MickyD":19cwqkpe said:Just to add my two penn'orth on this whole negativity debate...
I don't give a toss about the national anthem and all the "patriotism" that goes with it - in fact I find both more and more offensive and anachronistic as the years go by - but for me it genuinely is 55 years of hurt because I turned 11 during the 1966 World Cup. (Could it be that it was all so simple then, or has time rewritten every line?) Personally, I don't really care if England win this tournament, or any other, by playing "negatively", and I don't really believe that anyone else does either. The great Dutch team, successive World Cup Final losers in 1974 and 1978, come to mind. Coulda woulda shoulda - but their name isn't on the trophy.
Like other posters, I never watch friendlies or anything other than the most crucial qualifying games any more (I think the last one was the magical Beckham free kick against Greece). TV news-friendly shows of "nationalistic fervour" at Wembley notwithstanding, though, I still live every kick of an England tournament game as if I were 11 years old again. When England go out, I immediately turn the telly off or leave the room (or pub) because I have zero interest in being told exactly how and why they blew it again this particular time.
I feel the same way about the endless re-runs of Italia 90 and Euro 96, too: everyone wallowing in nationalistic nostalgia for something that always, but always (bar '66) ends in failure and heartbreak - which we already know in advance of the montage!
I just do my own thing: I have two large England flags up in my living room at the moment, and they'll stay there until England go out. If they win, the flags will stay there permanently! Well, maybe until next year, at least. Or maybe my family will have something to say on the matter...
I just love debating football. My opinion is just a view point. Probably wrong. Yet in life, to me there are reasons things occur and you can try to improve in everything you do.
Yet l understand your view too. People just support, watch, accept and move on.
There is no right approach. Just different approaches.
At the end of the day we all want the same thing.