The triumphs and tragedies of Euro 2020 were great entertainment. Although major national tournaments are won by the big countries, they have a meritocracy that Uefa’s club football tournaments lost long ago.
Contests where Switzerland can eliminate France, Hungary can terrify Germany and Denmark can reach a semi-final are compulsive. Those of us who get our football kicks from the Champions and Europa Leagues can only dream of the level playing field where developing talent provides a remote chance of success.
Italy deserved to win the final, although Spain and France will wonder what could have been. England had Italy on the ropes for 20 minutes, but when Kane was nullified, Gareth Southgate looked like someone whose only previous managerial experience was in charge of Middlesbrough. The song that describes “30 years of hurt” will soon be 30 years out of date. They will never have a better chance.
I was in London last week and was able to enjoy banter with England fans without a whiff of trouble. They are no more represented by this morning’s headlines than Scots are represented by what happened in George Square. The human condition has a long way to go.
181 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- »
Back to Basics – @ 12:13 pm
“Bit of expectation setting about CL prospects Pablo?
Totally agree with you that the CL is a stacked deck.
At the risk of being overly simplistic though there is a trick being missed by the unfancied teams …
…. the creation of a culture that embraces the unfairness and is bloody minded enough to do something about it on the pitch.
In this century alone step forward …
Iceland
Wales
Denmark
Greece
Switzerland
Croatia
—————————
I’m afraid your examples have rather supported Paul’s “expectation management” argument. After already conceding that it is a stacked operation, you cite examples of National Teams in UEFA National compeitions to show that the CL monopoly can be challenged.
You are actually agreeing with Paul in that his thesis was that there is still genuine competition and regular upset in National Team competitions.
Now if you had provided club examples……..
FRANKTERRY on 12TH JULY 2021 5:21 PM
GENE on 12TH JULY 2021 4:44 PM
‘What do you think that says about them?’
###
They are inferior to the Scots?
I rate this England team, but Italy were better. Even though Chiesa got injured and their left back missed the game, they had too much. Bonucci and Chiellini are the masters.
In other news, has the PLC given up signing players for lent?
ERNIE LYNCH on 12TH JULY 2021 5:28 PM
No, try again. Come on, you know this one!
Frankterry
That’s the choice they made in the ballot box – like the Scots chose to remain in the union – both may live to regret it.
Burnley
The team do reflect the fans demographic that’s the problem with the right wing yobs in the support.
Boris saying you don’t have to wear a mask but wear a mask – he’s a charlatan.
Who would win in a fight between George Square and Leicester Square?
Where once we watched the small beavers fly………… Oh baby let the beavers fly
Burnley
I’ll have to have a word with my boys and tell them they’re xenophobic.
Who’d have known.
SFTB – cheers …
… but not sure of your point.
help me out a bit here?
———
Paul’s leader included the following ….
Contests where Switzerland can eliminate France, Hungary can terrify Germany and Denmark can reach a semi-final are compulsive. Those of us who get our football kicks from the Champions and Europa Leagues can only dream of the level playing field where developing talent provides a remote chance of success.
————
It was “can only dream of a level playing field” that caught me eye.
Silly point perhaps but the “small countries” don’t ask themselves how can we increase the size of our country or its population ten fold in order to deliver that level playing field?
Instead, not always but quite a few times …
….. they maximize limited resources and develop a spirit that makes them competitive against so called bigger countries.
It is that parallel in the CL I don’t see?
Smaller clubs or clubs from smaller countries seem happy just to reach the group stage and pick up the cheque?
I can think of a few examples this century that buck the trend …. Leverkusen, Monaco, Porto …….. but these were 17 or more years ago?
Hail hail
Keep The Faith
The message seems to be that the Scots are better than the English, because the English are racist.
Burnley
Before the Juventus game a few years ago I took my English son into a pub in the Gallowgate – the supporters were in full voice. He asked what has FTQ and up the RA got to do with Celtic. He found it quite offensive.
the videos of the italians being attacked in the stadium are horrific.
Picture today of Ange with head in hands. It’s in full flow now. There is fake news everywhere. Folk who are probably rational in there everyday life’s believing and quoting this nonsense on here and other sites. “We have nothing to fear but fear itself” someone can tell me who’s quote that is please, I think it was Roosevelt? Anyway unity is what’s needed more than ever. Der Huns will be loving this. HH
Back to Basics
“It was “can only dream of a level playing field” that caught me eye.”
—————————-
But the first half of Paul’s sentence was his qualifier:-
“Those of us who get our football kicks from the Champions and Europa Leagues ”
Not those of us who dream of the European Championship
Small countries cannot increase their size bu they can recruit 2nd tier footballers who cannot make it into their national side. Scotland have Australians and ENglish in their team thanks to ancestry
But International football is a soft target to beat compared to CL teams. They train and play together for only a few occasions per year whereas club sides in the CL train daily and recruit from all over the world.
