The World of Football/Soccer.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Skipaway

Well, the England-Germany rivalry is probably more important for England fans, but not very meaningful for Germany fans.

England v Germany is probably the third biggest game we have, first equal would be Scotland and Argentina but if they brought back the old Home Internationals the Scotland game would be a million miles in front of any other game.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by bababui

If England were ever so fortunate to play Ireland in the World Cup. who would you root for? Ireland was magnificent in USA 1994.

Be a tough one, probably go for England as it's my birth country but when I retire it's off to Ireland so then it would be Ireland

[bababui]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

England v Germany is probably the third biggest game we have, first equal would be Scotland and Argentina but if they brought back the old Home Internationals the Scotland game would be a million miles in front of any other game.

You are as delusional as Fallsy. Even Sky admits that Germany are the 'Old Enemy'.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by Tommysixfingers

First of all: The English national team is a mystery. Their lackluster efforts in big games never ceases to amaze me.

Granted, Germany is the better team 9/10 (this applies to most countries btw) and they have the result to prove it. Still, there is no denying that the rivalry is there. Maybe not as strong as Germany-Holland or England-Scotland but it is there.

One of the main reasons imo they fail is they play an English type of game 90% of the year then try and play a Eurpean game the other 10%, when the English teams were dominating Europe they all played the same way in Europe as they did in the league and none of the European teams could live with them. I'd love an English manager to go out specially in a friendly and have them play a high paced English type of game to see what the outcome would be.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by bababui

You are as delusional as Fallsy. Even Sky admits that Germany are the 'Old Enemy'.

It's only because we've played them a few times over the last few years, if we'd have played Scotland as many times as we have Germany the last few years it would be a kind of Germany who ?

[bababui]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

It's only because we've played them a few times over the last few years, if we'd have played Scotland as many times as we have Germany the last few years it would be a kind of Germany who ?

I just have to laugh. Scotland is in no way a rival for England. Its all the other way around. Name me any two Scots wins over England in any important match. Germany and England have squared up on the biggest stage in some vitally important matches. They have also squared up in two World Wars. It just doesnt get any bigger.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by ukhotstove

One of the main reasons imo they fail is they play an English type of game 90% of the year then try and play a Eurpean game the other 10%, when the English teams were dominating Europe they all played the same way in Europe as they did in the league and none of the European teams could live with them. I'd love an English manager to go out specially in a friendly and have them play a high paced English type of game to see what the outcome would be.

IMO its also because the English play too tightly/cautiously after they get a lead and blow the match. In many of their loses in key matches they were actually ahead.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by bababui

I just have to laugh. Scotland is in no way a rival for England. Its all the other way around. Name me any two Scots wins over England in any important match. Germany and England have squared up on the biggest stage in some vitally important matches. They have also squared up in two World Wars. It just doesnt get any bigger.

But that's down to rivalries in different things if your talking about just football then Scotland is the biggest, imo in fact 100% certain if you had England play Germany and Scotland their would be more people wanting to see England v Scotland than England v Germany. In fact there were actually more people went watching England v Scotland some few months after the World Cup Final than watched the final.

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by bababui

IMO its also because the English play too tightly/cautiously after they get a lead and blow the match. In many of their loses in key matches they were actually ahead.

Exactly what I said they play the European way instead of what an English team would do in most games and that's kill the opposition off, that's why I'd love an English manager to play an English type of game specially in friendlies.

[bababui]

The FA didnt choose Scotland to play the final match at Wembley, did they?

[ukhotstove]

Originally Posted by bababui

The FA didnt choose Scotland to play the final match at Wembley, did they?

I wouldn't hold much stock with the English FA, their the same people who spent millions upon millions on the new stadium without thinking much about the most important part of it "the pitch" which as been laid more times than a cheap hooker.

[Tommysixfingers]

Real Madrid are buying like there is no tomorrow. Ronaldo, Kaka and now Karim Benzema. Three absolute world class signings. Still, this will most certainly add a lot of pressure on the team. Anything short of winning La Liga and the CL will be seen as a failure by many people.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Tommysixfingers

Real Madrid are buying like there is no tomorrow. Ronaldo, Kaka and now Karim Benzema. Three absolute world class signings. Still, this will most certainly add a lot of pressure on the team. Anything short of winning La Liga and the CL will be seen as a failure by many people.

Seems like they havent considered chemistry. They might need 3 balls out there to assuage all the egos.

[ukhotstove]

You'd have thought they'd have learned their lesson with the first Galactico era when they spent like they are now and only won 2 La Liga's and 1 Champions League in 7 years, just becuase you have the best midfielders and best forwards on the planet means nothing if you can't defend.

[mlyons]

Their defense still looks pretty thin, too. I don't think Raul Albiol is an upgrade over Fabio Cannavaro, and who knows if Pepe is going to be effective when he returns from his suspension.

[rudel.dietrich]

Hmmmm
I am hearing rumours that Ronaldo (the 30+ stiker Ronaldo) might come to Bayern.
Probably not a good signing, but I grew up idolizing Ronaldo so I would like to see it. Give him some spot starts here and there and bring him off the bench pretty often. It would also mean he has played in every major league on the continent besides in France.

[mlyons]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

It would also mean he has played in every major league on the continent besides in France.

A little swipe at the Premier League there?

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by mlyons

A little swipe at the Premier League there?

They arn't on the continent.

[mikev]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Hmmmm
I am hearing rumours that Ronaldo (the 30+ stiker Ronaldo) might come to Bayern.
Probably not a good signing, but I grew up idolizing Ronaldo so I would like to see it. Give him some spot starts here and there and bring him off the bench pretty often. It would also mean he has played in every major league on the continent besides in France.

I still wear my #9 Ronaldo jersey from when he was with Real Madrid when I play in my leagues.

[rudel.dietrich]

Originally Posted by mikev

I still wear my #9 Ronaldo jersey from when he was with Real Madrid when I play in my leagues.

I was 10/11 years old during his 94/95 season with PSV and I remember watching about a dozen PSV games and he was simply dominant. Besides Gerd Müller he is probably the greatest off the ball striker in the history of the game.