ' Hey English, Do you want to fight with us ?'. Obviously we refused the kind offer and vacated the bar sharpish but obviously some later did want to take up the challenge and the infamous 'Battle of Saska Park' took place. When i got back i saw photos taken from the Polish side of this fight showing one of the skinheads who had asked us to fight slashing out with an extremely large bowie knife. A lucky escape huh ??. So you see, personally my views HAVE been shaped by my personal experiences and i can't see them changing in the near future.
Hello Mr Hoopster! I'm sure you're a QPR fan and I'm sure you like a laugh. As to what your real opinion is.. God knows.
I was waiting for you to show up Pete When I seen your name on the thread I figured I was going to be in for an ear-bashing but I was pleasantly surprised with your relaxed post. I must say, 99% of you guys on here are fairly chilled out and allow all and every kind of opinion to be aired even if it is some Paddy knocking England's World Cup bid! Respect lads.