Barca, Real and Bayern would murder any International team
Bournesouprecipe @ 5.43.
You mean a square go!
Coat………..
England’s national team were not as good as italy and did not deserve to win. Why anyone outside england would want them to win is a mystery to me. England and not gracious in defeat or victory but with victory comes the superiority complex and the looking down on other countries.
Thought celtic would have been pushing harder to sign players and support ange. Seems they cant be arsed, shame as I could have saved a lot of money if I had known. Joke
CARDBOARD CSC
I would agree that unity is needed , but what is also needed is a concrete sign that the club is moving to correct shortcomings in putting the best possible footballing team on the pitch . Scouting , recruitment , preparation for Europe and regaining domestic supremacy ? The fans are uneasy and the Sevconian presspack are giggling for good reason .
Glenda, good points you make but I would say there has been signs the club (the team) is moving forward, new manager new system which to me shows an improvement in attitude which with a few additional quality and a few younger players will give us some hope over the next few weeks. I don’t deny the fans are uneasy, on the presspack agreed but we don’t have to encourage them. HH
Lafan @ 6.37 👍
Holy Father to attend Cop26 enviromental conference in Glasgow
https://twitter.com/ArchdiocGlasgow/status/1414652785442889741?s=19
:-)
hh
AN TEARMANN on 12TH JULY 2021 1:06 PM
Thank you for arranging a wreath for Macjay. It is heartening to hear all you guys talking so fondly about a CQN mainstay for many years.
I realise that his views may have been directly opposite of yours, but his love of Celtic was never in doubt.
It speaks volumes about you and other guys like DD. CQN at its best.
Was there a collection or a way we can contribute. ?
Hail Hail.
PS : It will be my pleasure to buy you a pint.
Gene & Burnley 78.
On the weekend of the Ukraine game, I was back down in London to meet old friends at a reunion party for a pub in Mile End that’s been closed for 18 years.
Back in the mid 80’s the pub was my regular local. We had a team that played at the Hackney Marshes every Sunday.
Many of my pals are now 3rd generation east Enders , most from Irish / Jewish diaspora.
West Ham & Spurs fans .
Before the visit, I was a tad concerned about the England v Ukraine game being on during the reunion.
I need’nt have worried.
Of course they cheered their team. A couple even sung their National Anthem.
All were well behaved. Some now have grown up kids , in their twenties.
Their behaviour was exemplary.
Everyone was friendly, generous and right good company.
Whatever we see on the news doesn’t always represent what we meet in reality.
Being passionate about any team ( or country) isn’t a crime .
This reunion didn’t have anyone locally that could ever be described as middle class.
Sometimes when you scratch the surface, what’s underneath isn’t an issue.
One continuous theme , regarding politics was a distrust and palpable dislike of the Labour Party.
To long to explain, but the shift to right, might be more to do with local councillors , rather than what happens in Parliament.
I can’t say whether Tower Hamlets is typical.
Another example of scratching the surface.
Two sides to every story CSC.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E6G5Z96WYAs47cD?format=jpg&name=large
big jimmy, you should be on this as a famous resident.
See if we had motivated, coached well and fit, understanding what the boss wants to do on the park the likes of
Ajer, Ntcham, Christie, Edouard,Boli. They can can still earn there paycheck over the next few weeks.
@ STEPHBHOY67 on 12TH JULY 2021 7:03 PM
Yep, Italy clearly the better side on the night and the gulf in coaching was clear. Mancini changed the game with substitutions and changes to tactics; Southgate stuck to the same rigid and defensive set up – more afraid of losing than attempting to win.
Two tournaments in a row England have had very easy draws. I hope Qatar throws up something more difficult for them.
Fascinating discussion on Channel 4 news about racism in England. Johnson and Patel being castigated for pandering to the racists.
When will there be such a discussion in Scotland about sectarianism/racism and the Establishment/media pandering to the bigots?
Rolling stone – the downside of being top seeded is that in qualification you don’t get tested
Mind you I’d take it for Scotland.
https://twitter.com/allhailtwit/status/1413411311799656448/photo/1
renfrew airport
Pcs
A program BBC on Sunday morning discussed the increase in hate crime – there was a Jewish. Muslim, Sikh representative in the discussion – could have been an opportunity to include Catholic in Scotland.
https://twitter.com/LostGlasgow/status/1414520769187618818/photo/1
Pic: The Undertones, Creggans Estate, 1977
https://twitter.com/LostGlasgow/status/1414030038819909634/photo/1
PCS
And Johnson and Patel are the ugly face of an ugly party.
Gene,
Yes, that would have been good.
Gene,
Just read your comment about Johnson and Patel. Who would be the Scottish equivalent? Too many to mention, I presume.
PARKHEADCUMSALFORD on 12TH JULY 2021 9:06 PM
Christine Grahame and Ruth Davidson for starters.
Although if they’re the starters I shudder to think what the main course would be like :-)
Burnley-I find your night out hard to believe to be honest 🤷🏽♂️