Perhaps my southern friends can take solace here from the definite fact that England's loss knocks the momentum out of any devious SNP plans to further divide the UK. For now anyway.
The better team won on the day but England did very well to get that far with a young team. France should walk the final but I guess people have underestimated Croatia all along......
It's been an exciting world cup but not because of it's quality of play.
As someone who is not a football fan is this observation right.....England only really met a decent team in the semi final...Before then they should have always beat the teams they were up against. Losing that one match gave them the easy option in the next round. So well I understand why everyone is so proud of them getting to the Semi ...... If they had come up against the top teams before the semi do you think they would have done so well ? Just a healthy debate by the way I am not having a go at England........
Harsh summary, England played every game, bar Belgium, with a passion I have not seen in years, they played attacking football and had all their opponents struggling to stay with them - however they didn't finish off the chances they made and they seemed to run out of steam in the second half.
They also played as a team, inclduing the management, they generally plat=yed football and didn't resort to any unfair tactis, diving, fouls etc. etc. I think they held their heads high and showed most other teams a level or professionalism and pride that is missing from the modern game.
I hope they continue to play this way and I hope they can address those areas that need correction because they could become a great team in the next few years.
Or a rugger player, or a Tour de France cyclist, or a marathon runner........need I go on? football players are just primadonna softies.So another question ....Why is it a footballer gets cramp if they have to play extra time. They get paid a bloody fortune to play the game yet can't cope with more than 90 mins......but......you never see the ref rolling around with cramp and he is running up and down the pitch constantly.
Very hard!Greg, you must have missed the 2004 European championships, can't remember Greece having a tough route to the final but I know they beat Portugal 1.0.
Or a rugger player, or a Tour de France cyclist, or a marathon runner........need I go on? football players are just primadonna softies.
3rd place playoff today, usually a better watch than the final. Sticking to 3-1, was one away last time but rate Belgium higher than Croatia