Unlucky Norn Iron, probably the poorest game in the tournament so far, and really low on genuine quality, but you played with heart and passion, pride, and didn't deserve a late OG to send you out. A great tournament for NI, and Wales for that matter, they will need to improve for the QF I take the poorest game of the tournament quote back, just watching Croatia v Portugal, 105 mins and not a single shot on target from all the quality players on display. Nothing for anyone to fear from these performances. How Roy must be kicking himself now not to be in this, far easier side of the draw!!!
Don't care if it didn't live up to everyone's expectations but **** it we win so get the **** in, and my head is going to hurt like **** tomorrow
Good to see you thinkimg more and more ike an England fan does in these tournaments ROD... For what it's worth this game totally lived up to my expectations.....
Has a Welshman pissed on your cornflakes / shagged your sheep / slept with your wife? Not once have you praised Wales on their achievement. It's all back handed snide remarks. We know in Wales that we've only got Bale / Ramsey / and then the three lesser players Williams Ledley and Joe Allen then it's a mixture of players that go under the radar. But the thing is we've got a togetherness and willing to work as a team. It's not my fault that you've got all these players that are always underperforming. So what if Wales put 10 men behind the ball, and it's not to your liking. You had the chance to beat Slovakia but you went into the game cocky and changed what was it 6 players. I've said all along that you will get further than us, maybe one day you might wake up and think well done to Wales they scored more than I expected, they won the group and if it wasn't for a last minute goal then you would of been a third placed team.
ROD................... if it wasn't for a last minute goal then you would of been a third placed team....... Depends which last minute goal you are talking about, had it not been for another last minute goal we would have won the group.... I have said well played to Wales, they have exceeded by a good distance what I thought they would do, and for the record I hope they beat Belguim as well, but just cannot see it. That said, you cannot deny the NI game was abysmal in terms of quality and attacking intent (from both sides I might add) - we may have only won 1 game this tournamnet, but our attacking intent cannot be faulted (2nd highest amount of shots in the group stages), just our aim has been way off to say the least, but that will come good if we keep creating chances. I got pi$$ed off with all the Welsh - 'you were lucky' and 'we played with pride and passion' bo!!cks I heard after our game, no credit was given to England for being the only team trying to play football and win the game. However I should not air that on here, so ROD if I have offended you I apologise it was not my intent. You are right Hodgson got cocky and may have cost England by putting is the perceived tougher half of the draw, but to win you have to beat the best at some point, on our day England are very capable of that, but I suspect we will scrape past Iceland and lose by the odd goal in 3 against France. For me 4-3-3 does not get the best from Vardy,Sturridge or Kane but Woy has gone with this to fit in the skipper, and to cover some poor squad choices pre tournament.
Wales have done well - and congratulations where they are due. My relationship with the Welsh has been complicated. My dad is a proud Welshman and supports Wales in the rugby (he doesn't get football really). However, as a Bristolian I feel Bristolian, English (and proud). Up until 2003 I always had a soft spot for Wales, with my heritage in mind, so unless a Wales win would negatively affect England I would cheer them on. More or less how I feel about my adopted town - I am ok with them winning as long as it doesn't negatively affect City. Then, in 2003, after being made redundant, I attended UWIC in Cardiff as a mature student. What I experienced there was the most uncomfortable and upsetting example of what can only be described as 'state-sponsored racism' against the English. It seemed like everything in every walk of life was anti-English. At first, I played my 'I'm half Welsh' card - just to get a quiet life, but after a while I grew angrier and started wearing my heart on my sleeve. Thankfully, nothing physical ever happened - to be honest it was probably just banter, but I felt uncomfortable, ostracised and exposed - very much an 'alien' where I was not wanted - an attitude that would never be tolerated in England if directed against the Welsh (or maybe it is and I just don't notice?????) Upon my return I vowed that I would always support any opponent of Wales. My dad was understandably upset but didn't say much. I have kept that mindset ever since, but I admit that right now with their performance so far I do feel myself softening a bit - I was pleased they beat Russia - and it was nice to see the English and Welsh fans enjoying a few drinks together too.
A friend of mine took a job in Cardiff a few years ago and commuted every day from Bristol. He was subjected to what can only be described as pure hatred by his workmates from the very start just for being English and eventually took another job away from Cardiff and now works in West Sussex.
a couple years ago I went to Swansea university .. and had to wait for an hour in the canteen /area 80% of the students were non UK! BIRMINGHAM UNI last year similar, spent 5 hours waiting outside the main hall and observed the hundreds of students that went past my vehicle into the exhibition, majority were foreign I think this is one area , uni's, of the UK that has become popular and why so many now exist ... It is not only here, over the years 40 or more I have experienced it in pubs and clubs .. not music type .. and when asking for directions ...
Imagine how I feel being Welsh with a Bristolian accent. I had the problem you had but with actually being Welsh when I worked in Aberdare. I got round them in the end but I can see what you mean. But I also get it whenever I go to English offices. Can't win can I
All week I have been reading the warnings about Icelands long throw ability, and yet England undone from the first one. A great finish from the Iceland guy though.
