Ok, the system's a bit **** but are we a footballing nation?

*Windy · Oct 18, 2007

Alright then maybe we're a footballing nation, we're certainly a footballing watching nation, but are we actually any good at playing it? It's all relative and we used to be resident in the top third of the scale but is it possible thatwe're being leftbehind in our sport of choice? It's always been said that good football comes from poor streets, maybe we don't have that any more. At the risk of sounding cliched maybe we don't have the individual hunger any more. One thing's for certain, only the English see the English as a world force in football these days.

Anyway ne' mind. I reckon, per capita,the world's best sporting nation is Croatia but we take some beating for being up there in most of the world's top sports. Rugby, cricket, boxing, motor racing, athletics, equine sports, martial arts, you name it. Also we're reight good at war and hooliganism so they can all fook straight off.

La Dent de Crolles · Oct 18, 2007

I hear what you are saying.

If we Tax cars off the roads , get back to street football , we will rule the World.

EastStander · Oct 18, 2007

Interesting how you put that we are right up there in cricket - seem to recall similar criticisms leveled at the cricket team after the Ashes test and the World Cup!

It's all fine lines, if Gerrard puts that shot the right side of the post everyone would be saying how great they are, he puts it the left side and it's national mourning!

*Windy · Oct 18, 2007

Aah but....

How many countries are ahead ofus in cricket compared to those ahead of us in football?

EastStander · Oct 18, 2007

RE: Aah but....

Only because far fewer countries play it though, as a percentage of the number of countries that play it at international level, we are probably further behind in cricket.

pompey_red · Oct 18, 2007

expectation levels and past glories

seems we expect to be world champions or at least challenging for trophies merely because we "gave the game to the world"

*Windy · Oct 18, 2007

Lots of countries play.

