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Original poster

To ask why the England team (the men) keep falling at the final hurdle, (well virtually at the final hurdle,) at the football World Cup ... and The Euros too?

837 replies

GorgeousSpringtime · 16/07/2026 08:58

Not an England-team bashing thread, but why, oh WHY do they - the men - keep falling at the final hurdle (well, virtually the final hurdle,) every time at the football (soccer) World Cup - and the Euro Cup too...?

They do so well, and get so far, and then BANG they're out. Nearly always in the top 8, or top 4, (and the top 2, in the World Cup once, and a couple of times in the Euros I think,) but never the winner. (Not since 1966 anyway!)

Is it nerves? Is it that they're so anxious to win that they keep making silly mistakes? Are they just not quite good enough? WHAT IS IT? Why do they keep getting so close, but just never manage to get the win?!

As I said, I am not bashing them, and they did well, and I am proud of them, but I just get so frustrated that they can't quite ever get the win!

!

OP posts:
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5
GasPanic · 21/07/2026 13:07

Cherrytree86 · 21/07/2026 12:50

@XelaM

why do you think women’s football is an ‘acquired taste’?

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It's not the same as the mens football at the moment.

The skill level and the speed is lower. That makes the game somewhat more frustrating to watch if you are really into the mens game.

I think within about 10 years the adult womens players will have had the same coaching as the men from an early age. That will close the skills gap.

I think the maybe 10% difference in speed and height between men and women will actually make the womens game more interesting than the mens if they retain the same pitch and goal size, as often the mens game feels very cramped with little space and the goalkeepers almost impossible to defeat in comparison to the womens game.

So the TLDR for me is that at the moment the mens game is more interesting to watch, but there is a possibility that will change in the future.

For me the prem and top level international mens football (champions league/world cup/euros) is where the interest is. I tolerate watching EFL because my home team is there, but the quality of football is quite obviously lower, and it gets a lot less entertaining as you move down the divisions.

XelaM · 21/07/2026 13:01

DuncinToffee · 21/07/2026 12:48

It was at one stage

Ofcourse that had be stopped, hence the ban.

Show quote history

When was women's football ever as popular as the men's game? 😳

XelaM · 21/07/2026 13:00

Cherrytree86 · 21/07/2026 12:50

@XelaM

why do you think women’s football is an ‘acquired taste’?

Show quote history

Because only a small minority of people watch it compared to men's football.

Cherrytree86 · 21/07/2026 12:50

XelaM · 21/07/2026 12:44

France lost to Spain. Doesn't mean they are not good enough. It's football. It happens.

The strongest teams don't always win either.

Show quote history

@XelaM

why do you think women’s football is an ‘acquired taste’?

DuncinToffee · 21/07/2026 12:48

XelaM · 21/07/2026 12:46

Are you saying women's football is as popular as men's?

Show quote history

It was at one stage

Ofcourse that had be stopped, hence the ban.

XelaM · 21/07/2026 12:46

EastGrinstead · 21/07/2026 12:37

@XelaM, you believe that women's football is an acquired taste and not comparable to men's?

Really?

You seem to hold many ill-informed views.

Show quote history

Are you saying women's football is as popular as men's?

XelaM · 21/07/2026 12:44

Cherrytree86 · 21/07/2026 12:31

@GorgeousSpringtime

but they lost to Argentina and would lose to Spain so that poster is right - they aren’t good enough to win

Show quote history

France lost to Spain. Doesn't mean they are not good enough. It's football. It happens.

The strongest teams don't always win either.

EastGrinstead · 21/07/2026 12:37

XelaM · 20/07/2026 12:20

Errr... ok 🥶 sorry I know the women have got better in recent years, but women's football is still an acquired taste. Not comparable to the men's

Show quote history

@XelaM, you believe that women's football is an acquired taste and not comparable to men's?

Really?

You seem to hold many ill-informed views.

Cherrytree86 · 21/07/2026 12:31

GorgeousSpringtime · 21/07/2026 08:19

The 6:4 score against France - in the 3rd place play-off match on Saturday tells a different story.

Show quote history

@GorgeousSpringtime

but they lost to Argentina and would lose to Spain so that poster is right - they aren’t good enough to win

XelaM · 21/07/2026 11:58

Twonewcats · 21/07/2026 10:45

It doesn't. The fact it was the third-place playoff and not the final proves the point.

Show quote history

🙄 Some people just want to continue to bang the same drum. Yes they lost in the semi-final. It happens. France (the favourites) also lost. That doesn't mean they are shit or not good enough.

Saying they are shit actually shows you don't know or understand football, as they are actually pretty good.

Coming 3rd out of 48 teams (having had to play more knockout games than any other England team) is a very good result.

DuncinToffee · 21/07/2026 10:48

Don't compare the women's game to the mens, they are different.

Remember that the FA banned women's football for 50 years.

