The world Cup Russia 2018 Thread

[StfcRusty]

We did, two years ago. I think we went further than you. It's good to see little old Wales can still stoke the fire in you. #noisyneighbours

How'd Wales get on against England by the way?

[FreddySTFC!]

let's talk about Wales then

1 euro championship finals 2016 (exceptional to get to semi)
1 world cup finals 1958
0 rugby world cup wins

it's not exactly a glowing list of achievements. and the opposite of noisy

For the size of our country I think that's pretty reasonable. Other than one WC on home soil the 'home of football' hasn't exactly pulled up any trees on an international scale other than the odd glorious failure.

[Frigby Daser]

Until, our ‘elite’ players get some experience playing their club football abroad it’s always going to be this way.

I don’t really see it that way. There are a million and one ways to win a World Cup, FA Cup, League, Euros, etc. Young inexperienced teams win, experienced teams win. Defensive teams win, and lose. So do attacking teams. Germany have failed - and a good number of them play outside the Bundesliga. Neither have Spain. And they didn’t win previous tournaments because players played abroad. They won because of the genius of Xavi and Iniesta (playing at Barca) or Mueller’s goals for Bayern, and a bit of luck, and just because they were better.

When a side doesn’t win, there is a temptation to look at what it isn’t doing, and use that as the reason for not winning. Equally, if a side does well, there’s a temptation to look at all of its characteristics and decide they are “good”. That just can’t be right.  This side did well through a combination of luck, skill, leadership and a great attitude, and probably a few things we’ll never know. Each time a side wins, it will win differently.

This tournament just proved that there is nothing fundamentally flawed about the England set up and the way we now develop players. We just need to do it slightly, just slightly - better.

[4D]

I think Freddy is just jumping on the "England bash" bandwagon. The bitterness is not unexpected, it's a minor irritant from the usual suspects. I suppose it's easier to make a dig when you have nothing to get excited about with your own national side. Normal.

[FreddySTFC!]

How'd Wales get on against England by the way?

Who finished top of the group? Wow, I'm even feeling petty myself here  

[Ells]

I've got a picture somewhere of Bale getting skinned by Nathan Byrne.

[4D]

For the size of our country I think that's pretty reasonable. Other than one WC on home soil the 'home of football' hasn't exactly pulled up any trees on an international scale other than the odd glorious failure.

Still done better than your lot in any sport you can think of

[woolster]

Who finished top of the group? Wow, I'm even feeling petty myself here  

fuck off you welsh twat

[FreddySTFC!]

I think Freddy is just jumping on the "England bash" bandwagon. The bitterness is not unexpected, it's a minor irritant from the usual suspects. I suppose it's easier to make a dig when you have nothing to get excited about with your own national side. Normal.

It's purely basking in the delight of your misfortune, I won't pretend it's anything else & I make no excuses for it. The English press haven't stopped wanking over this since you got out of the group. The same press who hated giving us any credit when we got to the semis (see the Daily Mail's headline after we beat Belgium in the quarters). I'm thoroughly enjoying your defeat & so is the majority of my country. It's a rivalry. You need to get over it otherwise football probably isn't the sport for you.

[StfcRusty]

Who finished top of the group? Wow, I'm even feeling petty myself here  

You lost when it mattered most to you - against England.  

[FreddySTFC!]

fuck off you welsh twat

[4D]

It's not a rivalry, I couldn't give a shit about Wales. An irritant yes

[FreddySTFC!]

It's not a rivalry, I couldn't give a shit about Wales. An irritant yes

For somebody who doesn't give a shit you've spent a fair chunk of tonight chatting about it!!

[FreddySTFC!]

You lost when it mattered most to you - against England.  

I'm pretty sure that the semi final hurt more (I was there) but if you want to think that.......

[Ells]

It's not a rivalry, I couldn't give a shit about Wales. An irritant yes

Yeah, exactly. If Wales play someone else I just shrug - not my country, whatever. I don't go out of my way to support the other team, and I live here!