Group D: Ukraine, Sweden, France, England

[Metaphysical]

When was the last time you heard an England fan rate the team highly? Also, what does the medias hyperbole have to do with not supporting your own team? Sounds like very weak reasoning to me. You don't support England because you find the team likeable or humble, you support them because you're English. It's glory hunters that pick a teams based on simply liking them, but then, on an English speaking Barca forum that is probably to be expected

very well said.

I'm no Patriot, not even close, but even I find myself wanting England to do well. I was born here, I grew up here, I live here... despite the racism and alienation I've suffered, I can't disown the country and I can't disown the team. not to say I don't want other teams to do better (from a footballing standpoint, I like numerous teams more than England) but I always want England to do well. even if I don't want to want England to do well.

you dig?

[Metaphysical]

inorite?

[afrocule]

As football fans, it often happens that we fall in love with teams outside our teams(Nigeria, in my case), it isn't always gloryhunting.
I have been supporting La Roja for a very long time. I remember going to see their u-20 team in Lagos in 99 and I instantly fell in love with their passing game. They won that tournament of course.
Meanwhile, our football administrators have made it almost impossible to support the Nigerian national team(Super Eagles). We've had 10 coaches in the last 10 years and the inevitable outcome has been abysmal performances in major tournaments. Our players have an apathetic attitude towards playing for the national team and all these have made the national team a huge turn off.
I really don't care about the Super Eagles anymore. I used to until the coach that qualified us for SA 2010, Shuaibu Amodu, was fired for no sensible reason and replaced by the Swede, Lars Lagerback, some three months to world cup.
I exclusively support the Spanish national team these days and I'm a die hard fan.

[Deco 20]

I have a love-hate relationship with the Swedish team... I want us to do well, but I don't like the way we play or our players... We should play better football, like we did in 2004. I miss Larsson.

[Catalonian Devil]

As football fans, it often happens that we fall in love with teams outside our teams(Nigeria, in my case), it isn't always gloryhunting.
I have been supporting La Roja for a very long time. I remember going to see their u-20 team in Lagos in 99 and I instantly fell in love with their passing game. They won that tournament of course.
Meanwhile, our football administrators have made it almost impossible to support the Nigerian national team(Super Eagles). We've had 10 coaches in the last 10 years and the inevitable outcome has been abysmal performances in major tournaments. Our players have an apathetic attitude towards playing for the national team and all these have made the national team a huge turn off.
I really don't care about the Super Eagles anymore. I used to until the coach that qualified us for SA 2010, Shuaibu Amodu, was fired for no sensible reason and replaced by the Swede, Lars Lagerback, some three months to world cup.
I exclusively support the Spanish national team these days and I'm a die hard fan.

I completely disagree with this.

I believe you should always support your NT no matter how shitty they have been or how hopeless their case might, that's the true meaning to being a fan.

My Sudan is a almost lost cause and their management is as corrupt and short-sighted as it gets, yet I will always support them and no matter how many times they break my heart, I'll always stay loyal as that's my country afterall.

Of course I might lean toward a big name national side and even root for them but no way will I ever put them even close to my NT, its not even up for discussion...

What's the point of a NT having fans if they only support it when its doing well?

[VivaBarca]

I completely disagree with this.

I believe you should always support your NT no matter how shitty they have been or how hopeless their case might, that's the true meaning to being a fan.

My Sudan is a almost lost cause and their management is as corrupt and short-sighted as it gets, yet I will always support them and no matter how many times they break my heart, I'll always stay loyal as that's my country afterall.

Of course I might lean toward a big name national side and even root for them but no way will I ever put them even close to my NT, its not even up for discussion...

What's the point of a NT having fans if they only support it when its doing well?

Well said.

I care about my NT as much as I do about my club teams.

[impeh]

Rooneys ban has been reduced, so he will only miss the first two games.

I think the third is suspended for 4 years, or something.

[Jenks]

A bit of a shame really. We look more of a team without him.

[impeh]

True, he has a lot of time to find good form yet though.

But even so, say we play well and win the opening two games, i dont see why he deserves to slot back in..

[ivan22]

dont know if it has been posted before:

Nominated france players from outside of the Ligue 1:

Defense: Gaël Clichy (Manchester City), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Younès Kaboul (Tottenham Hotspur), Laurent Koscielny (FC Arsenal), Philippe Mexès (AC Milan), Adil Rami (FC Valencia)

Midfield: Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle), Florent Malouda (FC Chelsea), Samir Nasri (Manchester City)

Attack: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Franck Ribéry (Bayern München)

what an insane squadlist! But I have a feeling that, despite having some of the best individuals, they'll screw up as always. Even though I'm more confident with Blanc than with this other retard who wasted la grande nation!

Also its a shame abidal cant play the euros

[DucdeOrléans]

dont know if it has been posted before:

Nominated france players from outside of the Ligue 1:

Defense: Gaël Clichy (Manchester City), Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Younès Kaboul (Tottenham Hotspur), Laurent Koscielny (FC Arsenal), Philippe Mexès (AC Milan), Adil Rami (FC Valencia)

Midfield: Yohan Cabaye (Newcastle), Florent Malouda (FC Chelsea), Samir Nasri (Manchester City)

Attack: Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Franck Ribéry (Bayern München)

what an insane squadlist! But I have a feeling that, despite having some of the best individuals, they'll screw up as always. Even though I'm more confident with Blanc than with this other retard who wasted la grande nation!

Also its a shame abidal cant play the euros

Already posted in the France thread, Ivan

Yeah, it's a decent squad but I have seen much better in my life time and I am one of the youngest members on this forum.

[Bojan]

Btw. Seems like we won't see Chygo this summer. Being injured while the Euro is being held in your country must be devastating.

[Metaphysical]

Btw. Seems like we won't see Chygo this summer. Being injured while the Euro is being held in your country must be devastating.

he's just had absolutely rotten luck since that Sevilla game at the Camp Nou.

getting booed by his own fans, Pep took him out of the firing line so he barely played, then Sandro fucked him off when he was only a year into his development. he landed back at Shakhtar but has struggled for fitness and Rakytskiy has pretty much taken his spot in the team.

feel so bad for him. he seems like a genuinely nice guy. he had great potential as a footballer too.