EURO 2016 Final

[Jamesc]

Can someone explain to me - how a population-300K country, traditionally good at handball, with few months of summer-time and only a fraction of our football stadium numbers, emerge suddenly to perform so well at one of the most competitive league cups? 

 

England may have lost.

 

But I see the bigger joke on us. 

 

Yes you are right.

 

the biggest joke of all

 

and the highest paid.

 

 

[Acemundo]

other point I have to agree, but point 1??

I dun think soccer is a sport that rely on muscular strength.

and Chinese excel in sport that rely on as much muscular strength as soccer example table tennis, badminton.

 

but why not Singaporean Chinese. exactly as u said in 1 n 2.

 

how can you think that table tennis and badminton requires the same type of strength as football?  these 2 games actually places must more emphasis on reflexes and flexibility, something which the smaller Chinese players are much better in.

[Jamesc]

So thick-skinned arrh?

 

 

Well he is not exactly slim.

 

 

 

Edited June 29, 2016 by Jamesc

[Beregond]

how can you think that table tennis and badminton requires the same type of strength as football?  these 2 games actually places must more emphasis on reflexes and flexibility, something which the smaller Chinese players are much better in.

if u be very precise , soccer, table tennis badminton rely on skills rather then strength.

which Asian , or Chinese can be as good as any other races, give that all the infurence are the same.

 

messi, zola, baggio, a lot of good example around, if any strength, require, I call it balance, when u dun lose control easily when other player shove u push etc.

 

just my 0.2 cents

[Tonyng]

i think this is culmination of few factors at play

 

1) genetics - you have to accept that Chinese genes are the worst in producing sportsmen of sports games whose success is highly dependent on muscular strength.  in Singapore we have the largest population of ethnic Chinese.  Caucasian (i think Icelandic folks belong to this category) genes are probably second to the African genes when it comes to producing strong atheletes.

 

2) culture and attitude - in Singapore, it is not very conducive for sports development as a whole given that our people tend not to believe in grooming their kids up for sports as it doesn't pay well to be sportsmen here. 

 

3) infrastructure - I was reading that Iceland have very high density of football related infrastructure like Uefa B licence coaches.  in Singapore, what do we have for coaching?  even the hire of foreign coaches like Stange is questionable at best.

 

 

Haha. Ya agree. Here is nice article on their rise. I extracted some nice sentences.

 

The take home for us is simple - Dismantle/recoup Sports Hub costs, half the entire sg-football exec salaries - use the saved money to train certified coaches so that they (not the useless execs) can start training our primary schools kids (and all who wants to play) during the evenings and on the weekends on our underused school fields.  

 

I think doing this can improve FIFA rankings at least in the Asia region (I admit genetics factors).

 

But all these will not happen cause this advice is free and obvious.

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/08/iceland-stunning-rise-euro-2016-gylfi-sigurdsson-lars-lagerback

 

 

Such has been Iceland’s relationship with football in the last 15 years. It is an institutional obsession, seeded from the top down through the government, the FA and schools and individuals.

 

 

Finally, Iceland did something great with school football. The FA has been buying land next to schools and building pitches: enclosed timber-built, artificial-turfed pitches, paid for by money that might otherwise have ended up in some familiar dead end: unnecessarily showy mega-stadiums, executive salaries, another Bugatti in the garage.

 

And finally here they are, Iceland’s chosen generation, the high-ability group of Breidablik’s six- to 11-year-old catchment.

 

The most obvious application of that clean, clear Icelandic model in England would be to go back in time 15 years and cancel the construction of the new Wembley. Spend that £757m instead on land, facilities, spreading the ability to participate. Put a proper, workable, open all-weather public pitch in every town and village. Watch as all those other solutions to the same old problems dissolve in its wake.

Edited June 29, 2016 by Tonyng

[Spring]

with messi case, I can understand there is weight of history and expectation given the number of trophies he has won with Barcelona.  but with England case, they only won the world cup once and are not exactly favorites in most tournaments.  why are they feeling the weight of expectations?  just because they had more fans worldwide or they are the birth place (even though there are write-ups that suggest otherwise) of football? 

 

1) Cos England players are the most highly paid.

Highest paid = Instant success in most people's eyes. Even our local politicians face this. 

 

2) History of English football as founders of the game as u have pointed out.

England is where the EPL is showcased so high expectations from players who ply their trade in the "best league in the world" 

 

I do agree above is subjective.

