(xp) Isn't that who they're scheduled to meet in the semis?
― Alan Alba (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 14:40 (five years ago) link
i thought he was just questioning the confidence of them easily beating Croatia
― fuck the NRA (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 14:42 (five years ago) link
Croatia can beat Southgate's England
― Et Dieu crea l' (Michael White), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 14:43 (five years ago) link
If I hated the thought of England going all the way I would definitely be talking up their chances against similar quality opposition (in tournament context you understand) too.
― shaqiri tip (nashwan), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 14:43 (five years ago) link
Who said anything about easily? Southgate's England can beat Croatia, that seems pretty obvious to me.
― Alan Alba (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 14:45 (five years ago) link
tom d engaging in some subtle jinxing here
― imago, Wednesday, 4 July 2018 14:49 (five years ago) link
England are too much a work in progress to inspire much confidence for me, although, frankly, the same might be said for any of these contenders. Is a France vs England final possible?
― Et Dieu crea l' (Michael White), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 14:51 (five years ago) link
Cat. Bag.(xp)
― Alan Alba (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 14:52 (five years ago) link
(xp) They're not that good, but neither are Croatia.
― Alan Alba (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 14:53 (five years ago) link
Not sure of the starting forwards then new_legs sub combo for England but Southgate hasn't inspired me much yet
― Et Dieu crea l' (Michael White), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 14:54 (five years ago) link
If Belgium do what, on paper, they're capable of, they should go all the way
― Et Dieu crea l' (Michael White), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 14:58 (five years ago) link
England might do something on paper
― fuck the NRA (Neanderthal), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 15:05 (five years ago) link
Sort of nominal support but through a lens of comically exaggerated caterwauling
this is our culture you're talking about
― ogmor, Wednesday, 4 July 2018 15:12 (five years ago) link
The only teams who have looked particularly convincing in the knockouts are France, Brazil and Uruguay and the winner is pretty obviously going to come from one of those three. I've booked Friday afternoon off because that game looks like an absolute belter.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 4 July 2018 16:03 (five years ago) link
Brazil and Uruguay conceding just the single goal so far still too.
― shaqiri tip (nashwan), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 16:08 (five years ago) link
and France conceding FAR too many
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 16:14 (five years ago) link
A lot of people also seem to be forgetting that Sweden finished top of Germany's group and knocked out the Netherlands and Italy in qualifying. A bit of luck on the day and any of the teams on this side of the draw are capable of reaching the final.
― groovypanda, Wednesday, 4 July 2018 17:04 (five years ago) link
Their performances make it easy to forget tbf.
― Alan Alba (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 17:10 (five years ago) link
A lot of people also seem to be forgetting that Sweden finished top of Germany's group and knocked out the Netherlands and Italy in qualifying
otoh they were the only team beaten by germany in their group, were beaten and drew against the netherlands in qualifying, and only just knocked out italy after a draw and a one nil
― I'd Rather Kecak (NickB), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 21:43 (five years ago) link
Also these are pretty much the worst Italian and Dutch teams of our lifetimes.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 4 July 2018 21:50 (five years ago) link
And possibly the worst Swedish side too.
― Alan Alba (Tom D.), Wednesday, 4 July 2018 22:09 (five years ago) link
david goldblatt on the englishness of the england team
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/alternative-nation-180705052626559.html
he's also got a cracking podcast which has had some good content from round the world for the wc
https://gameofourlives.fm/
― ogmor, Thursday, 5 July 2018 08:52 (five years ago) link
bar the obligatory tacked-on remoaning that's a good piece, there are definitely aspects of it that have crossed my mind in the run-up to the tournament. this
The football so far is not the stuff of which a new epic or enlightened English narrative can be weaved
little diamond of realness really gives the article legit credibility.
― Neymar, Mr Nice Guy (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 5 July 2018 09:00 (five years ago) link
I saw some wank-stain from the Mail saying lefty Corbynistas aren't getting behind Ingland because they are snobbish about working class culture. Anyway commiserations to w/c ppl suffering the double blow of needing charity food-banks to get by and also being financially excluded from "their own culture" as well!
― calzino, Thursday, 5 July 2018 09:55 (five years ago) link
i remember when football was working class culture then Joy Division made that England Rap record and Ray Parlour had a perm and it was gone, gone
― Neymar, Mr Nice Guy (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 5 July 2018 09:56 (five years ago) link
also what the fuck would the Mail know about football or culture also loving your club more than England is a long honourable football tradition, would still swap a 10-0 annihilation of England on Saturday for a good season for Wolves in the Prem
― Neymar, Mr Nice Guy (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 5 July 2018 09:57 (five years ago) link
I remember the good old days when you'd get beaten to death if you wore face paint or a jester hat!
