RugbyRebels

England: Euro fear and loathing champions

We have a culture of fear and loathing in England. As last week well-proved, it is increasingly a divided country which is glaring at itself over an economic, political and cultural wall, jabbing its finger and shouting “it’s all your fault, you’re the problem, you f**king w**kers!”.

Of course we’ve got a long history of hating each other and many seem to enjoy it. Indeed, it’s one of our greatest traditions, usually perpetuated by people who consider themselves the greatest patriots. Nothing is more English than enjoying being scared of and hating your fellow English, whilst saying how much you love the English.

So it’s no surprise that this rather confused culture which loves fear and loathing is reflected in our football media towards the England team. It is largely a media, especially the papers, that is very ready to stick the knife in, given the slightest opportunity, real or manufactured. There is a definite, easily tapped passion for disliking the national side that outweighs the desire for them to do well.

As we prepare to play Iceland, the players and especially the manager are clearly being readied for a roasting should they do anything other than play brilliantly and win 5-0, in the sure knowledge they almost never do that. This is fear and loathing in action and this is how it works.

You repeatedly declare, “we should be beating teams like this, they only have a small population, if we can’t beat them, we don’t deserve to even be at the Euros. If we lose, It’ll be one of the major embarrassments on the planet,” and then follow that swiftly with a claim that England expects far too much of its hugely over-rated players. Breathtaking hypocrisy is one of fear and loathing’s trump cards.

If we lose, all hell will break loose, the players and manager will be castigated, but eventually much of the blame will be laid at the door of the foreigners taking English players’ jobs, because they’re cheaper and better; cheaper and better because the English are worse because of the foreigners.

But even if England beat Iceland, don’t get excited because fear and loathing will say that “we’ve not played a good side yet” to make sure any achievement by England is disparaged, just as it disparaged emerging out of the group undefeated. But hand in hand with this attitude is the fear of actually playing a good, big side, but you must also feel that having to play the big side is actually a failure for ending up in the ‘wrong’ side of the draw, even though progress by beating only small sides is also disparaged. See, that’s the good thing about fear and loathing; by holding contradictory views simultaneously, you’re always right.

Anything that goes well is only what we should expect, anything that doesn’t is a disgrace. With perfect hindsight, fear and loathing can always say something better would have happened, had the manager done what he didn’t do, and the fact he didn’t do whatever that was, shows how rubbish he is. Fear and loathing relies on the un-provable, and thus the un-contradictable, in order to make its case. So when something fantastic happens, you can still paint it as merely what you’ve been asking for.

After spending a lot of time saying how fearful we should be of a big side, or even just of a good opposition player, fear and loathing dictates you must now criticise the team and manager for playing with fear. Remember, you’re a fan and thus can’t be in any way held partly complicit for the players’ state of mind, nor of the nature of English football culture. You’re are inviolate. If only the players had your passion. Right? It’s just common sense. But one thing we know is that the English people who advocate common sense are often the least sensible, and the most extreme.

But remember, if we do happen to play well and win well, make sure you get totally carried away and pour ridiculous amounts of praise on the players. It’s all part of the fear and loathing agenda, because without the massive over-vaunting after a good result, you can’t give them a proper kicking after the next poor result. Veering from high to low is your modus operandi. Nuance or moderation is your enemy.

This also means you have to compare England unfavourably to the other home nations and say they always have more pride and passion then England. Chastise England for not living up to the standards that you’ve set for them because, remember, it’s all about passing off fear and loathing as rational, noble and patriotic.

If we have a lot of possession, moan about the lack of tempo. If we don’t have much of the ball, moan about our inability to dominate possession. Hard tackling is reckless, not tackling shows lack of passion.

Spend a lot of time saying how poor England have been, but never let that stop you from tipping them to win. Fear and loathing says you must invest in the side in order to be properly outraged when they fail. Then, regardless of results, you must pick on one specific player as especially rubbish, and add in some outrage that a better player was left at home. Remember it’s always the thing that didn’t happen that would have made the difference. You don’t have evidence for this, it will all be hindsight, you can’t prove it, but you will assert it as though it’s a truth.

