Country v Club

[lickedlollipop]

Liverpool FC is not just a club.. it's life, it's love and it's passion.

[SK]

I support my national team, i get exited for every match, even San ****ing Marino, and it's nice entertainment when there's no club football...i can understand why english liverpool fans can't support england wiht the likes of rooney, ferdinand, terry playing there, but from my perspective i like all the lads that play for my country, and give their 100% in every match.

And when you see all the staff from FC Colone pilling pressure on Novakovič to not go to international duty, or loose the captains armband, but he still comes, and works his ass off for the team..well you just have to love that kind of attitude.

it's different for smaller nations, than it is for bigger ones. like i've read on here, the england supporters come mainly from clubs who are not high profile and don't have much succes, and it's similar with smaller nations, because league football is ****e and the only thing to get exited about and is at decent level is the national team.

[RoadEnd]

Now that players are paid vast salaries and clubs are concerned about injuries etc. - international football is generally rubbish. I don't think that wearing the England shirt means as much to some players as it used to. For that reason - I'm out (other than if we reach the latter stages of a big tournament, when obviously I'm the biggest glory hunter going.)

I can only get excited about club football and obviously Liverpool.

[Kenneth]

International football is tedious, except for World Cups and maybe the Euros. i.e. international football is exciting in the summer when there is no club football.

[Roboklopp]

Detest England & their fans. I do love watching the Euros/WC tho as long as they are not in. Have watched the entireity of quite a few tournies.

Supported Spain then Holland in the last one cos of our lads & the way the teams play footy.

Nothing like supporting the Reds tho.

[carheex]

I view International Football as a pain in the arse.

Couldn't agree more. Some international football is good to watch but not england. I think that stems from the stereotypical attitude of english players, press and fans. I'm ashamed of how our fans behave abroad, embarassed by the knee jerk chop and change reactions of the press and astonished when our players keep making fannies of themselves by announcing that "this is our year - we can do it".......no "we" ****ing can't! we won the world cup once, on home soil, following a very iffy decision to allow a highly disputable goal against the germans. We weren't a force before that and we haven't been since. we had a bit of luck and still claim to be the greatest team ever! embarassing!

[PTP]

We have had this discussion in general football ages ago iirc.

It's a difficult one I guess. - It maybe comes down to a number of things, as it is not just us as liverpool fans who don't really care about the national squad, i know plenty of mancs, arsenal and other top clubs who aren't really interested.

I have a few theories on it, which may only relate to my own personal views, but may be relative to everyone else.

Firstly I will start with saying, I was born and have live3d in Merseyside all my life, LFC is number one and always will be and I have always felt more towards Liverpool as a city than England as a country if that makes sense - That said though from i'd say italia 90, to prob the 2002 world cup aged 8 till 20, I was also a big fan of England. During this time my dad, really didn’t give a toss about England and i never understood why though i suspect he had different reasons to why i have lost interest.

I’d start with, due to the money, the standard and quality, the pressure, the television coverage, marketing etc – the Premier League along with the Champions League has completely took over – it has left the national squad pretty much insignificant now. I remember really looking forward to any international game, cause it meant i would get to see different players from around the world playing against each other – now I get to see these guys every week.

Next, looking at the England team and set up since 2002, it has just dissolved into nothing – it’s full off over paid, bitching prima donnas, there is no characters in the team, there is no one that as a nation you can get behind! – other than the Liverpool players in the squad, i couldn’t give a **** about the rest. I look back at say, Euro 96 – Players like Seaman, a model pro you respected, guys like Gascoigne a talented footballer with a bonkers personality, Stuart Pearce a physco who you just had to admire for his passion, Shearer who maybe not everyones cup of tea, i thought he was class and loved watching him play – they are just a few examples of the top of my head, i am sure if i went through it during that period from ’90 to ’02 there is loads of similar players.

Now – who? Who is there that you can look at in then England squad and rivals fans as whole will agree with things like “top class bloke,” “model pro”, “talented footballer,” etc etc etc - for whatever reasons practically every player in the current England XI will be hated/slagged off/ laughed at/booed etc by different sets off fans for a whole manner of reasons

Then add to the fact the lack of success, or even quality performances the last how many years will also have made a lot of people losing interest. Granted under capello things have improved. But it will take more to win the nation back. As i mentioned earlier, at a time when domestic football went through the roof, the national squad just drifted slowly into the back ground – there must be some sort of relationship to the two. All of sudden as mentioned in this thread – for the majority of fans who supported premier league teams, England internationals became more of an inconvenience – I remember the first time it started to frustrate me was when we kept losing Jamie Redknapp to injuries picked up whilst playing for England.

