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

Dirty Martini said:
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?
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Arguing with yourself or what ?

What is the difference between Italy's drift to the right and Croatia's ?
What is the difference between Croatia's overpriced resorts and Italy's ?

I have no direct experience of either country but I tend to think Italy is dearer for a holiday than Croatia. Perhaps someone who has recently been to both could answer that.

As for the politics I can understand Croatia being nationalistic - after spending more than half a century in a forced coalition with Serbia (and others) and having their culture and identity suppressed they are now desperate to express themselves as an independent nation and are very proud (perhaps too proud) at times.

I personally was very impressed with how many Croatians made the journey to Vienna on Friday just to be in the city where their national football team were playing a quarter final. One estimate I heard on Radio 5 was 200,000 - 1 in every 20 of the population ! And I haven't seen any reports of trouble which is very impressive considering the nature of their exit and how disappointed they must have been.

I think some of our fans could learn something about behaviour from these far-right nationalists.
 
As for the politics I can understand Croatia being nationalistic - after spending more than half a century in a forced coalition with Serbia (and others) and having their culture and identity suppressed they are now desperate to express themselves as an independent nation and are very proud (perhaps too proud) at times.
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this is also a very good point although i dunno about "forced" - tito was a croat and he did have popular support in croatia. i'd also say that recently the croatian gov't has got a lot LESS nationalistic from what i've heard ...
 
bigbry said:
As for the politics I can understand Croatia being nationalistic - after spending more than half a century in a forced coalition with Serbia (and others) and having their culture and identity suppressed
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I wonder if there were not some good reasons for ethnic nationalisms being suppressed in postwar Yugoslavia?
 
frogwoman said:
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.
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But we also have a problem with this sort of thing and I'd be pissed of with anyone dismissing this country as a load of far right nutjobs or whatever.
 
Sadken said:
But we also have a problem with this sort of thing and I'd be pissed of with anyone dismissing this country as a load of far right nutjobs or whatever.
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i agree with you there, but not many people on this thread are saying that ...
 
we were talking down the pub today about which country should garner our support. and when you consider the relatively recent history of germany, italy, spain, russia and turkey, and especially against any kind of political dimension, it became a difficult decision.

then we remembered that g/f's for spain in the sweep and so our decision was made. viva espana :)
 
i am supporting either germany or russia to win it, although i'll be happy if turkey win it as well ...
 
Donna Ferentes said:
This is perhaps an issue you might like to discuss with inhabitants of the countries you do not favour...
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Italian women - by and large better looking than anywhere else I've been in Europe bar possibly Romania. It's just true.
 
Sadken said:
No but, come on...Germany and Russia but not Croatia?
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germany are an excellent team who thoroughly deserve to win, IMO. germany have put the past well and truly behind them (maybe a bit too much). russia i sympathise with, they've had during the last 15 years and really deserve to have something to be proud of given the utter shite that has happened in the last 20 or so years, i dont agree with a lot of what goes on there in terms of the government etc though.

croatia probably the same thing, but i have reervations about supporting them, given what i have mentioned and given the fact that the country doesn't seem (i might be wrong) but it doesn't seem to have faced up to their past in quite the same way as germany or even serbia has to an extent. it doesn't mean croats = fascists and i would be pretty pissed off as well if someone were to imply such a thing, it doesn't mean that i don't want to go to croatia (i do at some stage!)

sorry i hope what im saying does not sound really awful! i actually agree with most of your points ...
 
It's not in the slightest. 'Support' for a country in Euro 2008 is a nothing. It doesn't amount to anything that might influence anyone in anyway and therefore to politicise it is ludicrous. I hardly think the new dawning of the left is going to be halted by me stating in vague terms to my other half that I quite like Slavan Bilic's earing and therefore would prefer them to win.

If I was proposing actively supporting a team (i.e. giving them some money and getting down and dirty with their fans) then it would be more of a concern but politicising armchair support is just silly imo.
 
Yeah, they are but they have the same dodgy reputation as the Croatians and the English in fact. All as undeserved bar a minority, all still existing. The only trouble I've heard about so far has been German-v-Polish and Turks attacking Croats the other day.
 
Sadken said:
Yeah, they are but they have the same dodgy reputation as the Croatians and the English in fact. All as undeserved bar a minority, all still existing. The only trouble I've heard about so far has been German-v-Polish and Turks attacking Croats the other day.
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i think there are good people and bad people among football fans of all nationalities tbh ...
 
JTG said:
Tell that to the people of Manchester
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Dude we're talking national teams not club sides. Surely you can see the difference in that particular case?

Or hold on a minute...were you referring to the Irish? In which case the IRA isn't a football team.
 
tangerinedream said:
It's not in the slightest. 'Support' for a country in Euro 2008 is a nothing. It doesn't amount to anything that might influence anyone in anyway and therefore to politicise it is ludicrous. I hardly think the new dawning of the left is going to be halted by me stating in vague terms to my other half that I quite like Slavan Bilic's earing and therefore would prefer them to win.

If I was proposing actively supporting a team (i.e. giving them some money and getting down and dirty with their fans) then it would be more of a concern but politicising armchair support is just silly imo.
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i agree with this.
 
twisted said:
Dude we're talking national teams not club sides. Surely you can see the difference in that particular case?

Or hold on a minute...were you referring to the Irish? In which case the IRA isn't a football team.
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I think it might be a reference to the recent UEFA Cup final, there was a Scottish team playing.
 
twisted said:
Dude we're talking national teams not club sides. Surely you can see the difference in that particular case?
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I assumed you were referring to Scottish fans in general. OK, we'll just stick to the Tartan Army and their curious idea that exposing yourselves in public is an acceptable way to behave.
 
As far back as i can remember (1970 World Cup to be specific), I've always wanted Germany to lose. Its never been a 'two world wars and one world cup' thing :rolleyes:. Its more about their kit (always shit) and their hair (had curly perms in decades when that wasn't ever excusable).

Used to dislike Italy many moons ago because of Gentile - but then in 1990 they turned it round on the aesthetic front by having that cool blue strip. For Croatia however what they gain with the red and white chessboard, they lose with the fash thing.

Russia - heard that their travelling fans are all rich with new money, so I have to hate them.

Spain - awwww, they deserve it.

Turkey - I heard Galatassaray slaughter a goat before their home games. :(

France - best national anthem. Coach has good spectacles. May soon be replaced by Steve McLaren.

Holland - shit kit, very irritating fans with crap Oompah bands :rolleyes: .. but quite good at fupball

Romania - didn't it used to be called Rumania? Need to fucking sort that out before I can support them.

Austria, Switzerland - whatever

Portugal - traitorous little shite :mad: Soft fucking manager who couldn't put up with a couple of polite enquiries from the Sun. :rolleyes:

Clear?
 
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