English Fans and the English Media
I find it more than just a little bit annoying when I hear what some England fans have got to say about the team and the management since this World Cup has started. I also get fed up reading the papers. England cruised through qualifying and won nine games out of ten. They looked sharp, focussed and deadly in front of the goal. I think what people are wanting, quite rightly, is to see that same team playing in the World Cup.
However, what people don’t seem to understand is that the pressure is different at World Cups and teams are not going to be playing with the same freedom that they did in Qualifying because of the added pressure. Teams simply do not want to lose and this stifles creativity. Once the group stages are over, the tournament arguably becomes easier because it is only your game that matters. You don’t have to worry about other team’s results or goal difference or any of those things.
After England’s first two group stage games they did look awful. The first game was an edgy encounter and a draw was not the worst thing. However, the draw against Algeria was painful to watch. But to hear the English Press and fans actually say that they thought England were going out of the World Cup was atrocious, negative and ridiculous. To hear them insult the manager, who has done fantastic things with this team was also stupid. I just hate how one loss sends the country into depression.
On the flip side of this, since the Slovenia win and our qualification into the Round of 16, the press have gone completely the other way and believe that England can now win the World Cup. Why can’t we have some realistic journalists and send all the ones we have now to United Arab Emirates jobs to depress their football fans? Why can’t we have some reasonable people writing for our papers? England do have a chance to win, yes, but it won’t be easy. We need to beat some world class sides to take the trophy. I do have hope, but that is all anyone can have. Filling our minds with despair or with false certainties is a terrible way to go on.
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