There are only a few who play at a decent level.<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1"><tbody><tr><td>Rank
</td><td>Team
</td></tr><tr><td>1
</td><td><a title="Australia national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_national_cricket_team">Australia
</td></tr><tr><td>2
</td><td><a title="South Africa national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Africa_national_cricket_team">South Africa
</td></tr><tr><td>3
</td><td><a title="New Zealand national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_national_cricket_team">New Zealand
</td></tr><tr><td>4
</td><td><a title="Sri Lanka national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka_national_cricket_team">Sri Lanka
</td></tr><tr><td>5
</td><td><a title="Pakistan national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan_national_cricket_team">Pakistan
</td></tr><tr><td>6
</td><td><a title="India national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India_national_cricket_team">India
</td></tr><tr><td>7
</td><td><a title="England cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England_cricket_team">England
</td></tr><tr><td>8
</td><td><a title="West Indies cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Indies_cricket_team">West Indies
</td></tr><tr><td>9
</td><td><a title="Bangladesh national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh_national_cricket_team">Bangladesh
</td></tr><tr><td>10
</td><td><a title="Ireland cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland_cricket_team">Ireland
</td></tr><tr><td>11
</td><td><a title="Zimbabwe national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe_national_cricket_team">Zimbabwe
</td></tr><tr><td>12
</td><td><a title="Kenya national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya_national_cricket_team">Kenya
</td></tr><tr><td>13
</td><td><a title="Scotland national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotland_national_cricket_team">Scotland
</td></tr><tr><td>14
</td><td><a title="Netherlands national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_national_cricket_team">Netherlands
</td></tr><tr><td>15
</td><td><a title="Canada national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_national_cricket_team">Canada
</td></tr><tr><td>16
</td><td><a title="Bermuda national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_national_cricket_team">Bermuda
</td></tr><tr><td>17
</td><td><a title="Namibia national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namibia_national_cricket_team">Namibia
</td></tr><tr><td>18
</td><td><a title="United Arab Emirates national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates_national_cricket_team">United Arab Emirates
</td></tr><tr><td>19
</td><td><a title="United States national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_national_cricket_team">United States
</td></tr><tr><td>20
</td><td><a title="Papua New Guinea national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guinea_national_cricket_team">Papua New Guinea
</td></tr><tr><td>21
</td><td><a title="Denmark national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark_national_cricket_team">Denmark
</td></tr><tr><td>22
</td><td><a title="Uganda national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda_national_cricket_team">Uganda
</td></tr><tr><td>23
</td><td><a title="Nepal national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal_national_cricket_team">Nepal
</td></tr><tr><td>24
</td><td><a title="Cayman Islands national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cayman_Islands_national_cricket_team">Cayman Islands
</td></tr><tr><td>25
</td><td><a title="Fiji national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiji_national_cricket_team">Fiji
</td></tr><tr><td>26
</td><td><a title="Hong Kong cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong_cricket_team">Hong Kong
</td></tr><tr><td>27
</td><td><a title="Oman national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman_national_cricket_team">Oman
</td></tr><tr><td>28
</td><td><a title="Afghanistan national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan_national_cricket_team">Afghanistan
</td></tr><tr><td>29
</td><td><a title="Botswana national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botswana_national_cricket_team">Botswana
</td></tr><tr><td>30
</td><td><a title="Singapore national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_national_cricket_team">Singapore
</td></tr><tr><td>31
</td><td><a title="Bahrain national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain_national_cricket_team">Bahrain
</td></tr><tr><td>32
</td><td><a title="Kuwait national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait_national_cricket_team">Kuwait
</td></tr><tr><td>33
</td><td><a title="Italy national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy_national_cricket_team">Italy
</td></tr><tr><td>34
</td><td><a title="Malaysia national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia_national_cricket_team">Malaysia
</td></tr><tr><td>35
</td><td><a title="Tanzania national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanzania_national_cricket_team">Tanzania
</td></tr><tr><td>36
</td><td><a title="Qatar national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar_national_cricket_team">Qatar
</td></tr><tr><td>37
</td><td><a title="Mozambique national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozambique_national_cricket_team">Mozambique
</td></tr><tr><td>38
</td><td><a title="Saudi Arabia national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia_national_cricket_team">Saudi Arabia
</td></tr><tr><td>39
</td><td><a title="Argentina national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina_national_cricket_team">Argentina
</td></tr><tr><td>40
</td><td><a title="Sierra Leone national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone_national_cricket_team">Sierra Leone
</td></tr><tr><td>41
</td><td><a title="Zambia national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zambia_national_cricket_team">Zambia
</td></tr><tr><td>42
</td><td><a title="Norway national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norway_national_cricket_team">Norway
</td></tr><tr><td>43
</td><td><a title="Bahamas national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahamas_national_cricket_team">Bahamas
</td></tr><tr><td>44
</td><td><a title="Malawi national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malawi_national_cricket_team">Malawi
</td></tr><tr><td>45
</td><td><a title="Guernsey cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guernsey_cricket_team">Guernsey
</td></tr><tr><td>46
</td><td><a title="Nigeria national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_national_cricket_team">Nigeria
</td></tr><tr><td>47
</td><td><a title="Ghana national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghana_national_cricket_team">Ghana
</td></tr><tr><td>48
</td><td><a title="Germany national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany_national_cricket_team">Germany
</td></tr><tr><td>49
</td><td><a title="Maldives national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives_national_cricket_team">Maldives
</td></tr><tr><td>50
</td><td><a title="Gibraltar national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibraltar_national_cricket_team">Gibraltar
</td></tr><tr><td>51
</td><td><a title="Greece national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece_national_cricket_team">Greece
</td></tr><tr><td>52
</td><td><a title="France national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_national_cricket_team">France
</td></tr><tr><td>53
</td><td><a title="Tonga national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonga_national_cricket_team">Tonga
</td></tr><tr><td>54
</td><td><a title="Cook Islands national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cook_Islands_national_cricket_team">Cook Islands
</td></tr><tr><td>55
</td><td><a title="Japan national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_national_cricket_team">Japan
</td></tr><tr><td>56
</td><td><a title="Israel national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_national_cricket_team">Israel
</td></tr><tr><td>57
</td><td><a title="Isle of Man cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isle_of_Man_cricket_team">Isle of Man
</td></tr><tr><td>58
</td><td><a title="Jersey cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jersey_cricket_team">Jersey
</td></tr><tr><td>59
</td><td><a title="Portugal national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portugal_national_cricket_team">Portugal
</td></tr><tr><td>60
</td><td><a title="Belgium national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium_national_cricket_team">Belgium
</td></tr><tr><td>61
</td><td><a title="Spain national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain_national_cricket_team">Spain
</td></tr><tr><td>62
</td><td><a title="Malta national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malta_national_cricket_team">Malta
</td></tr><tr><td>63
</td><td><a title="Austria national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria_national_cricket_team">Austria
</td></tr><tr><td>64
</td><td><a title="Thailand national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand_national_cricket_team">Thailand
</td></tr><tr><td>65
</td><td><a title="Indonesia national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia_national_cricket_team">Indonesia
</td></tr><tr><td>66
</td><td><a title="Vanuatu national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanuatu_national_cricket_team">Vanuatu
</td></tr><tr><td>67
</td><td><a title="Panama national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_national_cricket_team">Panama
</td></tr><tr><td>68
</td><td><a title="Croatia national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia_national_cricket_team">Croatia
</td></tr><tr><td>69
</td><td><a title="Finland national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finland_national_cricket_team">Finland
</td></tr><tr><td>70
</td><td><a title="Switzerland national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland_national_cricket_team">Switzerland
</td></tr><tr><td>71
</td><td><a title="Samoa national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa_national_cricket_team">Samoa
</td></tr><tr><td>72
</td><td><a title="Bhutan national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan_national_cricket_team">Bhutan
</td></tr><tr><td>73
</td><td><a title="Suriname national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suriname_national_cricket_team">Suriname
</td></tr><tr><td>74
</td><td><a title="Belize national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize_national_cricket_team">Belize
</td></tr><tr><td>75
</td><td><a title="Chile national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile_national_cricket_team">Chile
</td></tr><tr><td>76
</td><td><a title="Slovenia national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenia_national_cricket_team">Slovenia
</td></tr><tr><td>77
</td><td><a title="Rwanda national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda_national_cricket_team">Rwanda
</td></tr><tr><td>78
</td><td><a title="Gambia national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gambia_national_cricket_team">Gambia
</td></tr><tr><td>79
</td><td><a title="Luxembourg national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg_national_cricket_team">Luxembourg
</td></tr><tr><td>80
</td><td><a title="Brazil national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil_national_cricket_team">Brazil
</td></tr><tr><td>81
</td><td><a title="Lesotho national cricket team" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesotho_national_cricket_team">Lesotho
</td></tr></tbody></table>

