England vs. Senegal, Netherlands vs. USA.
The first seeds will be the favourite in each game but I would expect each match to be very competitive and decided by one goal.
41-45, M
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Abstraction · 61-69, M
England's greatest talent in most sports is to confirm the perfectly expected disappointment for their nation of performing beneath their capability. I don't understand it because the talent is there in most sports. As an aussie would love to see them win the World Cup.
I've been thinking from the start Netherlands could be the dark horse for this one - always a possibility.
I've been thinking from the start Netherlands could be the dark horse for this one - always a possibility.
LizOwen · 41-45, F
@Abstraction England are the greatest underachievers now. Considering the depth of talent, population and resources, we constantly fail.
We have one football and one rugby world cup, and one women's European Cup and crow when we defeat nations a tenth or a twentieth our size - like Wales or Scotland.
We're the best as self delusion, though.
We have one football and one rugby world cup, and one women's European Cup and crow when we defeat nations a tenth or a twentieth our size - like Wales or Scotland.
We're the best as self delusion, though.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@Abstraction England do underachieve in sport though I'd argue the bigger problem is the failure to consistently produce elite talent more than the performance of that talent.
Our rugby and cricket players are not outstanding because we have too many pro teams (spreading the talent thinner) and the youth development is usually not elite standard. So we have a lot of decent players in each sport but few who are outstanding. British rugby league has a much smaller player base than Australia too. Also, with respect to Aussie's Eddie Jones is doing a poor job with the rugby team.
In football, we are no longer underachieving. In the 2010s, the premier League overhauled it's academy system and learnt from the best practice in continental Europe so our squad is now more talented than at any time in my own life. Only France and Brazil definitely have better options than us. Spain , Germany and Argentina have rosters if similar standard so I think this is where we should be.
We haven't won anything but a semi and a final in the last two major contests is nothing to be ashamed of. Though yes, in the past, we have badly underachieved.
Our rugby and cricket players are not outstanding because we have too many pro teams (spreading the talent thinner) and the youth development is usually not elite standard. So we have a lot of decent players in each sport but few who are outstanding. British rugby league has a much smaller player base than Australia too. Also, with respect to Aussie's Eddie Jones is doing a poor job with the rugby team.
In football, we are no longer underachieving. In the 2010s, the premier League overhauled it's academy system and learnt from the best practice in continental Europe so our squad is now more talented than at any time in my own life. Only France and Brazil definitely have better options than us. Spain , Germany and Argentina have rosters if similar standard so I think this is where we should be.
We haven't won anything but a semi and a final in the last two major contests is nothing to be ashamed of. Though yes, in the past, we have badly underachieved.
LizOwen · 41-45, F
@Burnley123 I didn't know there was British rugby league - I thought it was entirely English! Do Wales and Scotland have RL teams?
As for football, the English teams have more non-English than English players, with non-English managers and owners. They may be English based and with an English fan base but that's all.
To be successful the national teams have to win trophies, not just compete- and that's something they seem unable to do.
For the amount of money and effort pumped into them, English national teams underachieve. So far. . .
As for football, the English teams have more non-English than English players, with non-English managers and owners. They may be English based and with an English fan base but that's all.
To be successful the national teams have to win trophies, not just compete- and that's something they seem unable to do.
For the amount of money and effort pumped into them, English national teams underachieve. So far. . .
Abstraction · 61-69, M
@Burnley123 My comment wasn't a criticism of English sports ability, it was mostly drawn from my English friends who have that unique philosophical way of dealing with disappointment as if it was long-expected.
England in T20 are amazing. And I think the limited over world cup final against NZ was one of the most amazing sporting matches I've ever seen and produced I think the finest, grittiest cricket innings by a player in my lifetime. Ben Stokes, wow.
England in T20 are amazing. And I think the limited over world cup final against NZ was one of the most amazing sporting matches I've ever seen and produced I think the finest, grittiest cricket innings by a player in my lifetime. Ben Stokes, wow.
Burnley123 · 41-45, M
@Abstraction I didn't take it as criticism. I'm just really pedantic and I have a lot of opinions on everything. 👍😂
