English Football and other Nations in the UK

[Old Abingdonian]

Like some celebrities, the England team is ultimately the victim of the media, which replays all the cheap stories of glory v disaster, hero v villain. It's not surprising that they do this - it makes lots of money because many people buy into it.

I think there is something in the overpaid arguments: the Premiership attract foreign players, whilst English ones - naturally suspicious of foreign climes - will be tempted to try to make it here where the salaries are highest.

[DLT]

If you were a talented 21 year old earning 100K a week, in the papers with your girlfriend every other day would you be motivated to put in that extra 10% into your training and take out the 50% of your partying to take you from national star to world star.

They get too rich, too soon, without enough effort.

People criticise Arsenal for all there foreign players but Arsenal have plenty of English players in there youth system.They just don't make it through. Wenger would play them if they justified it. I just feel they think they are 'superstars' and have achieved 'the life' before they have developed their ability far enough.

Certainly a spell in a foreign team would broaden their horizons and focus their minds.

[Matt D]

I can't believe it either. I'll be watching more cricket and playing more golf next summer.

dear god, has it come to this?!!

[Snake]

Gosh, Engerland are now 5th favourites to win the World Cup in 2010 following today's draw.

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/int ... win-market

Other odds of interest are Guinea at 500-1 and Wales (we got bleedin' Germany again) at 1000-1.

[Mally]

Gosh, Engerland are now 5th favourites to win the World Cup in 2010 following today's draw.

http://www.oddschecker.com/football/int ... win-market

Other odds of interest are Guinea at 500-1 and Wales (we got bleedin' Germany again) at 1000-1.

But of course odds are a reflection of the amount of money that punters are prepared to put on an outcome rather than the liklihood of it actually happening. If I went and put that lottery million on Wales to win, their odds would dramatically shorten but they wouldn't be any more likely to win.

Having said that it's about the best group England could have got. With a better manager who can pick the right formation and stick to it Croatia should be a push-over next time around. Not such a nice group if you are one of those fans who goes to all the away games though. A return to Khazakstan will cost you over £500 but I bet the hotels and food are cheap once you get there.

[Pe├▒a Oxford United]

With a better manager who can pick the right formation and stick to it Croatia should be a push-over next time around.

Really? Why?

[A-Ro]

Not such a nice group if you are one of those fans who goes to all the away games though. A return to Khazakstan will cost you over £500 but I bet the hotels and food are cheap once you get there.

I pick and choose my away games and you're right, there's not much to choose from. Luckily I never went to Barcelona for Andorra away in the Euro qualifiers so it's looking like I could be taking my first ever trip to Spain.

[SteMerritt]

With a better manager who can pick the right formation and stick to it Croatia should be a push-over next time around.

Really? Why?

Why? Isn't it obvious? That is the good old-fashioned English arrogance and over-confidence.

[Mally]

With a better manager who can pick the right formation and stick to it Croatia should be a push-over next time around.

Really? Why?

OK perhaps not a push-over but the margin between the sides was little more than a couple of goalkeeping errors. If McClaren had picked the right side in a 4-4-2 with an experienced keeper we wouldn't have lost at Wembley last Wednesday.

[Pe├▒a Oxford United]

The margin between two football sides can usually be ascribed to a couple of significant errors when you think about it.

[A-Ro]

Not such a nice group if you are one of those fans who goes to all the away games though. A return to Khazakstan will cost you over £500 but I bet the hotels and food are cheap once you get there.

I pick and choose my away games and you're right, there's not much to choose from. Luckily I never went to Barcelona for Andorra away in the Euro qualifiers so it's looking like I could be taking my first ever trip to Spain.

Hmmm! £199 return from Heathrow to Minsk sounds tempting.