The Round Ball Game - II

[johncorrigan]

What bothers me is the use that politicians make of national success.

And then there's this - and a Bank Holiday if we win:

I despair, ff!

[french frank]

I despair, ff!

Not of me, I hope

[Bryn]

Not of me, I hope

I, too, despair. "we"? Surely, "they". I don't think either you or anyone else on the Forum will even be playing.

[vinteuil]

I, too, despair. "we"? Surely, "they". I don't think either you or anyone else on the Forum will even be playing.

... Not In My Name!



Forza Azzurri!
.

[Bryn]

... Not In My Name!



Forza Azzurri!

[french frank]

Well, anyway, I hope I'm completely wrong, and I'd prefer to be completely wrong that to go as far as hoping "our" national team loses. (The double quotes can have double significance!)

[vinteuil]

Well, anyway, I hope I'm completely wrong, and I'd prefer to be completely wrong that to go as far as hoping "our" national team loses. (The double quotes can have double significance!)

... the contrarian in me, in desperation, sees 'batting for the other side' as one way to fight against the oppressive blanket miasma of nationalism - "we done it" &c

.

[DracoM]

<< oppressive blanket miasma of nationalism >>
Fantastic phrase!

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

A
I have watched EVERY SINGLE ENGLAND MATCH, at World Cups and Euros, LIVE, since 1970. Wherever I was, whatever time of day it was, I found a way; or kind and generous people, not all football fans, found a way for me.

That's quite a record! I'v watched a good proportion of them. In 1966, I only watched the first match against Uruguay - frustratingly dull, so I didn't bother after that. I was on holiday with my parents, with a schoolfriend for company. We were staying in a cottage in Waunfawr, not far from Caernarfon. The residents in the cottage opposite came to see us, and asked whether "the two boys" would like to watch the World Cup Final on their television - an opportunity we grabbed instantly. The family also invited some of their friends; we were the only English people in the room, but the Welsh people were are cheering for England. When the match unexpectantly went to extra time, one of them said, "It's putting years on me", to which I cheekily replied, "Yes, but we can take it". At the point, I felt a friendly shove from behind, reminding me that I shouldn't assume too much from the kind people who'd invited us.

In those days, many of the England fans had Union Flags, which was inappropriate, particularly as Scotland had qualified for the group stages.

[vinteuil]

.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-57779541

.

[LHC]

... the contrarian in me, in desperation, sees 'batting for the other side' as one way to fight against the oppressive blanket miasma of nationalism - "we done it" &c

.

One of my former work colleagues was a proud socialist who hailed originally from Barnsley. Although he was mad keen on football, he deplored nationalism, and on principle would always support the opposition when England were playing. I once asked him if, by the same token, he supported whoever was playing against Barnsley on the basis that the type of tribalism shown by football club supporters was closely related to nationalism.

He was disgusted by the very notion that he would contemplate supporting anyone but Barnsley, and declared that he would be a loyal supporter of Barnsley FC till the day he died.

[LHC]

That's quite a record! I'v watched a good proportion of them. In 1966, I only watched the first match against Uruguay - frustratingly dull, so I didn't bother after that. I was on holiday with my parents, with a schoolfriend for company. We were staying in a cottage in Waunfawr, not far from Caernarfon. The residents in the cottage opposite came to see us, and asked whether "the two boys" would like to watch the World Cup Final on their television - an opportunity we grabbed instantly. The family also invited some of their friends; we were the only English people in the room, but the Welsh people were are cheering for England. When the match unexpectantly went to extra time, one of them said, "It's putting years on me", to which I cheekily replied, "Yes, but we can take it". At the point, I felt a friendly shove from behind, reminding me that I shouldn't assume too much from the kind people who'd invited us.

In those days, many of the England fans had Union Flags, which was inappropriate, particularly as Scotland had qualified for the group stages.

My former boss was at the World Cup Final in 1966. He wasn't himself much of a football fan, but his brother was mad keen, and had managed to get a ticket for the Final for himself. Unfortunately, two days before the match, his brother broke his leg falling off his bicycle and couldn't go, so my boss inherited the ticket and saw the Final in his stead.

[jayne lee wilson]

One of my former work colleagues was a proud socialist who hailed originally from Barnsley. Although he was mad keen on football, he deplored nationalism, and on principle would always support the opposition when England were playing. I once asked him if, by the same token, he supported whoever was playing against Barnsley on the basis that the type of tribalism shown by football club supporters was closely related to nationalism.

He was disgusted by the very notion that he would contemplate supporting anyone but Barnsley, and declared that he would be a loyal supporter of Barnsley FC till the day he died.

You hit the spot, (as usual), again.

