- the most successful in history

- among England's top three performances in over 50 years

- possible champions

- biggest TV audience in UK history; 10 million more than Del Boy at Christmas 1996

- one in two of our population watched

- shops, motorways and towns were empty

Barney wrote:
- biggest TV audience in UK history; 10 million more than Del Boy at Christmas 1996

- one in two of our population watched

- shops, motorways and towns were empty

Lets put everything in perspective England have beaten Tunisia, Panama, Columbia (on penalties), and now Sweden. They haven't beaten anyone in the top 15 of the world. Looking at France and Belgium they both looked better in every department. They might get past Croatia tonight (ranked 20 in the world), but after that they are going to need continued luck to get past France. Lots of news coverage is wasted on showing drunk people watching football throwing beer everywhere, this is not news. I will be glad when they are knocked out and we can put an end to all these silly flags and the "Footballs coming home" nonsense. Football is an abstract concept, how can it come home?

robbiex wrote:
Barney wrote:
- biggest TV audience in UK history; 10 million more than Del Boy at Christmas 1996

- one in two of our population watched

- shops, motorways and towns were empty

Lets put everything in perspective England have beaten Tunisia, Panama, Columbia (on penalties), and now Sweden. They haven't beaten anyone in the top 15 of the world. Looking at France and Belgium they both looked better in every department. They might get past Croatia tonight (ranked 20 in the world), but after that they are going to need continued luck to get past France. Lots of news coverage is wasted on showing drunk people watching football throwing beer everywhere, this is not news. I will be glad when they are knocked out and we can put an end to all these silly flags and the "Footballs coming home" nonsense. Football is an abstract concept, how can it come home?

I thought it meant the glory coming "home" to the place football began?

For a change, England got a good draw - but have done well - with the two critical games imminent, and likely to be much more difficult.

But bearing in mind that around 66% of current EPL players are foreign, our players have preformed exceptionally.

With our government in disarray - with resignations and the Brexit mess - it's good to have something to take our mind off things.

Inevitably, some will moan - but about half of us will watch.

Pity we didn't have the Vardy option

What is SO clear - is that we have good midfielders, goalkeepers and defenders

But not a clinical finisher

A scorer like Shearer, Greaves, Lineker, Messi etc

Sterling, Lingard, Kane are close

Not close enough...

Barney wrote:
For a change, England got a good draw - but have done well - with the two critical games imminent, and likely to be much more difficult.

But bearing in mind that around 66% of current EPL players are foreign, our players have preformed exceptionally.

With our government in disarray - with resignations and the Brexit mess - it's good to have something to take our mind off things.

Inevitably, some will moan - but about half of us will watch.

Even many England players are foreign (Raheem Sterling, Deli Ali, Lingard), but still they fail to get past a country of £4 million with no ringers. Looking at all the holding the England players are doing, they could have a career in wwf.

Barney wrote:
For a change, England got a good draw - but have done well - with the two critical games imminent, and likely to be much more difficult.

But bearing in mind that around 66% of current EPL players are foreign, our players have preformed exceptionally.

With our government in disarray - with resignations and the Brexit mess - it's good to have something to take our mind off things.

Inevitably, some will moan - but about half of us will watch.

You have to give credit to Croatia (a country of 4 million agaionst a country of £50 million and many of the players vaguely English). They have won against all odds.

robbiex wrote:
Barney wrote:
For a change, England got a good draw - but have done well - with the two critical games imminent, and likely to be much more difficult.

But bearing in mind that around 66% of current EPL players are foreign, our players have preformed exceptionally.

With our government in disarray - with resignations and the Brexit mess - it's good to have something to take our mind off things.

Inevitably, some will moan - but about half of us will watch.

You have to give credit to Croatia (a country of 4 million agaionst a country of £50 million and many of the players vaguely English). They have won against all odds.

They weren't even a country until the 90s.....you could revise your population figures to a more updated level as well.

Barmy wrote:
They weren't even a country until the 90s.

Like 34 other footballing nations.

Or over 16% of those affiliated to FIFA.

