The last England/Germany match I remember was from the 90s. Must've been a semifinal to something - world or European cup - in the UK. I thought it was great - it's the only time I've ever sat down with a beer to watch a game with my dad, actually, and it was nail-biting stuff. Went through extra time to the penalties, which obviously, as a non-afficionado, and having invested about three hours of my life by that time, I found thoroughly exciting. (The penalty shootout has, frankly, only a little more variability than a typical football match
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It's probably like that in most countries, and perhaps if I lived in France, the French might be similarly annoying about the subject. Mob mentality is kind of a human thing. But I live in England, so I'm singling them out because they're the ones I have to live with
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That was a loooong time ago (although I still don't approve of attacks of "cramp" in the extra three minutes, which is a sordid tactic and should be punished with a flurry of yellow and red cards) but, as Spike pointed out, Maradonna looks like the only coach to really be passionate about the game. He's very entertaining.
Its probably not just the Maradona thing, their first goal in the Mexico match was about 3 yards offside as well.
I think the British have very little to be proud of sport wise over the last 60 years, so we have to harp on about old victories, especially when its against the germans. My rose tinted glasses tell me that we always used to be better friends with Germany than France, and its a hangover from that, but people are too socially inept to keep it joshing.
Disagreements over Argentina are more likely to be vindictive, just because they are seen as having been stirring things up recently, and we are worried that if they win, they'll gloat in the same way we would have done...
English people combine neurotic modesty on a personal level, with the belief that as a nation, we are the best in the world at everything, and that anyone else winning anything is a temporary blip. That's why we still remember '66. Because in our tiny minds, 66 was normality, and anything else is a run of bad luck.
Oh, the English ARE awesome in so many ways! Only nation ever to pretty much conquer the world. Painted the globe pink.
It would just be far more impressive if they did cleave to the stereotype of unflappableness and stiff upper lips rather than being at all gloaty/whiny. I would be DEEPLY impressed if they did.
The definition of being cool is never having to point it out to anyone.
Did you see the "newspapers" the day after? I was flying into the UK on that day (*waves hello from the North of you*) and I saw some of them. One had as a full frontpage a picture with huge letters saying "YOU LET US DOWN". Others contained things like "shameful", "disgrace" or "ripped us apart".
I do not miss the car horns and the stupid car flags. Honestly, I was a little disappointed to make it out of the group; but I've never been much of a football fan. Thank you, Germany, for making the noise and the obsessiveness go away for another two years. :-)
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I think the British have very little to be proud of sport wise over the last 60 years, so we have to harp on about old victories, especially when its against the germans. My rose tinted glasses tell me that we always used to be better friends with Germany than France, and its a hangover from that, but people are too socially inept to keep it joshing.
Disagreements over Argentina are more likely to be vindictive, just because they are seen as having been stirring things up recently, and we are worried that if they win, they'll gloat in the same way we would have done...
Reply
English people combine neurotic modesty on a personal level, with the belief that as a nation, we are the best in the world at everything, and that anyone else winning anything is a temporary blip. That's why we still remember '66. Because in our tiny minds, 66 was normality, and anything else is a run of bad luck.
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It would just be far more impressive if they did cleave to the stereotype of unflappableness and stiff upper lips rather than being at all gloaty/whiny. I would be DEEPLY impressed if they did.
The definition of being cool is never having to point it out to anyone.
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British newspapers are worse than Spanish TV.
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