Scotland are the worlds best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shaggy]

Same here. I’ve looked forward to so many international tournaments, just for the feast of football, and been let down almost every time.

One big bug-bear of mine is this “the standard of international football” bollocks.

The experts tell us that it’s the highest standard of football. Well, I beg to differ. Champions League and the top halves of Europe’s top domestic leagues are of a higher standard, IMO. The top European club sides cherry pick the best Brazilians, the best Argies, the best Spaniards etc etc, and their teams are made up of top quality stars from all over the world.

90% of the time in internationals, you meet inferior, sub-standard opposition. There are probably half a dozen sides in the world with a large proportion of top players in their starting XI – Brazil, France, Spain, Germany, England (yes, England), Argentina, Italy and Holland. Unless you play one of these sides, you’re coming up against ****e.

Surely no-one could claim that any of England’s opposition in their current qualifying group offer stiffer opposition than any mid-ranking Premiership club? Not a chance.

International football is a step down from the level of football we watch most weeks.

[Red_Polo]

That said, regardless of England, I do think international football is a ****e sideshow.

Damn right. Everything since Euro 2000 has been total pish.

[Bob]

It's not just Scotland. It's the same when Wales or Northern Ireland win a game too. Party time!

"Get the bunting out, we've won a game!!"

Says a ****ing English man! If you'd said that vis-a-vis i'd have literally have fell off my seat while pissing myself.

As a nation England doesn't half like to go on before/during/after any competitive game. If they win their first game in any competitive tournament they instantly label themselves world-beaters.

Not just once, but every ****ing time.

I think Slim nailed the mentality of the smaller nations!

[Bob]

Same here. I’ve looked forward to so many international tournaments, just for the feast of football, and been let down almost every time.

One big bug-bear of mine is this “the standard of international football” bollocks.

The experts tell us that it’s the highest standard of football. Well, I beg to differ. Champions League and the top halves of Europe’s top domestic leagues are of a higher standard, IMO. The top European club sides cherry pick the best Brazilians, the best Argies, the best Spaniards etc etc, and their teams are made up of top quality stars from all over the world.

90% of the time in internationals, you meet inferior, sub-standard opposition. There are probably half a dozen sides in the world with a large proportion of top players in their starting XI – Brazil, France, Spain, Germany, England (yes, England), Argentina, Italy and Holland. Unless you play one of these sides, you’re coming up against ****e.

Surely no-one could claim that any of England’s opposition in their current qualifying group offer stiffer opposition than any mid-ranking Premiership club? Not a chance.

International football is a step down from the level of football we watch most weeks.

Patriotism. Pride. Identity.

[Shaggy]

I see your "patriotism, pride and identity" and raise you flag-waving loonies.

[Bob]

I see your "patriotism, pride and identity" and raise you flag-waving loonies.

Just a bit of fun.

Plus i still harbor ambitions of playing for my country... the pisher they are the better for me.

[Shaggy]

Says a ****ing English man! If you'd said that vis-a-vis i'd have literally have fell off my seat while pissing myself.

What a ridiculous statement. I don't care about England but even I could tell you England win games far, far more regularly than any of the other home nations.

Like I said, it's "get the bunting out" time when any of the home minnows win a game but good luck to them - they're minnows after all. *shrug*

[Shaggy]

Just a bit of fun.

Same here - I don't really frown upon patriotism, particularly, although I do a bit when it reaches lunatic proportions.

[Bob]

What a ridiculous statement. I don't care about England but even I could tell you England win games far, far more regularly than any of the other home nations.

Like I said, it's "get the bunting out" time when any of the home minnows win a game but good luck to them - they're minnows after all. *shrug*

Oh we knows it. It's not an insult.

We have a population of 1m (45% of which are more likely to play for the Rep of Ireland than us). So we really are minnows.

Still this is very apt....

The English boys came over in the year two thousand and five
But little did they know that we had planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang.....
(what did we sing?)

We're not Brazil, We're Northern Ireland
We're not Brazil, We're Northern Ireland
We're not Brazil, We're Northern Ireland
But it's all the same to me!

[Shaggy]

I didn't mean the 'minnows' comment as an insult, not at all.

[Chiccada]

Says a ****ing English man! If you'd said that vis-a-vis i'd have literally have fell off my seat while pissing myself.

As a nation England doesn't half like to go on before/during/after any competitive game. If they win their first game in any competitive tournament they instantly label themselves world-beaters.

Not just once, but every ****ing time.

I think Slim nailed the mentality of the smaller nations!

Just for reference, when you say they, who do you mean??? I for one don't do that, nor does anyone that i know.

[Mumsafan]

The unofficial world champions......then we play Italy

When Italy win they'll be the first team to hold both titles.

[spud_gun]

When Italy win they'll be the first team to hold both titles.

[Mumsafan]

[Bob]

Just for reference, when you say they, who do you mean??? I for one don't do that, nor does anyone that i know.

Media.

But there is plenty of laughable evidence on the forums as well.

Kinda like when some go on about number 19.