 

As for Messi, he is the no. 1 player in the world. Argentina are currently ranked no. 1 in the world. For some reason, they always lose in the final, maybe they are chokers though I don't like to use this word. A top player owes it to his country to try till he physically can't do it or is dropped. He is neither. It is an honour to represent your country, never a burden. Many would give their right arm to be in his shoes. Soldiers have given their lives for their country whereas sport is just a game albeit a very stressful one. 

 

For comparison, isn't Ronaldo worse off as Portugal are not that strong a team as Argentina and he has his critics as well for sure. U can tell he is under pressure as he snatches at his chances and his free kicks at Euros are horrible and even penalty can't score. But what I like is he keeps on trying and eventually scored a peach of a goal vs Hungary!!

[Acemundo]

if u be very precise , soccer, table tennis badminton rely on skills rather then strength.

which Asian , or Chinese can be as good as any other races, give that all the infurence are the same.

 

messi, zola, baggio, a lot of good example around, if any strength, require, I call it balance, when u dun lose control easily when other player shove u push etc.

 

just my 0.2 cents

your point about skill while although true doesn't prove any more thing because all sports and games requires skills which comes with training.  but if 2 players train together, have same training exercises and centres and put in the same hours of training, why they are not getting the same level of skills.  because skills are shaped to varying degrees by physical traits like strengths, balance (aka centre of gravity), reflexes, reach and intelligence.  some games may require a 30-30-20-10-10 combination while another could require 10-20-40-20-10.  with a vastly different requirement on physical attributes, naturally the skills will be very differently attained

 

it is no coincidence all the world's best sprinters had genes that came from west Africa and the best paddlers are from China and other nations of north or east asia (japan, korea-which had about the same genetic makeup as Chinese).  even those European countries that did very well in table tennis had a lot of China-born Chinese players. all the best basketballers although are americans, are black americans whose grandparents hail from west Africa and came to usa as slaves many decades ago.  I am sorry to say the few decent white usa basketballers are nowhere near as talented as compared to the black basketballers.

1) Cos England players are the most highly paid.

Highest paid = Instant success in most people's eyes. Even our local politicians face this. 

 

2) History of English football as founders of the game as u have pointed out.

England is where the EPL is showcased so high expectations from players who ply their trade in the "best league in the world" 

 

I do agree above is subjective.

 

As for Messi, he is the no. 1 player in the world. Argentina are currently ranked no. 1 in the world. For some reason, they always lose in the final, maybe they are chokers though I don't like to use this word. A top player owes it to his country to try till he physically can't do it or is dropped. He is neither. It is an honour to represent your country, never a burden. Many would give their right arm to be in his shoes. Soldiers have given their lives for their country whereas sport is just a game albeit a very stressful one. 

 

For comparison, isn't Ronaldo worse off as Portugal are not that strong a team as Argentina and he has his critics as well for sure. U can tell he is under pressure as he snatches at his chances and his free kicks at Euros are horrible and even penalty can't score. But what I like is he keeps on trying and eventually scored a peach of a goal vs Hungary!!

 

you put it very well but I like to speak about the stress of being the world's highest paid footballing nation of players.  I feel they are well paid only because of indirect links (via media, merchants) to their fans.  this is quite unlike Singapore ministers who are directly voted in by their constituents.  so I feel the former is less answerable than the latter.  so the weight of expectation should also be less on the English footballers. haha

Edited June 29, 2016 by Acemundo

[Acemundo]

Haha. Ya agree. Here is nice article on their rise. I extracted some nice sentences.

 

The take home for us is simple - Dismantle/recoup Sports Hub costs, half the entire sg-football exec salaries - use the saved money to train certified coaches so that they (not the useless execs) can start training our primary schools kids (and all who wants to play) during the evenings and on the weekends on our underused school fields.  

 

I think doing this can improve FIFA rankings at least in the Asia region (I admit genetics factors).

 

But all these will not happen cause this advice is free and obvious.

 

 

 

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/08/iceland-stunning-rise-euro-2016-gylfi-sigurdsson-lars-lagerback

 

 

Such has been Iceland’s relationship with football in the last 15 years. It is an institutional obsession, seeded from the top down through the government, the FA and schools and individuals.

 

 

Finally, Iceland did something great with school football. The FA has been buying land next to schools and building pitches: enclosed timber-built, artificial-turfed pitches, paid for by money that might otherwise have ended up in some familiar dead end: unnecessarily showy mega-stadiums, executive salaries, another Bugatti in the garage.