****

The football-haters on this thread.... (why do they keep coming back? Just to upset the true fans who are having the rarest time of our lives?)
They need to look at themselves. In the mirror. Very closely. Why spoil other's joy, at such a remarkable time, with their prejudice and ignorance?...

"Haters gonna hate", and they will always pick up on those news stories which show - variously, football, or England, in the worst possible light. They are usually ignorant of other sports too - they don't know that such controversies have always existed, in most sports, throughout History (this could be a very long list, including the long and complex intertwining on sport and politics).

. Yet they continue to vent spleen here, when they should just - find something else to do with their time, something else to LOVE, not to HATE. STOP INDULGING THEIR IGNORANT ATTEMPT TO SPOIL. Look at yourselves, vinteuil and ff and the rest!
Are you unaware of the campaigns FOR HUNGRY KIDS, BLM, HUMAN RIGHTS, begun, and supported by MARCUS RASHFORD AND RAHEEM STERLING? (HERO OF THE EUROS) WHO FOUGHT SO MANY BATTLES TO SUCCEED, THEMSELVES?
THIS IS THE MOST DIVERSE ENGLAND TEAM IN HISTORY! Yet you focus on our silly, bandwagonning PM (Old-Etonian Rugby fan, if a sports fan at all), just to make your trivial, mean spirited points. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU AND YOUR IGNORANCE!!

My support of England is not remotely to do with "Nationalism", let alone the crudely destructive Brexit variety. England are my team, just as Liverpool are. I've followed them and all of their fortunes and misfortunes all my life.

But as for "WE".... of course the team you support, the fans, the stadium crowds and the 24 Million TV viewers (for the semi) are.... WE. WE!!!

That is what supporting a team means, and always meant. This is a wonderful moment for such fans, and we won't let others bring us down (including idiots with lasers or those who harass other supporters)...

ALL THE FOOTBALL HATERS HERE ARE DOING IS - SUPPORTING THOSE IDIOTS IN THEIR IGNORANCE! IGNORING THE MILLIONS IN OUR JOY!!

[french frank]

... the contrarian in me, in desperation, sees 'batting for the other side' as one way to fight against the oppressive blanket miasma of nationalism - "we done it" &c

.

When I said 'doubly significant' I meant once for you, who would object to being included in the phrase "our national team" and once for jc who would have other reasons to object . I'm completely unaware of any 'oppressive blanket miasma of nationalism', beyond a certain exuberance shown here. I must now bury myself again in my latest little research project (as I term it).

[jayne lee wilson]

The football-haters on this thread.... (why do they keep coming back? Just to upset the true fans who are having the rarest time of our lives?)
They need to look at themselves. In the mirror. Very closely. Why spoil other's joy, at such a remarkable time, with their prejudice and ignorance?...

"Haters gonna hate", and they will always pick up on those news stories which show - variously, football, or England, in the worst possible light. They are usually ignorant of other sports too - they don't know that such controversies have always existed, in most sports, throughout History (this could be a very long list, including the long and complex intertwining on sport and politics).

. Yet they continue to vent spleen here, when they should just - find something else to do with their time, something else to LOVE, not to HATE. STOP INDULGING THEIR IGNORANT ATTEMPT TO SPOIL. Look at yourselves, vinteuil and ff and the rest!
Are you unaware of the campaigns FOR HUNGRY KIDS, BLM, HUMAN RIGHTS, begun, and supported by MARCUS RASHFORD AND RAHEEM STERLING? (HERO OF THE EUROS) WHO FOUGHT SO MANY BATTLES TO SUCCEED, THEMSELVES? The true successors to the Black Power salutes of the 1968 Olympics. Why do you think Gareth Southgate is so universally, multiculturally, admired?

THIS IS THE MOST RACIALLY DIVERSE ENGLAND TEAM IN HISTORY! (More so than most, apart from France). Yet you focus on our silly, bandwagonning PM (Old-Etonian Rugby fan, if a sports fan at all), just to make your trivial, mean spirited points. SHAME ON ALL OF YOU AND YOUR IGNORANCE!!

My support of England is not remotely to do with "Nationalism", let alone the crudely destructive Brexit variety. England are my team, just as Liverpool are. I've followed them and all of their fortunes and misfortunes all my life.

But as for "WE".... of course the team you support, the fans, the stadium crowds and the 24 Million TV viewers (for the semi) are.... WE. WE!!!

That is what supporting a team means, and always meant. This is a wonderful moment for such fans, and we won't let others bring us down (including idiots with lasers or those who harass other supporters - just don't give them the publicity they crave...yet here you are, doing just that)...

ALL THE FOOTBALL HATERS HERE ARE DOING IS - SUPPORTING THOSE IDIOTS IN THEIR IGNORANCE! IGNORING THE MILLIONS IN OUR JOY!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vhFnTjia_I