Is international footy crap or am I getting old?

[Lipso]

I think it’s absolutely fantastic that Taribo West got an honourable mention in the OP due to Champ Man.

 

[why do i do it?]

Got turned off it in the Capello era. Have never gave a shit about it since if I'm honest.

I watch games in tournaments with mates as a bit of a social but I look forward more to a Sunderland pre season friendly than I do any international game.

Never watched England since Capello told Darren Bent that if he wanted to play for England he should join a bigger club. Then not one member of the F.A. Said that it wasn’t what he meant or words to that effect.

 

[Nathan Gunn]

It's more of a team game today. So there's less of a reliance on teams to have "superstars". Look at PSG, they've just won back to back champions leagues without anyone in their team who you'd say is a messi/ronaldo type player.

So on an international level, there's more of a focus on building a team rather than selecting just on talent. It's why Tuchel has chose likes of Djed Spence over Alexander-Arnold as he thinks that's a better fit for the team

 

[riffraff]

The last time I was excited about a tournament was Euro96. Best London summer of my 42 down here.
I went over to France for a couple of weeks of the Hodgson Euros and even that wasn’t as good.

 

[Zimba]

It's been crap for years and it's down to it being in shite places like Russia, Qatar and USA with tickets for £10k or whatever stupid prices are being thrown around.

It's not the people's tournament anymore as we're all locked out.

It'd be nice for it to be in Europe once in awhile with tickets available to everyone.

 

[turnthetide3]

The last time I enjoyed it was Argentina 1978 when our northern neighbours made a right arse of it.

 

[Thatheaderman]

It's been crap for years and it's down to it being in shite places like Russia, Qatar and USA with tickets for £10k or whatever stupid prices are being thrown around.

It's not the people's tournament anymore as we're all locked out.

It'd be nice for it to be in Europe once in awhile with tickets available to everyone.

3 giants of world football.

Saudi soon......

 

[The Hesk]

Struggle massively with international football in the main especially the international breaks during the season but i do love the Euros and World cups

 

[CissesUnderpants9]

It's more of a team game today. So there's less of a reliance on teams to have "superstars". Look at PSG, they've just won back to back champions leagues without anyone in their team who you'd say is a messi/ronaldo type player.

So on an international level, there's more of a focus on building a team rather than selecting just on talent. It's why Tuchel has chose likes of Djed Spence over Alexander-Arnold as he thinks that's a better fit for the team

Which is perfectly understandable.

It's been crap for years and it's down to it being in shite places like Russia, Qatar and USA with tickets for £10k or whatever stupid prices are being thrown around.

It's not the people's tournament anymore as we're all locked out.

It'd be nice for it to be in Europe once in awhile with tickets available to everyone.

Euro 28 in two years time. That’s not going to be such a financial issue for folks

 

[BingoBango]

International football is only worthwhile in tournaments and only when teams of similar competitive standards are playing one another. Otherwise, it's 11 behind the ball and sideways passing for 90

 

[Zimba]

Euro 28 in two years time. That’s not going to be such a financial issue for folks

Aye it'll be interesting to see if gets people more interested. World Cup after is Spain aswell which is a nice change. The one after less so mind.

 

[CissesUnderpants9]

Aye it'll be interesting to see if gets people more interested. World Cup after is Spain aswell which is a nice change. The one after less so mind.

Indeed, so plenty of international football available, to be fair if folk can afford bendorm every year, getting to Spain shouldn’t be a problem.

 

[errant]

The last time I enjoyed it was Argentina 1978 when our northern neighbours made a right arse of it.

archie gemmill's moment in the sun...

Logon or register to see this image

 

[WestEndLad1975]

Lamine Yamal is a considerably far superior footballer than all of those in bold.

I didn't say there weren't any great individuals now but who else is there then?

 

[Be Here Now]

Which is perfectly understandable.

Euro 28 in two years time. That’s not going to be such a financial issue for folks

Best to keep on with the home games to get more caps for cheaper tickets

 

[CissesUnderpants9]

Best to keep on with the home games to get more caps for cheaper tickets

Which given your current position following the games, should set you up nice for both that World Cup and Euros

 

[Lil Layne]

I didn't say there weren't any great individuals now but who else is there then?

The likes of Haaland, Pedri, Mbappe, Vini Jr, Dembele, Olise and Raphina are exceptional footballers. Then Kane who's in the argument for Englands greatest ever striker. In terms of superstardom Bellingham is right up there. Declan Rice is an excellent player and add on top of that that the world cup is often a place where the future huge names can come through I think you're understating the current crop a canny bit, so aye you might just be getting old.

 

[contrarian]

Comes from listening to kids chatting at weekend and arguing who's better? Messi or Ronaldo?

I'm early 50s so first WC I remember to enjoy was 82.

I bought World Soccer mag with all the squads in and honestly...meh. Just thinking from the late 90s/2000s world cups lads of my age saw...

Crespo, Veron, batistuta.
Del piero, vieri, maldini, Nesta, Buffon, cannavaro, pirlo, inzahghi, totti.
Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, kaka, ronaldinho, Ronaldo.
Xavi, iniesta, busquets, puyol, David villa.
Rooney, Beckham, Gerrard, lampard, Terry, cole, Shearer, Owen.
Zidane, trezeguet, thuram, Deschamps, pires, desailly, blanc.
Davids, seedorf, Bergamo, de Boers, stam.

Then variously Figo, Keane, stoichkov, shevchenko, sammer, ballack, taribo west, litmanen, Larsson.

Looking at the talent or maybe "star names" now there's undoubtedly good players but I'd say a million miles from them above.

No mention of the man who scored the greatest ever goal in à WC … Diego Maradona????

The likes of Haaland, Pedri, Mbappe, Vini Jr, Dembele, Olise and Raphina are exceptional footballers. Then Kane who's in the argument for Englands greatest ever striker. In terms of superstardom Bellingham is right up there. Declan Rice is an excellent player and add on top of that that the world cup is often a place where the future huge names can come through I think you're understating the current crop a canny bit, so aye you might just be getting old.

Hurst is Englands greatest ever striker

 

[ontap]

If it's not the lads I find most of it fairly dull/boring/crap tbh.

Same here other than actualt tournament Gina’s , ive given up watching internationals. I expect England to be crap and have an early exit , given some if Tuchel’s ridiculous player selections.

 

[ATTACK ATTACK ATTACK]

think its wall to wall telly, in 70s and 80s looked forward to seeing the star players eg Maradona, Cruyff, Pele, Rossi etc as was only chance to see them . Now can see them every weekend and when Cl on during the week too.
There's not really any surprises anymore.

Football has advanced globally also so you don't have great players going up against as many plodders at the top level.

It's not just football as many sports have improved in time for numerous reasons closing the gaps between those at the top.