Posted by: Samsara November 22, 2007
What a joke..EURO 2008 without England
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C'mon, blaming them is unnecessary as it all comes down to basic economics.  What do you think they get paid playing for England?  Chump change or in some cases Nada!  Now, what do you think they're paid when they play for the premiere league clubs?  Mucho dinero.  Just taking this aspect into mind, is it even rational that they go all out (risking injury) in international matches?  One injury and they could risk their livelihood for good.  On the other hand, what do these no-name nations with no-name player have to lose?  Nothing.  They have all to gain and they go all out in these matches often getting noticed by the premiere leagues.  But once in the premiere leagues, they're just another statistic as the level of the game is much more intense (including the fans) than the World Cup matches.

Look in our own backyard for such a phenomenon: ala the NBA's US Dream Team (not the original '92 dream team).  They are an embarrassment but at the same time, balming them is unnecessary as its more about personal gain than patriotism in this age of "money talks, BS walks". 

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