Twonewcats · 21/07/2026 10:45

GorgeousSpringtime · 21/07/2026 08:19

The 6:4 score against France - in the 3rd place play-off match on Saturday tells a different story.

Show quote history

It doesn't. The fact it was the third-place playoff and not the final proves the point.

Original poster
GorgeousSpringtime · 21/07/2026 08:19

brassfunky · 20/07/2026 15:35

They are not good enough

Show quote history

The 6:4 score against France - in the 3rd place play-off match on Saturday tells a different story.

OP posts:
Original poster
GorgeousSpringtime · 21/07/2026 08:06

randomchap · 20/07/2026 12:43

Each to their own. My dd is already excited about it

Show quote history

I have to say that the women have a long way to go to gain the same furore and fan base as the men, but they are as good as the men IMO. There was loads of excitement when they played in the last few years - and won!

OP posts:
Rewis · 20/07/2026 16:46

XelaM · 20/07/2026 15:28

England is also hosting in 2028 in case you care 😛

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Im pretty sure i will have no way of getting tickets, let alone affordable tickets so I've kinda counted out men's euros 😅 also, i do kinda prefer watching women's football 🙈

brassfunky · 20/07/2026 15:35

GorgeousSpringtime · 16/07/2026 08:58

Not an England-team bashing thread, but why, oh WHY do they - the men - keep falling at the final hurdle (well, virtually the final hurdle,) every time at the football (soccer) World Cup - and the Euro Cup too...?

They do so well, and get so far, and then BANG they're out. Nearly always in the top 8, or top 4, (and the top 2, in the World Cup once, and a couple of times in the Euros I think,) but never the winner. (Not since 1966 anyway!)

Is it nerves? Is it that they're so anxious to win that they keep making silly mistakes? Are they just not quite good enough? WHAT IS IT? Why do they keep getting so close, but just never manage to get the win?!

As I said, I am not bashing them, and they did well, and I am proud of them, but I just get so frustrated that they can't quite ever get the win!

!

They are not good enough

XelaM · 20/07/2026 15:28

Rewis · 20/07/2026 14:17

I can't wait 🤩 Also looking forward to 2035 when UK is hosting. Ive been to 3 euros and still gutted I didn't go to Swizerland.

Show quote history

England is also hosting in 2028 in case you care 😛

Rewis · 20/07/2026 14:17

randomchap · 20/07/2026 11:57

We don't have to wait 2 years. Got the women's world cup next year.

Being it on

Show quote history

I can't wait 🤩 Also looking forward to 2035 when UK is hosting. Ive been to 3 euros and still gutted I didn't go to Swizerland.

randomchap · 20/07/2026 14:09

Gloriia · 20/07/2026 13:32

I said this earlier its just not remotely as enjoyable is it. There's no speed, no excitement it's just so very dull but everyone pretends it's the same lest you get labelled sexist.

I'll have to find a premiership team to follow if anyone has any tips.

Show quote history

Pick the team closest to you

Gloriia · 20/07/2026 13:32

XelaM · 20/07/2026 12:20

Errr... ok 🥶 sorry I know the women have got better in recent years, but women's football is still an acquired taste. Not comparable to the men's

Show quote history

I said this earlier its just not remotely as enjoyable is it. There's no speed, no excitement it's just so very dull but everyone pretends it's the same lest you get labelled sexist.

I'll have to find a premiership team to follow if anyone has any tips.

randomchap · 20/07/2026 12:43

XelaM · 20/07/2026 12:20

Errr... ok 🥶 sorry I know the women have got better in recent years, but women's football is still an acquired taste. Not comparable to the men's

Show quote history

Each to their own. My dd is already excited about it

XelaM · 20/07/2026 12:20

randomchap · 20/07/2026 11:57

We don't have to wait 2 years. Got the women's world cup next year.

Being it on

Show quote history

Errr... ok 🥶 sorry I know the women have got better in recent years, but women's football is still an acquired taste. Not comparable to the men's

ComeOnEngland12 · 20/07/2026 12:02

Argentina is a violent team of many thugs led by a crap captain in messi.
Having played for Spain im amazed he hasn't tried to clean up his team players.
They showed their colours again last night physicslly attacking Spanish players and even dragging them to the ground after. It was hard for them to be as violent as they wanted to be on last night's stage.

They are an global embarrassment and nothing without Messi.
I don't think we will see them feature much in future cups.
Good riddance.

I agree it would be very hard to beat Spain because they are a clinical solid machine. They have a 38 match winning streak !
But it's not necasarily exciting football.

randomchap · 20/07/2026 11:57

XelaM · 20/07/2026 09:52

Can't wait for Euro 2028!! 2 years is such a long time to wait 😬

It will be a tall order for England. This Spain team are young and will all be at the Euros, plus France, plus Germany might make a comeback with Klopp and Italy might finally qualify for a tournament and then go on to win it 😂 It's going to be an exciting Euros. I wonder if Ronaldo will be there?

Edited

We don't have to wait 2 years. Got the women's world cup next year.

Being it on

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