I then also look at the managers – not so much having a go at foreign managers (for the record, personally i think it’s ridiculous – every nation should be managed by someone from that country – thats just my imo) – but I grew up with Bobby Robson, Taylor, Venables, even give Keegan some credit as managers – whether or not good enough i am not arsed about – but i certainly listened to their interviews – we then had Ericsson and Mclaren, two, imo, absolute clowns with zero personality and their tenures seemed to happen at the same time i really started losing interest to the point where i disliked England.

There is prob a few more things i can’t think of at the mo as I am going on lunch, but i reckon the above could be true for many others too. My local pub used to be packed for EVERY football game on live. Now it’s rammed for Liverpool games, but only half full for England games?

I will say though, maybe a bit contradictory, yes i would like to see England win the world cup, and next summer I will jump on the band wagon a bit and support England during the world cup – nothing silly, i won’t be driving round with a flag on my car and getting my face painted – but its the summer, there is no more important Liverpool football to worry about, I will be going the pub, looking to get pissed with my mates and have a good laugh, and hopefully watch England win.

[Molby]

We have had this discussion in general football ages ago iirc.

It's a difficult one I guess. - It maybe comes down to a number of things, as it is not just us as liverpool fans who don't really care about the national squad, i know plenty of mancs, arsenal and other top clubs who aren't really interested.

I have a few theories on it, which may only relate to my own personal views, but may be relative to everyone else.

Firstly I will start with saying, I was born and have live3d in Merseyside all my life, LFC is number one and always will be and I have always felt more towards Liverpool as a city than England as a country if that makes sense - That said though from i'd say italia 90, to prob the 2002 world cup aged 8 till 20, I was also a big fan of England. During this time my dad, really didn’t give a toss about England and i never understood why though i suspect he had different reasons to why i have lost interest.

I’d start with, due to the money, the standard and quality, the pressure, the television coverage, marketing etc – the Premier League along with the Champions League has completely took over – it has left the national squad pretty much insignificant now. I remember really looking forward to any international game, cause it meant i would get to see different players from around the world playing against each other – now I get to see these guys every week.

Next, looking at the England team and set up since 2002, it has just dissolved into nothing – it’s full off over paid, bitching prima donnas, there is no characters in the team, there is no one that as a nation you can get behind! – other than the Liverpool players in the squad, i couldn’t give a **** about the rest. I look back at say, Euro 96 – Players like Seaman, a model pro you respected, guys like Gascoigne a talented footballer with a bonkers personality, Stuart Pearce a physco who you just had to admire for his passion, Shearer who maybe not everyones cup of tea, i thought he was class and loved watching him play – they are just a few examples of the top of my head, i am sure if i went through it during that period from ’90 to ’02 there is loads of similar players.

Now – who? Who is there that you can look at in then England squad and rivals fans as whole will agree with things like “top class bloke,” “model pro”, “talented footballer,” etc etc etc - for whatever reasons practically every player in the current England XI will be hated/slagged off/ laughed at/booed etc by different sets off fans for a whole manner of reasons

Then add to the fact the lack of success, or even quality performances the last how many years will also have made a lot of people losing interest. Granted under capello things have improved. But it will take more to win the nation back. As i mentioned earlier, at a time when domestic football went through the roof, the national squad just drifted slowly into the back ground – there must be some sort of relationship to the two. All of sudden as mentioned in this thread – for the majority of fans who supported premier league teams, England internationals became more of an inconvenience – I remember the first time it started to frustrate me was when we kept losing Jamie Redknapp to injuries picked up whilst playing for England.

I then also look at the managers – not so much having a go at foreign managers (for the record, personally i think it’s ridiculous – every nation should be managed by someone from that country – thats just my imo) – but I grew up with Bobby Robson, Taylor, Venables, even give Keegan some credit as managers – whether or not good enough i am not arsed about – but i certainly listened to their interviews – we then had Ericsson and Mclaren, two, imo, absolute clowns with zero personality and their tenures seemed to happen at the same time i really started losing interest to the point where i disliked England.