 

And finally here they are, Iceland’s chosen generation, the high-ability group of Breidablik’s six- to 11-year-old catchment.

 

The most obvious application of that clean, clear Icelandic model in England would be to go back in time 15 years and cancel the construction of the new Wembley. Spend that £757m instead on land, facilities, spreading the ability to participate. Put a proper, workable, open all-weather public pitch in every town and village. Watch as all those other solutions to the same old problems dissolve in its wake.

I am glad you dug this up.  to really improve the establishment must divert resources and efforts to built the infrastructure for it.  Iceland is one example, another would be Germany.  after Germany's triumph in the last world cup, someone also dug up some information on their establishment's no-holds-barred approach to setting up the conducive environment and infrastructure.  success and improvement is seldom coincidental

[Adrianli]

if u be very precise , soccer, table tennis badminton rely on skills rather then strength.

which Asian , or Chinese can be as good as any other races, give that all the infurence are the same.

 

messi, zola, baggio, a lot of good example around, if any strength, require, I call it balance, when u dun lose control easily when other player shove u push etc.

 

just my 0.2 cents

 

I disagree. Table tennis and badminton are more of individual sports. Football is a team sports. U definately need stronger and taller players.

[Galantspeedz]

Arsene Wenger to be England Mgr in 1 year's time? Good choice if you ask me and also one of the two criticisms always being leveled at him ie being too price sensitive/wants value in the transfer market will not happen anymore.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3664812/Arsene-Wenger-emerges-No-1-England-target-FA-willing-appoint-interim-manager-turning-Arsenal-boss.html

 

 

 

actually being a national team manager should be wenger dream job, spend 70% of the time scouting for raw diamonds and can call up any player to his team for FREE!!!!

[Spring]

actually being a national team manager should be wenger dream job, spend 70% of the time scouting for raw diamonds and can call up any player to his team for FREE!!!!

That's why I feel he is a perfect fit!!

 

Free players and his other trait of being stubborn is actually a plus for a National team Mgr cos IMO, National team Mgr not so answerable to the fans unlike Club Mgr as club fans contribute to the bottom line, just my opinion only.

[car50]

Actually I salute Rooney for choosing not to quit right now

Thick skin or not, ulterior motives or not

Real guys do not quit immediately after a disaster defeat

They fight to their last battle until it is impossible for them to fight

 

 

死赖不走非英熊

 

[mersaylee]

Nothing wrong being old. But to not move aside when not in form yet take up a space that deprive a potential to excel is not right.

 

No one fault RH for being old but only for his lack of capability to bring the team together and onward.

 

DC is not old but kena left right centre for his handling of the referendum. A true hero knows when it's time to bow out gracefully.

 

Just my 2c.

[cashcow]

Sam Allardyce has not managed a trophy-winning team – but 'Big Sam' is the obvious choice to replace Roy Hodgson as England manager

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/29/sam-allardyce-has-not-managed-a-trophy-winning-team--but-nor-wer/

[cashcow]

Roy Hodgson resigns: The damning indictment of the England manager without a plan

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/28/roy-hodgson-resigns-the-damning-indictment-of-the-england-manage/

[cashcow]

Poland vs Portugal.

 

Not much to choose between a Pole and a Portugoose.

 

Probably end up a draw, followed by extra time and followed by penalties.

 

Pole won their last match by penalties against the swiss cheese.

 

This time round, will the Polish well drilled penalty takers repeat their story, or will they they slip up over goose shit?

 

I think the Pole will grind through somehow against Ronaldo & Co.

 

Just a random idiosnycratic thought which may by some chance happen.  

 

Let's see how it unfold after 3.00 am past midnight.

[Spring]

Nothing wrong being old. But to not move aside when not in form yet take up a space that deprive a potential to excel is not right.

 

No one fault RH for being old but only for his lack of capability to bring the team together and onward.

 

DC is not old but kena left right centre for his handling of the referendum. A true hero knows when it's time to bow out gracefully.

 

Just my 2c.

 

You are not wrong to say old has to move aside for new.

 

That said, for football; I feel its up to the coach to decide if the old player is still worth selecting. So if I'm an old player, I won't officially announce I'm not available for selection anymore but let natural process to take place ie if coach decides not to choose me anymore, I'll accept it but I'll never say I'm not playing anymore for my country.

[Bismarck]

Poland vs Portugal tonight 3am?