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Soccer Break Friday
It’s gone quiet on the football news front though the sun’s still out in Europe as we await another weekend of unrelenting on-pitch drama in the Euro 2012 qualifiers.
Anyone out there lucky enough to be attending the Serbia v Northern Ireland match? 240 fans got the nod.
World Cup winners Spain are also playing against Czech Republic. Fascinating country Spain, full of interesting dynamics. Read here for a thorough explanation.
Sticking with politics, and Libya’s qualification for the 2012 London Olympics could be in danger after the conflict in north Africa.
Heading to South America, people are still reeling from the death of a fan over the weekend and here’s a more considered piece on Argentina’s tarnished game.
Our David Beckham blog is still attracting comments. What is your view on the former England captain? Would you pick him for England?
Last but not least, an amusing look at some of the most garish football kits of all time. What sticks in the memory for you?
Would a unified Britain have won more than one World Cup?
Resistance to plans for a unified British soccer team for the 2012 London Olympics means the idea may well be a one-off, if it gets off the ground at all.
The four home nations are wary of setting precedents that could harm their independent status, despite their lack of success as separate entities.
Indeed, all they would have to show in a collective trophy cabinet would be England’s 1966 triumph, which makes me wonder if they might have been better putting national pride aside all along and pooling their resources, as they do in most other sports.
Would a unified team have won more than one paltry World Cup?
As far as recent times are concerned, I think the simple answer has got to be no.
Wales and Scotland have produced some excellent players over the last 40 years, such as Ryan Giggs, Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish. But added to the core of English players I’m assuming would usually form the bulk of a unified side, I don’t think they would have transformed English also-rans into British world beaters. (more…)
How many people in Britain would actually support a unified team and celebrate World Cup success built on four nations joining forces?
On the Beckham question, I think most people would say his England days are gone now. The national team would gain little and the move could put younger players’ backs up.