There is prob a few more things i can’t think of at the mo as I am going on lunch, but i reckon the above could be true for many others too. My local pub used to be packed for EVERY football game on live. Now it’s rammed for Liverpool games, but only half full for England games?

I will say though, maybe a bit contradictory, yes i would like to see England win the world cup, and next summer I will jump on the band wagon a bit and support England during the world cup – nothing silly, i won’t be driving round with a flag on my car and getting my face painted – but its the summer, there is no more important Liverpool football to worry about, I will be going the pub, looking to get pissed with my mates and have a good laugh, and hopefully watch England win.

Fair Play PTP - thanks for that........i started this thread, because i was out in the bar on Saturday night watching Ireland v Italy with a few mates, my mind couldn't help wandering to thinking "****, i hope Nando makes it back with no injuries......" as opposed to cheering on Ireland, in what was a important game.

I then began to wonder about how Insua and Masch would get on v Peru and hope that Insua & Masch wouldn't do anything silly and put themselves out of contention for the makem and filth games coming soon...

As an Irishman, and devout Kopite - i was just wondering what the general opinion of all the rest of the supporters are , with regards to this "side circus" of internationals.

YNWA Lads

[Red_hot]

I view International Football as a pain in the arse.

Snap. Except if we get through to quarters/semi/final in which case I will jump on the England bandwagon in an excuse to get very drunk and jump up and down alot.

[Subby]

I live, born and bred in Northern Ireland but I support Liverpool and England in terms of footy as Northern Ireland local football is a joke and I don't like the international team because it's made up of people who play for the likes of crew and Blackpool so ****e all round.

I'd go to the odd N.I. international game with my mates but I've no interest in NI football at all.

and rugby just sucks plums so I'd never watch the rugger buggers anyway

[ronniedrew]

im irish, i enjoy all types of footy, from league 2 to international.

how can you not enjoy and look forward to world cups , if a footy fan?

the best teams cannot be bought, playing for their nations .

if ireland make south africa, ill be there with bells on

[RedReet]

im irish, i enjoy all types of footy, from league 2 to international.

how can you not enjoy and look forward to world cups , if a footy fan?

the best teams cannot be bought, playing for their nations .

if ireland make south africa, ill be there with bells on

Matches twice a day every day during the group stages, then the excitement of knock out. I hate Internationals, but love the world cup.

It's also a joy to watch the likes of Spain and Brazil at their peak.

[Icon]

World cup aside - internationals suck arse!

[Darkon]

I support my national team, i get exited for every match, even San ****ing Marino, and it's nice entertainment when there's no club football...i can understand why english liverpool fans can't support england wiht the likes of rooney, ferdinand, terry playing there, but from my perspective i like all the lads that play for my country, and give their 100% in every match.

And when you see all the staff from FC Colone pilling pressure on Novakovič to not go to international duty, or loose the captains armband, but he still comes, and works his ass off for the team..well you just have to love that kind of attitude.

it's different for smaller nations, than it is for bigger ones. like i've read on here, the england supporters come mainly from clubs who are not high profile and don't have much succes, and it's similar with smaller nations, because league football is ****e and the only thing to get exited about and is at decent level is the national team.

I have it the same way coming from Denmark. I love international football, and when we get the chance to upset the big nations (yeah we just qualified over portugal and sweden!!). For the important matches I have the same feeling as when Liverpool play in the important matches, so I am equally passionate about club and country - I can't honestly see why they should be eachothers opposites?

But it tends to be the larger nations that don't care that much - especially the unsuccesful ones (looking at you England ).

But I must admit, that I hope Denmark spares Agger on wedensday now that qualification is secured.

Oh and btw... I love the WC and EC - fantastic time of year, with a lot of quality football. It's the CL compressed to one month. Well at least when the rubbish teams are out - but that goes with the CL as well.

[BFG]

It's just a pain in the arse that gets in the way of the real football.

That's exactly what it is for me.

I don't mind watching an England game and at a tournament I quite enjoy it as it's bonus football but when it's that instead of Liverpool it's pretty annoying and definitley the reason i resent international football to some extent.