― calzino, Thursday, 5 July 2018 10:04 (five years ago) link
I always imagine if I was an ISIS hostage kept in a cage for months, I'd be dying to know how Town are doing in the league. International football.. meh whatever!
― calzino, Thursday, 5 July 2018 10:10 (five years ago) link
Patriotism is love of country. The success or failure of a small group of rich men in a covertly violent game full of cheating, ham acting and sneaky assaults has no bearing at all on the standing, liberty, wealth or security of the country those men claim to 'represent' . https://t.co/PvjTXKRD8r— Peter Hitchens (@ClarkeMicah) July 5, 2018
― calzino, Thursday, 5 July 2018 10:15 (five years ago) link
Patriotism is love of country. The success or failure of a small group of rich men in a covertly violent game full of cheating, ham acting and sneaky assaults has no bearing at all on the standing, liberty, wealth or security of the country those men claim to 'represent'.
hang on is he talking about football or foreign policy?
― Neymar, Mr Nice Guy (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 5 July 2018 10:21 (five years ago) link
the Catholic Church in England and Wales iirc
― Neil S, Thursday, 5 July 2018 10:35 (five years ago) link
That is possibly the worst World Cup take of all of them on multiple levels.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 5 July 2018 10:37 (five years ago) link
Real patriotism is about bombs iirc.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 5 July 2018 10:38 (five years ago) link
those men claim to 'represent'.
WOOF
― shaqiri tip (nashwan), Thursday, 5 July 2018 10:39 (five years ago) link
a small group of rich men in a covertly violent game full of cheating, ham acting and sneaky assaults
this is the Cabinet ffs
― Neymar, Mr Nice Guy (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 5 July 2018 10:42 (five years ago) link
how dare u a few of them are women
― Fox News' Chad Pergram contributed to this report (bizarro gazzara), Thursday, 5 July 2018 10:43 (five years ago) link
I'd argue that football has a pretty huge impact on the standing of the UK (or England at least). The Premiership is one of the few things that people round the world actually like about this country.
― Matt DC, Thursday, 5 July 2018 10:57 (five years ago) link
the car is on fire and there's no driver at the wheel, clive
― I'd Rather Kecak (NickB), Thursday, 5 July 2018 10:59 (five years ago) link
and the huge prem wage bills must be tipping up a fortune into HMRC, even with all the tax evasion schemes.
― calzino, Thursday, 5 July 2018 11:01 (five years ago) link
lol Nick
― lbi's life of limitless european glamour (Le Bateau Ivre), Thursday, 5 July 2018 11:05 (five years ago) link
A+
― ogmor, Thursday, 5 July 2018 11:06 (five years ago) link
I'd argue that football has a pretty huge impact on the standing of the UK (or England at least). The Premiership is one of the few things that people round the world actually like about this country.― Matt DC, Thursday, July 5, 2018 11:57 AM (eight minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
― Matt DC, Thursday, July 5, 2018 11:57 AM (eight minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
Most def. Success or otherwise of England team has little to do with that though?
― Neuer write off the germans (Bananaman Begins), Thursday, 5 July 2018 11:07 (five years ago) link
hoo is clive and wat is nick b's reference pls
― Neuer write off the germans (Bananaman Begins), Thursday, 5 July 2018 11:08 (five years ago) link
oh wait, clive tyldesley? doh
nick's reference is a david squire cartoon
― imago, Thursday, 5 July 2018 11:13 (five years ago) link
*squires
Images from England v Norway set to the lyrics of 'The Dead Flag Blues' by Godspeed You! Black Emperor: pic.twitter.com/8rcbkP1lia— David Squires (@squires_david) September 6, 2014
― imago, Thursday, 5 July 2018 11:15 (five years ago) link
haha, I hadn’t actually seen that before
― I'd Rather Kecak (NickB), Thursday, 5 July 2018 11:17 (five years ago) link
ilx has mocked squires for stuff like that iirc but some of his stuff is p good and ilx-y. narcissism of not having a guardian deal
― imago, Thursday, 5 July 2018 11:18 (five years ago) link
phitch is right: patriotism is clearly unnecessary to get behind the team
― ogmor, Thursday, 5 July 2018 11:21 (five years ago) link
squires did a lovely shawshank wenger one