Compare and Contrast 198

But not too many friends?

If I supported a national team I'd rather they were remembered for contributing something positive to a tournament, and for enhancing the reputation of football as "the beautiful game."

I certainly wouldn't take too much pride in a tournament win that turned people away from the game

It's time you stopped defending the indefensible here and acknowledged how desperately inept, amateurish, and ugly England's football has been so far. It's inexcusable that a nation claiming to be a world power in football should offer the world something so utterly appalling to watch. Especially given the investment made in the national team over there, not just financially but also morally and politically. Every effort is made there to support the national team and to make it as easy as possible to qualify for these tournaments and to prosper in them. The Premiership takes a week off every time there's an international forfexake. Players are cossetted and protected. Managers are given all the support they need. there's a veritable army of advisors and fitness coaches and experts and other pros hanging around to nurture the side and ensure all angles are covered. Then what do we get at the end of it all. That's right -- at the end of the four-year preparation we get this poo.

f***ing inexcusable. And the last straw for me personally as someone born in England who used to have a slight interest in seeing the national side do well. I now hope they never win a f***ing tournament as long as I live. -- + His Holiness Pope Pompous XVIII

Prayer for the Day -- "Oh Lord keep Me humble"