Comments on: Europeans baffled by fuss over Terry’s private life http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2010/02/07/europeans-baffled-by-fuss-over-terrys-private-life/ World Soccer views and news Sat, 18 May 2013 12:23:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: sgevans http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2010/02/07/europeans-baffled-by-fuss-over-terrys-private-life/comment-page-1/#comment-352649 sgevans Sun, 07 Feb 2010 20:50:41 +0000 http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/?p=15690#comment-352649 Very true Brian, particularly about captaincy only being such a big deal in England. In Italy, the skipper was generally just the oldest regular starter in the team. If he was missing it went to the next oldest. So when Maldini retired the armband went to Cannavaro - there was no discussion or debate. It only seems to be England that considers the position to be on a par with government or the royal family. And yet, despite having this bizarre obsession (one which I suspect has its roots in the education system with prefects etc) the English allow an Italian to run their team and to appoint as captain a player who served an eight month ban for breaking dope test rules. Strange. Very true Brian, particularly about captaincy only being such a big deal in England. In Italy, the skipper was generally just the oldest regular starter in the team. If he was missing it went to the next oldest. So when Maldini retired the armband went to Cannavaro – there was no discussion or debate.

It only seems to be England that considers the position to be on a par with government or the royal family.

And yet, despite having this bizarre obsession (one which I suspect has its roots in the education system with prefects etc) the English allow an Italian to run their team and to appoint as captain a player who served an eight month ban for breaking dope test rules.

Strange.

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