gingerwizard · Oct 18, 2007

that table reflects our world ranking in one day cricket

we are 2nd in the proper version of the game,test match cricket!

EastStander · Oct 18, 2007

RE: Lots of countries play.

So 7th out of 81 countries

compared to 9th out of over 200 countries
http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/lastranking/gender=m/fullranking.html

Isle of Wight Tyke · Oct 18, 2007

Yes, but that doesn't make us the best.

I blame the media for everything, so there.

They build up expectations, they find scapegoats, they create the frenzy around players, they make all the hype, they then give us someone to blame. They pretty much form the masses opinions on everyone. They're the reason we have McClaren. He was potentially the only candidate that didn't have too many secrets that the press were dying to dig up and throw at the FA. They stopped us getting the managers we wanted.

The FA are cowards for not being tough enough to take the flak though, but we already new that, after Ericsson.

*Windy · Oct 18, 2007

Oh FFS.

You think we're the 9th best footballing side in the world?

And 7th out of 81 isn't "right up there"? Do you think if more countries played cricket we'd fall down the rankings?

FFS sake man give it a rest.

Capital Tyke · Oct 18, 2007

too many foreign players blocking the way of our youngsters

They can't get the necessary experience at high levels as their way's blocked by foreign players. Just look at the Arsenal or Liverpoool squads for example. 2 or 3 Brits in each team at most. Far less room for our home-grown talent to play games at high level and develop as they could otherwise. This is ONE of the possible reasons for a decline.

pompey_red · Oct 18, 2007

RE: too many foreign players blocking the way of our youngsters

cheaper , better and ready quicker..... welcome to the world of quick fix football... i guess we could look at our own squad and say the same , what have we got ...zero , none , zilch home grown players in the 11 ?

EastStander · Oct 18, 2007

You can tell when Windy can't find a counter argument

He resorts to "FFS man, give it a rest!"

Just comparing official rankings (I assume you took official rankings) which puts the football slightly above the cricket based upon the percentage of countries that play (top 5.7% for cricket and top 4.5% for football) - which was what I was saying.

Besides which, cricket, rugby and all other sports we may excel at matter not one jot to me compared to football. Whether the national team succeed or fail at those really has little effect on my either way.

*Windy · Oct 18, 2007

Ok let me explain it to you.

In your predictable haste to disagree and correct every fecking single thing you read you're obsessing with percentages of those teams deemed fit to be included in world leader boards whereas the truth is that cricket and football are played everywhere and even if there are a few countries that don't play cricket it doesn't alter the fact that we're "right up there" in the world.

Youobviously find petty, pedanticsquabbling over minutae entertaining but I've got better things to do with my time and, as usual, your tedious contrariness has you talking ***** so yes, give it a fecking rest man.

EastStander · Oct 18, 2007

RE: too many foreign players blocking the way of our youngsters

If they are good enough they'll break through.
The worst period for the England national team was the 1970's when we failed to qualify for 2 successive World Cups, yet we barely had any non-British players in the English league until after the 2nd of those Word Cups.

EastStander · Oct 18, 2007

RE: Ok let me explain it to you.

You were missing my original point, that the same criticisms were levelled against the cricket team as against the football team.

I just made a comment, you resorted to statistics by pulling up a ranking table.

captain · Oct 18, 2007

Lets face it, i love my country to bits & want em to do well at everything, but maybe just maybe we think (country as a whole) our players are a lot better than what they really are. Iron test, how many of our current squad/ side would make a world eleven/ squad? I'd say maybe Gerrard & Rooney.

*Windy · Oct 18, 2007

I'm not missing your point at all.

And I'm not interested in the "criticisms" to which you refer or who made them.They havenothing to do with the point you were attempting to correct.

Now **** off and bother someone else you great galloping bell end.

*Windy · Oct 18, 2007

Ooh that's a good one.



My guess is a lot of people would say we wouldn't get a look in.

Ok, the system's a bit **** but are we a footballing nation?

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