And so it ends.
It’s a good thing that I’m a fan of football in general because otherwise my World Cup campaign, like that of the All Whites and England, would be over.
The All Whites were eliminated from the World Cup late last week, despite not losing a game. They didn’t win any either which just goes to prove that maybe, just maybe, the non politically correct have been right all along; winning is everything.
The All Whites over achieved and excelled everyone’s expectations, not just here in New Zealand but the world over, not least Slovakia, Italy and to a certain extent Paraguay. In those countries I daresay the only thing they knew about NZ four weeks ago was that they would be an easy three points.
Going on our track record at these types of things it was a fair assumption that we might have embarrassed ourselves over in South Africa, but that certainly never happened. The All Whites were in the biggest shopping window ever these past three weeks and several of them put up one hell of a CV.
I sincerely hope that they get the opportunities and financial rewards that come with having done so well.
England on the other hand, well, they were England.
Over hyped and under delivered is a phrase which sums up England’s performance up every major tournament since 1996 really. Before the start of these Finals the BBC surveyed a number of football personalities who picked Engerland to finish fourth. I only hope they haven’t given up their day jobs to become football ‘experts’.
The reception of the two teams amongst the fans of the two countries will make for an interesting contrast over the next few days. We Kiwis are lining the arrival lounges of airports up and down this small country of ours, prepared to cheer our team as each individual member staggers home.
In England the players will be ushered in through the back door by airport officials in an attempt to avoid the sight of them whipping up the frenzy of the welcoming crowd that won’t actually exist. A lynch mob might, but a supportive and grateful sporting public, no.
Of course all the hype around England at these kinds of things is usually down to two things; a fan base that is incredibly myopic and blinded by the eternal misguided optimism that comes with that and by media that milk that particular teet for all it’s worth.
The problem with the English game is that the success of the English clubs is down to no small part, to the large number of foreigners playing in them. Fans of Chelsea, Manchester United et al take great pride in supporting their clubs but fail to see that when you take out all the Spanish, French and South American players from them you’re left with, well, the English national team.
It’s all a bit like being the bassist in the world’s biggest band really.
Thankfully New Zealand football fans don’t suffer from delusions of grandeur. Not yet anyway. Whether we do after this World Cup remains to be seen, it’s a concept we’re not unfamiliar with when it comes to our rugby and cricket teams...
It’s a good thing that I’m a fan of football in general because otherwise my World Cup campaign, like that of the All Whites and England, would be over.
The All Whites were eliminated from the World Cup late last week, despite not losing a game. They didn’t win any either which just goes to prove that maybe, just maybe, the non politically correct have been right all along; winning is everything.
The All Whites over achieved and excelled everyone’s expectations, not just here in New Zealand but the world over, not least Slovakia, Italy and to a certain extent Paraguay. In those countries I daresay the only thing they knew about NZ four weeks ago was that they would be an easy three points.
Going on our track record at these types of things it was a fair assumption that we might have embarrassed ourselves over in South Africa, but that certainly never happened. The All Whites were in the biggest shopping window ever these past three weeks and several of them put up one hell of a CV.
I sincerely hope that they get the opportunities and financial rewards that come with having done so well.
England on the other hand, well, they were England.
Over hyped and under delivered is a phrase which sums up England’s performance up every major tournament since 1996 really. Before the start of these Finals the BBC surveyed a number of football personalities who picked Engerland to finish fourth. I only hope they haven’t given up their day jobs to become football ‘experts’.
The reception of the two teams amongst the fans of the two countries will make for an interesting contrast over the next few days. We Kiwis are lining the arrival lounges of airports up and down this small country of ours, prepared to cheer our team as each individual member staggers home.
In England the players will be ushered in through the back door by airport officials in an attempt to avoid the sight of them whipping up the frenzy of the welcoming crowd that won’t actually exist. A lynch mob might, but a supportive and grateful sporting public, no.
Of course all the hype around England at these kinds of things is usually down to two things; a fan base that is incredibly myopic and blinded by the eternal misguided optimism that comes with that and by media that milk that particular teet for all it’s worth.
The problem with the English game is that the success of the English clubs is down to no small part, to the large number of foreigners playing in them. Fans of Chelsea, Manchester United et al take great pride in supporting their clubs but fail to see that when you take out all the Spanish, French and South American players from them you’re left with, well, the English national team.
It’s all a bit like being the bassist in the world’s biggest band really.
Thankfully New Zealand football fans don’t suffer from delusions of grandeur. Not yet anyway. Whether we do after this World Cup remains to be seen, it’s a concept we’re not unfamiliar with when it comes to our rugby and cricket teams...
Rooney, the worlds most recognisable Downie, was cake the whole tournament.
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