England Out Again
So England, for the sixth straight major international tournament dating back to Euro ’92, had the lead in a knockout round match and ended up losing, this time 6-5 on penalty kicks to host Portugal after it ended 2-2 in extra time. And again, the English are up in arms, bemoaning their bad luck and blaming David Beckham and Darius Vassell for their PK misses. But, as they’d say in England, that whingeing is bollocks. Here’s why:

1. Six straight defeats snatched from the clutches of victory is not bad luck, it’s a pattern. The press and the public in England put so much pressure on the national team that they ALWAYS play scared. They consistently have some of the best teams on paper, but everybody plays to not be the guy who fucks up. They never go in for the kill when they take the lead.

2. Karma is a bitch. All the hooliganism over the years has angered the football gods. What was the best thing to happen to the organizers of USA World Cup ’94? That England failed to qualify, so the Americans didn’t have to worry about battalions of riot police and security at matches. So it’s really no surprise that England never seems to catch a break in a big match.

Anyway, I’m pulling for the Scandinavian teams at this point, Denmark and Sweden are playing quality, athletic, clean, team-oriented football. And their Villa-based players don’t hurt in drawing my support.
- posted by Liebs @ 7:45 PM