International football - is it worth it?

[Uilleam 5,948]

7 minutes ago, Gonzo79 said:

Wanting your country to defeat another is one step away from xenophobia.

 

Appalling that this sort of thing still goes on.  It's 2021, for crying out loud!

And as for that Glasgow Derby, well....

[Gonzo79 15,294]

Just now, Uilleam said:

And as for that Glasgow Derby, well....

Aye but yahoos aren't human, so it's allowed.

[Uilleam 5,948]

2 hours ago, Gonzo79 said:

Aye but yahoos aren't human, so it's allowed.

Speciesism.

 

Strange, I had you down as a vegan. 

Edited March 27, 2021 by Uilleam

[Scott7 6,018]

26 minutes ago, Uilleam said:

And as for that Glasgow Derby, well....

Thistle v Spiders - an absolute powder keg. Makes El Salvador and Honduras look like an afternoon in the Church House Library.

[Gonzo79 15,294]

16 minutes ago, Uilleam said:

Speciesm.

 

Strange, I had you down as a vegan. 

Spiders, flies and wasps all get squashed in my house and I probably eat too much meat.

 

My comment was flippant but it wouldn't surprise me if international sport does come under scrutiny in the near future, due to its patriotic tendencies.

[Uilleam 5,948]

2 hours ago, Scott7 said:

Thistle v Spiders - an absolute powder keg. Makes El Salvador and Honduras look like an afternoon in the Church House Library.

Absolutely.

Henry Kissinger was brought in as 4th official for a number of seasons.

The real reason for that Nobel Peace Prize.

 

(In my view, he didn't really make much difference to the carnage.)

[Bill 13,717]

On 25/03/2021 at 21:06, JohnMc said:

I've great memories of watching international football. My first big football memory was the 78 World Cup, I was transfixed by the colour and spectacle of it all. Of course I also believed Scotland were going to win it but that disappointment aside players like Boniek, Hans Krankle, Jonny Rep and Mario Kempes were huge stars for me during the tournament and huge currency in playground sticker swaps. 

You bring back distant memories of being captivated by world cup finals, the exotic mystery of fabled countries like Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina. Players you'd never heard of became heroes overnight. It was like opening a window on the world but without the bad taste of politics, poverty, etc.  I remember falling in love with the game in 1970, it was like being introduced to champagne. Where did all that go eh? Now these tournaments are like watching the Champions League - same players, same football, different shirts. I haven't watched a CL game in years and the magic of international football died in the money pit long ago. 

 

 

[Biblio 148]

14 minutes ago, Bill said:

You bring back distant memories of being captivated by world cup finals, the exotic mystery of fabled countries like Uruguay, Brazil and Argentina. Players you'd never heard of became heroes overnight. It was like opening a window on the world but without the bad taste of politics, poverty, etc.  I remember falling in love with the game in 1970, it was like being introduced to champagne. Where did all that go eh? Now these tournaments are like watching the Champions League - same players, same football, different shirts. I haven't watched a CL game in years and the magic of international football died in the money pit long ago. 

 

 

1970 was my first World Cup as well. Me and my twin brother had shown no interest in football, despite our dad taking us to Anfield twice. When the World Cup came around we got obsessed with collecting the Soccer Stars stickers and from there watched every match we could. It was an amazing tournament. My dad was really pleased with how things had developed and was able to take us to Anfield productively in the future. But now I feel the same way as you about international football, I can't even be bothered watching these days, especially since there seems to be some sort of transfer system where players can choose what country they represent these days (started with Jack Charlton and Ireland but it seems to have spread everywhere now).

[Scott7 6,018]

8 minutes ago, Biblio said:

started with Jack Charlton and Ireland but it seems to have spread everywhere now).

Jack Charlton was manager not player but I know what you mean. There was always some elasticity between South America and Spain but the great Hungarian, Puskas playing for Spain was a bit odd.

 

[26th of foot 6,084]

In a Scottish context, I suspect the first player that raised our awareness was Joe Baker?

 

He played for Hibs and along with Denis Law, moved to Italy. He was the son of a serving Scots soldier, born in England. He received several caps for England.

 

Tommy Docherty took over as Scotland's national coach in 1971. His first two games were against Portugal at Hampden and Belgium at Pittodrie. He called up Bob Wilson of Arsenal. The Keeper was similar to Baker, born in England of a serving Scots soldier. We won both games, 2-1 and 1-0 respectively.

 

By 1978, we had three players born in England, but considering themselves Scots playing for Scotland.

 

I think most folks are sympathetic to the above circumstances, it's the tenuous Grandparent rule that causes most discern among supporters.