How far is your support for a team at Euro 2008 dependent on the country's politics?

[Dirty Martini]

Or indeed anything not strictly related to football.

I confess an intense dislike for Croatia, for its 'harmless' far-right nationalism, odious šahovnica and overpriced and boring coastal resorts. I like the football they play, but I'd support Italy against them, despite that country's drift to the far right (and its overpriced coastal resorts).

You?

 

[CyberRose]

None whatsoever. It is entirely down to which team I have money on

 

[corporate whore]

Was gonna follow Spain, due to the obvious Liverpool connections, but Aragones is such a back woods cracker I couldn't bring myself..

So, I've been basing my support on which national anthem I prefer. On that basis I'm disappointed the French went out, but am delighted Russia are still in.

 

[Badgers]

I care little but I will root for the Netherlands from here on in.

 

[Dirty Martini]

back woods cracker

Love that phrase

 

[Dirty Martini]

I care little but I will root for the Netherlands from here on in.

Liberal social policies, famed tolerance. In the absence of free-nurseries-and-500-quid-a-week-unemployment-benefit Sweden, they might be the ones to go for.

 

[Structaural]

None. I live in Holland

 

[Rollem]

football decisions based on politics oh dear, oh dear

 

[littlebabyjesus]

When I went to Croatia a few years ago, the vast majority of the people just wanted peace and prosperity and wondered where all the British tourists were.

I'm rooting for Russia for purely football and monetary reasons - I've got them in a sweepstake and they play really exciting stuff. If they win and I cheer, will it be because I love President Putin.

 

[Dirty Martini]

No, of course not, don't be silly. It's meant to be a banterish thread about all the non-footballing reasons why you might or might not support a team. If you don't have any, that's OK too

 

[Rollem]

No, of course not, don't be silly. It's meant to be a banterish thread about all the non-footballing reasons why you might or might not support a team.

oh, so we're talking about all non-footballing reasons why are we? in that case....

spain is my chosen nationality this month because a) i have a spanish name b) david villa c) xavi alonso has good hair d) i like their kit e) i make a mean paella f) the rain in spain falls mainly on the plane g) its just like supporting england....

 

[Iam]

the rain in spain falls mainly on the plane

(((pilots)))

 

[Dirty Martini]

Well, I did say any other non-footballing reasons in the original post.

I think it's fair enough to support a team on the basis of the country's signature dish. Why not?

 

[Rollem]

Well, I did say any other non-footballing reasons in the original post.

you did. you are quite correct. a good point well made

I think it's fair enough to support a team on the basis of the country's signature dish. Why not?

indeed

 

[Donna Ferentes]

I used to have a gag about replacing the penalty shoot-out with a system by which the country which had elected a government furthest to the left should go through.

I have a feeling that using those criteria, I'd be supporting Spain. Which I'm not.

 

[dessiato]

I live in Portugal, and none of the home country teams were playing. Now I'll support Holland, because I rather fancy Dutch girls, they have such great legs.

 

[Structaural]

Actually there's some right cnuts in power here in Holland, but at least it's a hung parliament.

 

[JTG]

I base it on the relative love of football, tastiness of their food, friendliness of their people, contribution to world culture, looks of their women and of course the coolness of their national anthem.

Italy all the way

 

[twistedAM]

Or indeed anything not strictly related to football.

I confess an intense dislike for Croatia, for its 'harmless' far-right nationalism, odious šahovnica and overpriced and boring coastal resorts. I like the football they play, but I'd support Italy against them, despite that country's drift to the far right (and its overpriced coastal resorts).

You?

Even though Citeh had someone playing for them i couldn't cheer on Croatia for those reasons except the one about the coastal resorts as I would have no intention of visiting that place.

To redress that negative, I always have a soft spot for Denmark when they're in a tournament.

 

[twistedAM]

spain is my chosen nationality this month because ..... g) its just like supporting england....

You know what happens in quarter finals then?

Ciao.

I love the Italian language by the way even though I can't speak it. Just love listening to them wabble on.
JTG is making me feel more and more for Italy but i have to go with tradition and support Germany.

 

[Sadken]

Do you hate England as well then?

Croatia is a fucking great country, incredibly beautiful, with really friendly people. Yeah, there's some far right nutters about but the same could be said of any country. As for over priced and boring coastal resorts - where did you go? I got completely the opposite impression of the place but I was there about 5/6 years ago and prices do seem to have gone up since then.

Also, Orient nicked their chequered red and white shirt a few years back and I supported them as a result.

 

[Fedayn]

I base it on the relative love of football, tastiness of their food, friendliness of their people, contribution to world culture, looks of their women and of course the coolness of their national anthem.

Italy all the way

All except the last bit I concur.

 

[frogwoman]

Even though Citeh had someone playing for them i couldn't cheer on Croatia for those reasons except the one about the coastal resorts as I would have no intention of visiting that place.

To redress that negative, I always have a soft spot for Denmark when they're in a tournament.

I didnt/don't support croatia for those reasons (see some of my posts in p and p ), but you seem to really have it in for them

 

[Sadken]

This "Croatians are far right nationalists" comes across as the kind of generalisation that gets people crucified on the main board on here. I seriously don't think it's on to tar all Croatians with the same far right brush cos I found it to be a stunning country full of friendly people, a lot of whom slagged off the far right "ultras" that get the country so much negative publicity and that's been the experience of a few other people who have been there since on my recommendation.

It's seriously your loss if you don't fancy going; it's a great country.

 

[frogwoman]

This "Croatians are far right nationalists" comes across as the kind of generalisation that gets people crucified on the main board on here. I seriously don't think it's on to tar all Croatians with the same far right brush cos I found it to be a stunning country full of friendly people, a lot of whom slagged off the far right "ultras" that get the country so much negative publicity and that's been the experience of a few other people who have been there since on my recommendation.

It's seriously your loss if you don't fancy going; it's a great country.

Innit well i will admit, i am not a fan of croatia's actions in the 1990s and the fact that tudjman is still viewed by many as a great leader, but it is a bit unfair (to say the fucking least!!) to say that croatians, in generla, are ustasha supporting maniacs ...

 

[Donna Ferentes]

looks of their women

This is perhaps an issue you might like to discuss with inhabitants of the countries you do not favour...

 

[Dirty Martini]

Funny thing is, no one's said that all Croats are fascists, have they? That would be daft.

 

[Sadken]

No, fair enough, but you came dangerously close to inferring it when you said you weren't supporting the country because of "its 'harmless' far-right nationalism" which you could equally say about any country in Euro 2008 or the World Cup or the world in general pretty much.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Could you, though? The politics of all countries are not entirely the same.

 

[frogwoman]

No, fair enough, but you came dangerously close to inferring it when you said you weren't supporting the country because of "its 'harmless' far-right nationalism" which you could equally say about any country in Euro 2008 or the World Cup or the world in general pretty much.

Unfortunately Croatia does have a problem with this sort of thing, and it isn't always just a stereotype. It's inevitable given what sort of guy Tudjman was and the fact that Croatia fought a war for its independence under his leadership which killed many people on both sides. A war which was highly successful and which led him to be seen among MANY croatians (not all!!) as a national hero.

There are bound to be a lot of people with strong feelings and some with very dodgy views, because of their experiences or whatever. The fact that some people would support nationalism and even the far right/fascism is unfortunately very understandable. It doesn't make it right though.