Comments on: Supporting Croatia? It’s just like supporting England

By: Darren

Darren — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 17:26:23 +0000

what about Spain in Euro 96, they had 2 perfect goals disallowed, no one remembers that! Venables was and is one of the most over rated England managers of recent times.

Bring back Hoddle, he was the last England manager who played with a system and the players slotted into his system, not the other way round which the last 3 have done, I include Capello into that

By: dexylongshot

dexylongshot — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:54:59 +0000

So many games mentioned above and all true. We hardly ever just go out fair and square or do we really,
are we just looking through rose tinted St George flag shaped glasses.

In 86, I was still young enough to cry. In 06 I managed it again although was fuelled by German lager in the very place where Rooney got sent off. What could have been. Dirty Diego & Dirty Winker cost us then.

What about Dirty Simeone in 98, getting Goldenballs sent off. We probably improved in the 2nd half but yep, dodgy corner decisions robbed us of another victory against the Argies then but then again, 2002 – Owen diving in the box, Becks getting his own back, everyone forgets that! It’s all swing and roundabouts!!!

I won’t mention 92 because we were crud and not much better in 88, but either side, in between and after that, untold examples.

1990, a Paul Parker own goal from Brehmes free kick, with Shilton doing an excellent backwards falling into goal that inspired Seaman for our 2002 exit courtesy of Brazilian buck tooth Ronny. They hurt bad. Lineker got us back in it and waddle hit the post in extra time, as did Anderton in extra time against the same opponents 16 years later. But then again, luck does run on both sides. Would we have been in the semis for both if we hadn’t got the 2 late pens against Cameroon and the Spain shoot-out win (our only win ever on pens) after being out-played in the 96 quarters.

You are dead right Dan….we’re simply not that great!

By: Danny Brothers

Danny Brothers — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:22:33 +0000

We do always seem to have a reason for us going out of a competition far beyond the fact that we’re not good enough. It’s always penalties, a late goal, a deflection, a bump in the ground decieving our keeper, anything.

Time and again we’ve said “what if” but the simple question is, “what if we were a better team?”

We shouldn’t kid ourselves any more…along with the bad luck, we’re simply not that great!

By: Darren

Darren — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:03:52 +0000

Welcome to our world, a world where losing is the norm, a world where you won’t just lose, you will lose in style! You will lose big, very big, you and millions of your compatriots will share the pain, the false hope.

You will feel euphoric, only to have it ripped from your heart in an instant, you will cry tears of hurt, pain and unjust.

WC 1970
2-0 up against the Germans, keeper gets injured, we lose 3-2

WC 1982
Keegan & Brooking injured before tournament

WC 1986
The hand of god

WC 1990
Lose on pens to Germany

Fail to qualify for WC 1994,
Ronald Koeman who should of been sent off scores the winning goal.

Euro 1996,
lose to Germany on pens (again) after out playing them

WC 1998
Lose to pens to Argentina, having last minute goal disallowed

Euro 2000
2-0 up against Portugal in first group game, lose 3-2. 1 minute away from Qf, we give away a penalty, out we go.

WC 2002
Lose to Brazil to a freak goal, leading 1-0.

Euro 2004
Lose to Portugal on Pens, having last minute goal disallowed)

WC 2006
Rooney gets injured. Lose to Portugal on Pens (Again)

Euro 2008
1-0 up in Russia, lose 2-1, 0-2 at home to Croatia, come back to 2-2 (we are through) lose 3-2.

There you go my friend, you have a long way to go to feel our pain.