European Championship

[scotman]

Well Scotland out again.
Despite that I think things are looking better for the future. The present team seem to understand the idea of playing the ball on the ground rather than belting it up the park as per usual.
Also tonight showed most of the best players available.

[Euphemia]

We are good at losing!

[nungate]

If that was the best they have to offer then it'll be a while before we qualify for anything of note.

[Duncer]

When exactly was the ball played on the ground; in fact when did they have it?

[nungate]

Exactly! Duncer

[piggynose]

as was asked last night on spanish telly, who are our rivals?
No one can get near them, just ask the poor old czechs, who played the spanish 2nd team last week.
nb.. i live in spain

[Davethedog]

Being realistic, I don't think so, Craig Levene is being wildly optomistic. Last Saturday you beat Liechtenstien(?) 1-0 Last night Spain went through the motions.

Until all British sides understand that skill rules over endevour it will always be so for us all. England are just anothe embarresment waiting to happen next summer.

[piggynose]

totally concur dave

[pa___ul3]

I think Wales, and more so Gary Speed, deserve a mention here, from losing the first 4 to very much competing with England only to be narrowly defeated and then winning the last 3, Wales have a lot of reasons to be positive! If they can find themselves a decent young striker they could have a bright future. I just can't see it being too long before a prem club goes sniffing round Speed.

[anneasquith]

last nights game was a teaching lesson on how to play football, spain so deserved to win.......................but scotland never gave up trying, right to the last whistle,

[Duncer]

I think we need to completely re-appraise British football - until we can demonstrate technical skills to even approach Spain, (and I realise they are exceptional, but our technical ability is well below most European sides), and learn to love the ball rather than treat it like a hot potato, then we are all doomed. Trying is admirable, but it is not sufficient.

[nungate]

A lot of the players in Spain who are great at moving the ball around the pitch would never get a ook in over here as they are too short in stature. The clubs over here and looking for big bruisers, not short nippy on their feet chaps who actually can pass. The long ball game still seems to predominate, punt the ball up the pitch in the hope it meets with some big guy who will (hopefully) get the ball in the back of the net. I don't live in Spain but I watch the Spanish game regularly, and most of the best players over there barely reach 5' 10"

[Noggin-the-Nog]

Don't feel too bad, you could be an NI supporter!

[nungate]

Hate to disappoint but I consider myself a football fan and I follow Spanish football, both in La Liga (Forca Barca!) and the national side (suerte la furia roja) I gave up on Scottish football a long time ago, for a while as a supporter, then as a sympathiser, and glory be I actually found football, and discovered why it is called the beautiful game!

[ichkeria]

"Don't feel too bad, you could be an NI supporter! "

Just what I was about to say!

[Duncer]

...................and what exactly would be wrong with being a NI supporter, pray tell? Supporting your club side involves a level of choice but your country does not, so I'm stuck with Norn Iron, and more than happy to be so.

I suppose it's much like supporting a small club side at FA Cup time, and it makes it all the sweeter when victories like those over Spain and England come along, because you know it will be a while before it happens again.

I've always detested the attitude that the big club sides are more important and have better fans, they aren't and they don't - they just have more fans and a bigger catchment area, as well as a monopoly on the money. The best fans, in my opinion, are those who support teams who perpetually struggle and have little or no prospect of glory, like the fans who stuck by East Stirling when they finished bottom of the Third Division for four or five years in a row. How many of the Old Trafford, Chelsea or Old Firm glory hunters would put up with that?

We are a small country and, unlike some, I don't harbour unrealistic expectations of regularly qualifying for World Cups and European Championships, although that does not mean that I don't want to. We are further impaired by some who choose to support/play for another country because of religious/political reasons, but let's not even go there.

My comments about the style of play were made with all the British nations in mind although nungate Steve.5 summed up my thinking much more eloquently than I. If any of the Home Nations are to progress than a radical grass roots review is needed with the emphasis on ability rather than size and athleticism.

When you do support someone like NI then memories of 1982, (and progressing past the first round Scots fans), are all the more memorable, as were the frantic calls home for more money as I didn't expect us to make it. Finally, I believe we are the reigning British Champions. Des anyone think I would swop any of that?

[beejay1124]

great stuff Duncer
we've got no prima donnas
we're not Brazil we're Norn Iron(our wee country)
-
ps
come on the blues

[ichkeria]

There is nothing wrong with being a Northern Ireland supporter..
I think you are missing the point Duncer, which is that we would like to be in England's position and automatically qualitifed, ROI's of being in a play off place, Scotland's of missing out after losing to the best team in the world but looking good for the future, or even Wales, who've started to show some form.
But of course we are still loyal supporters!
Good luck to Estonia btw - they should, ironically give us hope for the future, as should Montenegro.

[ichkeria]

"come on the blues "

I think you mean "The Stripes"
:-)

[mckidd]

In order for Scotland to improve Craig Levein must be sacked.