And above all, no matter what happens, fear and loathing dictates you must paint your ignorant, narrow, blinkered view as that of an oppressed, hard-working patriot, who, like an abusive partner, only hates England because you really love her, and anyone who disagrees with you is an idiot.

…and then there’s the football.

John Nicholson

http://www.football365.com/news/england ... -champions

Is the English media really that different from their counterparts overseas?

The media tend to react to what they see. When the team doesn't play well, the knives come out. Questions are asked; passion and motivation is probed, changes to formation, tactics, selection and personnel on or off the pitch are demanded.

This happens at domestic level as well as international and I'm sure the foreign press ask the same kind of questions.

Were the French media overjoyed with their rather average displays in the pool stage? If it wasn't for a few late goals in a couple of games, they may have struggled to go through. How did the Spanish press react to losing to Croatia and having to face Italy as a result?

The Welsh media have been positive but who can blame them? They've had success without having to beat any particularly good teams but you can only play what is in front of you and if you're capable of winning, who cares how it happens? They topped the group when England were expected to do so. Fair play for that but I still don't think they're as good as they think they are.

Expectation is the key though. I'm sure the Irish and Northern Irish press have been complementary about their team's achievements in the tournament too. Both teams made it through to the knockout stages, both had tough groups. Both teams did themselves proud in the matches that saw them knocked out. Both exceeded expectations...although, this extended format helped with that.

This is what leaves me annoyed with Woy's England. We have the resources and we, undoubtedly have some fine talent capable of playing well at international level so the expectation to do well and play well in the process is there but it isn't being met on the pitch. That said, I couldn't give a toss if we had massive amounts of possession, more chances and controlled the game. What matters is scoring goals so the game can be won. I'd be happier living off scraps of possession and scoring 4 goals in the group stage like Iceland managed.

Seriously though, the fans want to see the team do well....well, most do. A few English people have told me they hope England lose as they're overpaid, useless, prima donnas. Strangely though, they have no problems getting behind their domestic team which feature few English players.

I'm sure the press doesn't give a shit if the team does well or not. If they exceed expectation, that's fine, as they can trot out the expected nationalistic drivel but they can really go to town when the team fail.

Anyway, anything other than 5-0 is unacceptable!

Rumours confirmed. England have made 6 changes for the match against Iceland:
Hart
Walker
Cahill
Smalling
Rose
Dier
Rooney
Alli
Sturridge
Kane
Sterling

2-0!

Spain well beaten tonight. Italy worthy winners and if it wasn't for de Gea, the margin could've been bigger.

I'm sure Spain will be kicking themselves for losing to Croatia. A win there would've seen them play Portugal in this round and I think they would've walked it against Ronaldo et al.

Outstanding!

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Shocking defence after taking early lead..Iceland physical direct approach appears to have rattled the whites.
1-1 , 11 mins. played.

Oops.

Our defence has been fine up till now as no one has bothered testing it.

Perhaps if Slovakia and Wales really went for it against us, we wouldn't be here?

Same old problems at the back and Hart has let in a couple of very soft goals in this tournament.

Oh dear. Nice build up play to that goal. I quite like the ooh...............ooh.............ooh........ooh.....ooh....ooh chant the Icelandic fans do.

One positive, we may not need penalties to get knocked out this time!

Another over hit ball through.

How can Stirling have the gall to claim that?

No movement, no options. We're offering bugger all now. Nervy stuff.

Better by England although I reckon it would have hit the cross bar.

bruce wrote:How can Stirling have the gall to claim that?

They all try it on. Can hardly blame him for that. Can blame him for everything else though.

Did Kane just have a good shot??

If I was Icelandic I would keep niggling at Ali.

Alli should've been booked for that!

Get the feeling Iceland will be happy to shoot from distance for the rest of the match. Must have decent odds to score from anywhere outside the box.

Iceland 's goalie looks a bit nervous.

Can only imagine how loud the booing will be at half time unless we can score.

Why on earth was Kane all the way out there??

Iceland winning quite a few 50/50s. Far more intensity and strength.

Wilshere and Vardy to start the second half in Woy's bold match winning master stroke changes.

Barkley set to not touch a ball in anger for the campaign.

Dominant stats again Woy. Should be happy with that eh?

A few players need luthering...even Waz is poor thus far.Don't delay Woy.