'Calm down, England haven't won yet'
I’d like to be the first to congratulate England on getting through to the quarter-final stage of Euro 2012.
Considering the awful preparation the squad had and how little time Roy Hodgson had to settle into the job, it’s a miracle they’ve managed to qualify, let alone top the group. It was so refreshing in the build up to the tournament not to be billed as the next ‘golden generation’ and ‘favourites for the trophy’ by the press and blindly-optimistic English football fans...it was all very low-key -and all the better for it.
But now, that bolshy, over-patriotic and moronic insistence that we are destined to end ‘46 years of hurt’ is creeping back - both in the press in England and among expat fans here in the UAE. Cries of ‘we’re going all the way!’, ‘we can win this thing!’ and ‘who can stop us now?’ after a few unconvincing victories make me despair.
-
letter
I implore everyone to calm down and look at things objectively. England were lucky to draw with France and scraped to victory in the other two games. Their next opponents are Italy and then, potentially, Germany, Spain or Portugal. I will be backing England to the hilt on Sunday but will be going into it realistically - expecting to be beaten by a far more experienced Italian side - and will be happy just to have got this far.
I hope others stop getting so carried away and realise that after four decades of mediocrity, we can put this belief that we deserve to win it simply because we’re England well and truly to bed.
Realistic England fan, Dubai
Comments
by FatBhoyTim
Monday, June 25 2012, 1:04PM
“I would define losing on penalties last night as lucky; as in lucky to have gotten that far.
I would also define cashing in on my bet that England go out on penalties as fortuitous.”
by ExpatEddie
Sunday, June 24 2012, 4:30PM
“Oh we were lucky? Lucky in this game, lucky in that game ... some people have a hard time giving credit where it's due.
Everyone thought Russia was a dark horse after the Czechs. France finished 2nd in the group. Holland got knocked out. Italy were rocking against Ireland in patches. How far do you want this 'luck' to go? At some point you need to say 'well done'.
Tournament football is not easy. It's also not straightforward. It's ridiculous to reel off a list of teams that would have beaten us as they haven't, we're not in the same groups. We've dealt with our group and won it. What more can we do?
It's not like we're playing Spain or Germany it's Italy. We don't have anything to fear and I am sure Italy are feeling the same way. We may go out but we certainly don't have 'no chance' and to get to a semi would be great, one match away ... who brings it on the day. Maybe that's the most we can hope for and what's wrong with that.
I'd take a semi any day of the week and then the chance ... the chance of 'never know' but whatever happens, happens. No one is 'thinking' we will win but the chance is there and there's nothing wrong with wondering or hoping instead of being grumpy and talking of how great all these teams are that got knocked out”
by britannia88
Friday, June 22 2012, 12:15AM
“@FatBhoyTim - Haha, I wouldn't expect any different from a Celtic fan. To be honest, I agree with the letter writer (and you)...and hope that if England are to go out, I would rather it was at the hands of the Italians. To lose to the Fritz at the semi-final stage (again) would be too much to handle.
@ExpatEddie - Well, yes, I'm afraid I'm asking the 'how dare they' question...because what gives them the right to be optimistic? They must know we were lucky to avoid Group B (including Holland, Germany, Portugal) and Group C (Italy, Spain) where England would have been found out and demolished...so to get through against said teams will surely mean we'll be found out?! And yet, read the press back home and listen to the 'football fans' here...you'd think we're on course to win it. The letter writer is right, just be prepared for defeat, I know I am.”
by NewCrunch
Thursday, June 21 2012, 10:32PM
“What are you talking about?? Football is about passion. These fans have every right to be optimistic and hopeful. It's not about being 'realistic'. If they have reached so far, they have as much a chance as anyone else.”
by Becklegs
Thursday, June 21 2012, 5:48PM
“@FatBhoyTim
Hope you get something else - which you will cos you're Scottish.
Love England x”
by valamratan17
Thursday, June 21 2012, 2:21PM
“I implore you to watch the games at home, far away from the enthusiastic, uncontainable football fans!”
by FatBhoyTim
Thursday, June 21 2012, 1:55PM
“Dear England,
I hope you get stuffed.
Yours faithfully,
- An apathetic Scotsman”
by ExpatEddie
Thursday, June 21 2012, 10:47AM
“How dare fans be happy and optimisitic??
I think England fans know exactly where we are right now but are just happy to get through and have opportunities in front of us”