The Wall

[Savy]

What is interesting is that in the UK we have a big rivalry with germany in football yet in germany it's not that big a deal for them and they much more care about the netherlands.

[Poopadoop]

What is interesting is that in the UK we have a big rivalry with germany in football yet in germany it's not that big a deal for them and they much more care about the netherlands.

I've heard this, and wondered wtf do they have against the dutch? Then I wondered who would be their 'natural' rivals - Historically they haven't really played favourites in war so it can't be based on that.

Must be the windmills; that would drive anyone batshit.

[Jack Sawyer]

I've heard this, and wondered wtf do they have against the dutch? Then I wondered who would be their 'natural' rivals - Historically they haven't really played favourites in war so it can't be based on that.


Must be the windmills; that would drive anyone batshit.

England has rugby, cricket, etc.


Holland basically only gives a shit about football. You should see how the country becomes when there is a national game against anyone. Everything becomes orange.


Germany is just like this about their football. And then that is how we go to war.

[BananaStand]

Holland basically only gives a shit about football

Dude.....the game is called 'soccer'

[Jack Sawyer]

Dude.....the game is called 'soccer'

Let me see, it's a ball and you kick it with your foot


“Football” is appropriate imo


How handegg somehow became football I’ll never understand

[Poopadoop]

How handegg somehow became football I’ll never understand

We prefer 'eggball' I'll have you know (or at least I do since Ong coined the term)

[Poopadoop]

England has rugby, cricket, etc.


Holland basically only gives a shit about football. You should see how the country becomes when there is a national game against anyone. Everything becomes orange.


Germany is just like this about their football. And then that is how we go to war.

The funny thing about England is they excel at no particular sport but are passionate about them all. Whenever a big tourney comes up people start going mad and are all rah rah England and flying flags, and then they're out after three games.

After that it's all 'well the coach sucked and the players sucked and we should have known this would happen.' It makes me think, well if you know your team sucks why are you getting all excited about it?

[Savy]

The funny thing about England is they excel at no particular sport but are passionate about them all. Whenever a big tourney comes up people start going mad and are all rah rah England and flying flags, and then they're out after three games.

After that it's all 'well the coach sucked and the players sucked and we should have known this would happen.' It makes me think, well if you know your team sucks why are you getting all excited about it?

What?

We have one of the best rugby teams in the world currently (only team to be ranked #1 except NZ).

Our cricket test team has been ranked #1 in the world not that long ago and has been on top in the ashes along with some great performances against other top teams recently. Our one day team has gone from being a laughing stock to up there with the best & we should have won the T20 world cup.

Football we're a top 16 side in the world and at stages through my life we've been a top 8 side in the world. We also have by far the best national league in the world. This isn't the same as having the best team in the world but at various points in the past 10-15 years we've had teams at that level (I mean we had two all english semi finals in the CL).

We've also been doing pretty great at Olympics for the past 12 years.

[Poopadoop]

What?

We have one of the best rugby teams in the world currently (only team to be ranked #1 except NZ).

When you're competing with countries with a third of your population how is that anything to be proud of?

Our cricket test team ...

Not a sport. Next.

Football we're a top 16 side in the world and at stages through my life we've been a top 8 side in the world.

You haven't won a major tourney since 1966 afaik.

We also have by far the best national league in the world. This isn't the same as having the best team in the world but at various points in the past 10-15 years we've had teams at that level (I mean we had two all english semi finals in the CL).

That's a nonsense argument. If you have a good market for football teams in your country, that isn't because your nationals are the best players in the world.

We've also been doing pretty great at Olympics for the past 12 years.

Granted.


Also, I should point out I was mostly referring to football ITP. I don't notice people going mad over any other sports, barring the Olympics when they were in London.

[Savy]

Also, I should point out I was mostly referring to football ITP. I don't notice people going mad over any other sports, barring the Olympics when they were in London.

We don't have a bad national side. Recently it's been boring and poor relative but our team in the early 70s was better than when we won the world cup, our team in the 80s and 90s was very good. Even now it's still a very good football team just not close to winning anything.

Also Tennis.

I can't think of any sports we don't have a pretty amazing team or individual players in those sports for.

[Jack Sawyer]

After that it's all 'well the coach sucked and the players sucked and we should have known this would happen.' It makes me think, well if you know your team sucks why are you getting all excited about it?

Patriotism

[Jack Sawyer]

lol "empire"

To be fair, the Dutch did have a pretty impressive empire for a shitty little country surrounded by bigger assholes.

[Savy]

I've heard this, and wondered wtf do they have against the dutch? Then I wondered who would be their 'natural' rivals - Historically they haven't really played favourites in war so it can't be based on that.

Must be the windmills; that would drive anyone batshit.

Did this make you relate with me more? Am I more of your friend? It was said on QI and as a result you either watched it on QI or someone else you speak to passed it off as a bit of information they know and they got it from QI.

I imagine the answers to all of this is yes I'm just wondering the impact of you realising this and the impact on my approach. I'd usually say my source (originally went to post it even in that post) but maybe this is a bad approach. Or maybe I don't remember that fact but I watch QI is a better result for the general person.

[Poopadoop]

Did this make you relate with me more? Am I more of your friend? It was said on QI and as a result you either watched it on QI or someone else you speak to passed it off as a bit of information they know and they got it from QI.

Why, are you trying to persuade me of something? Because that's Wuf's job

I imagine the answers to all of this is yes I'm just wondering the impact of you realising this and the impact on my approach. I'd usually say my source (originally went to post it even in that post) but maybe this is a bad approach. Or maybe I don't remember that fact but I watch QI is a better result for the general person.

I heard it first from an English person who heard it from a German and then I also saw it on QI. So you're the third time I've heard it.

The fact that you watch QI makes me like you more if that matters.