England crash out of the European qualifiers

[feejer222]

Earlier in the week Israel had to beat Russia for us to stay in. (The group rounds are played with 4 teams in a group, all have to play each other accruing points as they go.

An English businessman put up £50k in the form of a car of choice up for the Israeli who scored the winning goal. They did it and he paid up.

Last night (Wed) England managed to lose 3-2 to Croatia, a team we should have eaten for breakfast. We only had to draw, and came back from 2-0 down.

Steve McLaren, the England Manager was fired this morning after a bad run of results. He said that today was the saddest day of his carreer. He must have forgotten the £2.5 million he collects for the early termination of the contract.

I think it would be better if we just sat back and watched everyone else play these days. Having invented the game we are pretty useless at it on the international stage.

David Beckham came on at half time and with a superb one touch volley sent a pin point cross to peter Crouch and created the second of our goals. (Peter Crouch is 6'7'' and it's his real name).

Beckham has signed for LA Galaxy has anyone there heard of them or him?

 

[squeezer]

Oh, yeah. I think almost everyone knows who Beckham is. They've had the big publicity push for the Galaxy signing. Still, just because people know who he is doesn't mean anyone is paying more attention to footba.. *cought* *hack*, um..., excuse me, soccer. I would bet most Americans don't even know that Major League Soccer had a championship game last week, let alone who played. I don't think most Americans noticed that Beckham didn't play all that much this season because of injuries.

Beckham's not more famous over here than his wife. And I'm sure most people aware of who he was before he signed with L.A. knew him because Keira Knightley starred in a move called "Bend it like Beckham."

The only time soccer really started to touch the big time over here was when the U.S. women won the World Cup. That tournament happened to be scheduled during a down time in the sports we normally watch, so the press helped. That momentum went away, though.

I think signing Beckham for L.A. might help. Having been abroad during World Cup tourneys before, I can see how watching this game can be addictive, so you'd think an audience could be built here. On the other hand, Pele played in New York and it barely caused a blip and that blip left with him. I don't know if Beckham's appeal can outdraw Pele.

 

[stormrider]

Oh, yeah. I think almost everyone knows who Beckham is. They've had the big publicity push for the Galaxy signing. Still, just because people know who he is doesn't mean anyone is paying more attention to footba.. *cought* *hack*, um..., excuse me, soccer. I would bet most Americans don't even know that Major League Soccer had a championship game last week, let alone who played. I don't think most Americans noticed that Beckham didn't play all that much this season because of injuries.
Beckham's not more famous over here than his wife. And I'm sure most people aware of who he was before he signed with L.A. knew him because Keira Knightley starred in a move called "Bend it like Beckham."

The only time soccer really started to touch the big time over here was when the U.S. women won the World Cup. That tournament happened to be scheduled during a down time in the sports we normally watch, so the press helped. That momentum went away, though.

I think signing Beckham for L.A. might help. Having been abroad during World Cup tourneys before, I can see how watching this game can be addictive, so you'd think an audience could be built here. On the other hand, Pele played in New York and it barely caused a blip and that blip left with him. I don't know if Beckham's appeal can outdraw Pele.

well said

 

[feejer222]

Oh, yeah. I think almost everyone knows who Beckham is. They've had the big publicity push for the Galaxy signing. Still, just because people know who he is doesn't mean anyone is paying more attention to footba.. *cought* *hack*, um..., excuse me, soccer. I would bet most Americans don't even know that Major League Soccer had a championship game last week, let alone who played. I don't think most Americans noticed that Beckham didn't play all that much this season because of injuries.
Beckham's not more famous over here than his wife. And I'm sure most people aware of who he was before he signed with L.A. knew him because Keira Knightley starred in a move called "Bend it like Beckham."

The only time soccer really started to touch the big time over here was when the U.S. women won the World Cup. That tournament happened to be scheduled during a down time in the sports we normally watch, so the press helped. That momentum went away, though.

I think signing Beckham for L.A. might help. Having been abroad during World Cup tourneys before, I can see how watching this game can be addictive, so you'd think an audience could be built here. On the other hand, Pele played in New York and it barely caused a blip and that blip left with him. I don't know if Beckham's appeal can outdraw Pele.

Good points. He is more respected than Victoria over here. She doesnt have many fans at all. I was on the motorway in crawling traffic with my (then) 11 year old daughter in the car. It was Saturday and the heavy traffic was for a United game at Old Trafford. We spotted a very nice BMW M5 ahead with blacked out windows and knew it would be maybe a player. Our lane moved quicker and we were able to catch the BMW, when we drew past and looked back it was her. I beeped the horn and my daughter waved. Victoria looked and then looked back ahead, never smiled waved or acknowledged my daughter, who at the time was a big fan of the spice girls. I hav eheard other stories about her ranting and raving in shops in Manchester when they lived here.

David Beckham is a gentleman and thoroughly decent chap. He is highly talented as a support player rather than an all out striker. His dead ball kicks and accuracy are incredible.

Pele was one of the worlds best players and although I only remember him from my childhood, I don't think he had the charisma Beck's has or the marketability. Beckham has advertised just about everything over here.

The funny thing is that Pele now advertises Viagra on sports channels here.

 

[squeezer]

The funny thing is that Pele now advertises Viagra on sports channels here.

How the mighty have fallen. No pun intended. :lol:

Anyway, I hope Beckham can make it work. I really do think it's a cool game to watch, even went to several games when I lived in Chicago and Seattle. Even so, what's probably most telling is that I really couldn't tell you how many leagues we have. Does anyone around here know if there's still a professional indoor soccer league in this country? I don't. For that matter, I don't really know if it's properly called a game or a match. What do you say on your side of the pond?

By the way, I forgot to give condolences for England being out of the Euro cup. I just happened to watch BBC World News that night and heard it was the first time England has been out of a major tourney since the mid-1990s. I guess that's like us choking in baseball or basketball. I'll tip a drink to you tonight.

 

[TestPilot]

.....I think it would be better if we just sat back and watched everyone else play these days. Having invented the game we are pretty useless at it on the international stage.

I'm sure it's not that bad - your team should beat Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Oh, sorry, we're talking soccer, not cricket :lol:

BTW - the Olyroos (our under 23 soccer team) has just made it through to the Olympic Games, finishing top of their qualifying section :yahoo: :clapping: :yahoo:

And our Aussie girls have last weekend won the world Netball championship, beating NZ in the final (and England along the way) :yahoo: :clapping: :yahoo:

 

[feejer222]

.....I think it would be better if we just sat back and watched everyone else play these days. Having invented the game we are pretty useless at it on the international stage.

I'm sure it's not that bad - your team should beat Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Oh, sorry, we're talking soccer, not cricket :lol:

BTW - the Olyroos (our under 23 soccer team) has just made it through to the Olympic Games, finishing top of their qualifying section :yahoo: :clapping: :yahoo:

And our Aussie girls have last weekend won the world Netball championship, beating NZ in the final (and England along the way) :yahoo: :clapping: :yahoo:

Well done Oz <_<

 

[feejer222]

I don't really know if it's properly called a game or a match. What do you say on your side of the pond?
I'll tip a drink to you tonight.

Match and cheers!