When Great Britain did amazingly well at the Olympics in London, we were praised for doing so well for being a small country, being pitted against countries multiple times the size of us with lots more athletes to choose from.
So in football, why are we berated (even by english fans) so much for not being the very best in the world? In my lifetime we've always been in the top 10 in the world rankings, that's incredible for a country our size in my opinion.
I get that we 'invented football' but does that really mean we should be better at it than everyone else. I also get that we have great facilities to train in, fantastic pitches etc. shouldn't these be things that we can praise ourselves for, rather than to use it as a stick to beat ourselves with if we don't produce a world class player every year?
Question
posted on 15/11/12
It's why Walcott looks lost in the England team.
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That, and the fact he's rubbish apart from running.
posted on 15/11/12
I thought you said Kevin Davies
Time for bed
posted on 15/11/12
Because Brazil and Italy have talented footballers.
Yes you get the odd shock result like that, Greece did it, but it's really not the way forward for us.
We fell out of love with 442 because the better foreign managers realised it was better for them to use 3 in the middle. And the European teams kept spanking us.
England still play 442 and we aren't doing well with it. We only played 3 in the centre today because Rooney is injured. But despite losing we played a lot better today than we did when we beat them in the Euros. It was only an inspired performance and making wholsale changes to the side that saw this.
posted on 15/11/12
Also, Brazil and Italy have made many changes to the way their teams have set up over the years and still been good.
Brazil changed to a counter attacking system from the possession based one in the 80's and won the world cup.
Italy played 4 at the back as opposed to 3 and won the world cup.
posted on 15/11/12
posted on 15/11/12
posted on 15/11/12
Nah, I've actually said to change the sytem to suit the players. Hence why we should have played 3 in the middle to get the best out of Gerrard.
Anyway, good debate. Night.
posted on 15/11/12
posted on 15/11/12
posted on 15/11/12
What you've got to look at with any sport is the number of playing licenses, the facilities and the funding of the sport.
I've not looked at any of those figures, but I'd be very surprised indeed if in those terms England wasn't among world football's superpowers.