The lyrics to "Footballs coming home" don't make any sense. It was written in 1996 for Euro 96, and the lyrics state that there have been 30 years of hurt. They won the world cup in 1966 and would have have reigning champions from 66-70, so why would there be hurt for the first 4 years of those 30 years.

Don't know where you've been - but the words/lyrics of few songs make sense.

Nobody understood Bohemian Rhapsody, I Am The Walrus, Set Fire to the Rain, Tutti Frutti etc.


Did you?

And the 30 years - was obviously the time (then) since a major victory...

Stats still unavailable - fully. But -



- probably the most successful tournament ever

- early knockout of so many favourites

- great infrastructure and stadia

- close and nail biting games, often with penalties

- VAR well introduced

- little disorder, excellent security

- 64 games, watched by billions

- credible England performance

- Kane wins Golden Boot; the second Englishman to do so

- so many new players coming through



FIFA and Russia done well....

Barney wrote:
Stats still unavailable - fully. But -



- probably the most successful tournament ever

- early knockout of so many favourites

- great infrastructure and stadia

- close and nail biting games, often with penalties

- VAR well introduced

- little disorder, excellent security

- 64 games, watched by billions

- credible England performance

- Kane wins Golden Boot; the second Englishman to do so

- so many new players coming through



FIFA and Russia done well....


You haven't mentioned the Tory Debt in ages.....

Barney wrote:
Stats still unavailable - fully. But -



- probably the most successful tournament ever

- early knockout of so many favourites

- great infrastructure and stadia

- close and nail biting games, often with penalties

- VAR well introduced

- little disorder, excellent security

- 64 games, watched by billions

- credible England performance

- Kane wins Golden Boot; the second Englishman to do so

- so many new players coming through



FIFA and Russia done well....



In 1982 England were unbeaten in the entire tournament (There were 2 group phases). There was no big fanfare about how they performed, in fact it was viewed as a disappointment. Fast forward to 2018, England lose 3 times in the tournament and they are hailed as heroes, go figure. Coming fourth place in the world cup doesn't necessarily mean that they are the fourth best team in the world, no more than saying that Wigan were the best team in the country a few years ago when they won the FA cup.

robbiex wrote:
Barney wrote:
Stats still unavailable - fully. But -



- probably the most successful tournament ever

- early knockout of so many favourites

- great infrastructure and stadia

- close and nail biting games, often with penalties

- VAR well introduced

- little disorder, excellent security

- 64 games, watched by billions

- credible England performance

- Kane wins Golden Boot; the second Englishman to do so

- so many new players coming through



FIFA and Russia done well....



In 1982 England were unbeaten in the entire tournament (There were 2 group phases). There was no big fanfare about how they performed, in fact it was viewed as a disappointment. Fast forward to 2018, England lose 3 times in the tournament and they are hailed as heroes, go figure. Coming fourth place in the world cup doesn't necessarily mean that they are the fourth best team in the world, no more than saying that Wigan were the best team in the country a few years ago when they won the FA cup.

Bryan Robson's arm fell off,Labour had a Foot to stand on....and Tory debt....

robbiex wrote:
Barney wrote:
Stats still unavailable - fully. But -



- probably the most successful tournament ever

- early knockout of so many favourites

- great infrastructure and stadia

- close and nail biting games, often with penalties

- VAR well introduced

- little disorder, excellent security

- 64 games, watched by billions

- credible England performance

- Kane wins Golden Boot; the second Englishman to do so

- so many new players coming through



FIFA and Russia done well....



In 1982 England were unbeaten in the entire tournament (There were 2 group phases). There was no big fanfare about how they performed, in fact it was viewed as a disappointment. Fast forward to 2018, England lose 3 times in the tournament and they are hailed as heroes, go figure. Coming fourth place in the world cup doesn't necessarily mean that they are the fourth best team in the world, no more than saying that Wigan were the best team in the country a few years ago when they won the FA cup.


Fair enough - but which part of my post do you disagree with?

Recently published figures confirm a worldwide audience of over 3.5 billion people.

Neary half those walking on earth - and the biggest entertainment event in the history of mankind.