PROPER football: The soccer section...

**WILLETT** · 06-07-2012, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by jharker

The cup hasn't even started yet and I'm already sick of it. I'm wondering if this is different in other countries, but over here retailers always treat the soccercups like it's the christmas season or something.
I've been seeing commercials for weeks on end now of chains and brands trying to sell loads and loads of orange merchandising junk to the people.

Every supermarket chain has their own tie in where you can get orange plastic figurines of trading cards or whatever with every purchase over a certain amount.
I mean, it's fun seeing people don the national color during these things, but it's getting out of hand with all the junk they collect for a sportstournament that only lasts a couple of weeks.

I'm really curious if this just happens to be a cultural thing or if this is a common practise. I certainly has very little to do with the actual sport.

Usually, Newspapers, Supermarkets, Undertakers...everyone seems to stick a St. Georges cross on anything they can in the run-up to a major tournament. But this year seems slightly different, maybe because we're not expected to do that well.

@Hangman: Them's be pretty sweet boots! I've got a pair of classic Copa Mundials, comfy as a pair of angels slippers.

@Fallen: I feel a dirty, dirty boy saying it, but... I reckon you're lot have a really good chance to win the Euro's. Am I right in thinking that your squad is pretty much the same as the previous World Cup squad?

**Fallenangel** · 06-08-2012, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by WILLETT

@Fallen: I feel a dirty, dirty boy saying it, but... I reckon you're lot have a really good chance to win the Euro's. Am I right in thinking that your squad is pretty much the same as the previous World Cup squad?

Actually, first of all i'm a Russian fan (it's just i don't expect them to win

) and Germany comes in second for me...but i suppose you were talking about Germany.

In some weird way, the team remained almost the same, but at the same time it changed a lot...imo due to the fact that these days Germany doesn't have a strong squad leader like Ballack or Khan.
Lahm is a nice guy but i don't see him as a strong leader that can hold the team together in hard times - he failed to do this in Munich like a month ago so why would he'd be able to pull this off in Euro?!

And I'm really afraid that although we have players like Gomez, Ozil and etc...it would not be enough to win.

BTW.......

**Ugga Bugga** · 06-08-2012, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by WILLETT

Ahhhhh, I have at least one I can shoot the breeze with. Is the domestic scene in Canada large? I imagine its quite a difficult sell with Ice Hockey dominating?

I go to see about 5-6 Toronto FC games in a season. Ice Hockey dominates here. Large baseball fanbase. Basketball is very popular.

Soccer does not have widespread appeal, but rather has a very very dedicated, loyal, vocal and fun fanbase. The atmosphere at a TFC game is quite excellent.

The quality of the game, has been fairly dismal though. The fans are really wanting a winner, but it has been very slow.

Soccer at a grassroots, playing level though is very popular.

**Fallenangel** · 06-08-2012, 03:05 PM

Greece 1 - 1 Poland

Russia 4 - 1 Czech Republic

OH YEAH!!!!

**Fallenangel** · 06-08-2012, 03:06 PM

sorry double post....

**Dri** · 06-10-2012, 06:20 AM

Why couldn't Arshavin put in that effort when he was playing for Arsenal? Only saw the extended highlights of the Greece - Poland game. That had all the dramas!

**Hofling** · 06-11-2012, 10:48 PM

I love football. Or rather, I personally find it pretty boring to watch. Hockey's more my taste.
But I do find it amusing how roughly 10 minutes before Sweden plays and watch all the "go team", "I love this" etc comments. Simply because 2 hours later, everyone will express their utter hate for "our" team.
That and writing "go ukraine" on fassbook makes 60% of my mates go ballistic and gives me a good nights rest.

And yes, I do this when mates insist on watching football while we're hanging out aswell. They should know better after 15 years of friendship

Edit; btw if this comment makes about as much sense as shamwow's usually does, I blame it on sleep deprivation.