|
||||||||
England 1996 or Wales 2016 |
![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|
#1 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 474
|
England 1996 or Wales 2016
Before the tournament there seemed to be endless documentaries about England's performance in getting to the semi finals of Euro 96, and it's obvious that that tournament holds a special place in the hearts of English football fans.
Now that Wales have matched them by reaching the semi finals- which would you say is the bigger achievement? |
|
|
|
|
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
|
|
|
#2 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,397
|
Wales. Comfortably.
England, italia 90 would be more similar, but Wales' achievement trumps that by far anyway. |
|
|
|
|
|
#3 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,612
|
I'm English but Wales getting to the semi's is a bigger achievement without a doubt.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#4 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 474
|
I'm Welsh so I'm completely biased 😀
I also think this Wales team has done it by playing better football than England did in Euro 96. And we also have an iconic goal from Robson-Kanu to match Gazza's goal against Scotland. But it's not over yet! We could still go on to win the whole thing |
|
|
|
|
|
#5 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Sarf London
Posts: 13,289
|
I'd say Wales because they've done it away from home and without all the advantages that entails.
Also, no team they've played have had a perfectly good goal disallowed and they've not needed a penalty shoot out. |
|
|
|
|
|
#6 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,099
|
Wales is obviously a bigger achievement because they are a minnow country with players in the squad who aren't even playing in the top leagues.
The England Euro '96 squad had a lot more talent of course and would easily beat the current Wales team. But there's no shame in that. |
|
|
|
|
|
#7 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: A Sound Expert
Posts: 13,881
|
Quote:
The England Euro '96 squad had a lot more talent of course and would easily beat the current Wales team. But there's no shame in that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#8 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 5,099
|
Quote:
Just like the current england team would easily beat iceland?
We are comparing England '96 vs Wales 2016. England of then would beat the Wales of today, we had a much better team back then. Even so, our current England team still easily beat Wales in this very tournament. |
|
|
|
|
|
#9 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: A Sound Expert
Posts: 13,881
|
Quote:
How is that even relevant? I didn't say they would.
We are comparing England '96 vs Wales 2016. England of then would beat the Wales of today, we had a much better team back then. Even so, our current England team still easily beat Wales in this very tournament. |
|
|
|
|
|
#10 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6,078
|
Well, a last minute of injury time winner after an equaliser that was deflected to Vardy by a Welsh defender....not that easy.
England were certainly the better side though, particularly in the second half, with Wales just getting deeper and deeper to hang on for a result; understandable with 3 points in the bag, but it was obviously the deserved result. The lateness of the winner was gutting at the time, though. God, it seems so long ago already! As for the thread question...yeah, it's really got to be Wales hasn't it. Whatever happens next, the team have already reached legendary status here in Wales and will receive a heroes welcome. Prior to the tournament, I just hoped we'd get out of the group stage, look like we belonged in only our second ever major tournament and did 'our' best. Could not have predicted all *this*. Still a little gobsmacked after the Belgium game, tbh. |
|
|
|
|
|
#11 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Isle of Wight
Posts: 7,810
|
Wales easily - they've done it without home advantage and by playing an extra knock-out match.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#12 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 5,258
|
Definitely Wales. Away from home, more inexperienced, and bigger outsiders at the start.
|
|
|
|
|
|
#13 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,330
|
Quote:
Before the tournament there seemed to be endless documentaries about England's performance in getting to the semi finals of Euro 96, and it's obvious that that tournament holds a special place in the hearts of English football fans.
Now that Wales have matched them by reaching the semi finals- which would you say is the bigger achievement? on past winners & the feel good factor & that included England. I'm not sure if this is a one off or a new golden era with Wales replicating or about to replace Portugal as the fear dreaded team to avoid. If Wales get to the final & Germany join them then they are in the confederations cup next year. I think if Wales get to the WC & Euro 2020 the it be a good thing for England. In fact if they repeat this feet in Euro 2020 they would be playing at Wembley. I'm not shore why we are knocking England when Wales should panic Portugal who also have a better record than us at least in Euros. |
|
|
|
|
|
#14 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,612
|
Quote:
How is that even relevant? I didn't say they would.
We are comparing England '96 vs Wales 2016. England of then would beat the Wales of today, we had a much better team back then. Even so, our current England team still easily beat Wales in this very tournament. |
|
|
|
|
|
#15 |
|
Inactive Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: London, UK
Posts: 11,516
|
Wales easily.
England in Euro 96 were average. The win over a fractured Holland squad which was infighting makes it a lot better than it really was. England should of lost to Spain. |
|
|
|
|
|
#16 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 1,454
|
Quote:
Wales is obviously a bigger achievement because they are a minnow country with players in the squad who aren't even playing in the top leagues.
The England Euro '96 squad had a lot more talent of course and would easily beat the current Wales team. But there's no shame in that. 7 Tournaments didn't qualify 5 went out at the group stages Won 6 Knockout games Lost 11 Knock out games For 22 years I accepted failure, then my son reached the age of 6 where you hoped he would see some success. 28 years and he is suffering the same inevitable disappointments. My grandson who is only 3 but by the next tournament, provided they qualify ofcourse will just be at the age he will be able to understand and follow football. Is there any hope that he will not suffer the same old story. There has been plenty of talent since 1966 but what is lacking is mentality, tactical nous and probably when up against the very best such as Germany the talent to match them. England can win as many qualifying groups, although they have managed somehow to fail in 7 of them, they can win against Germany in a friendly but when it really matters, they have failed abysmally. And if I ever hear that because of the Premier league they are tired, they don't have many players to choose from because foreign players dominate the league then I'll be even more angry. Half the Welsh team play in the Championship which is far more testing and longer than the Premier League, the other half play in the Premier League with the exception of Bale who was involved right up to the last match in the Champions League, where Spain had only one week winter break this season and players from the Premier League playing for other teams in the Euros have made such an impression such as Payet, De Bruyne, Lloris, Koscielny, Kante, Ozil, Sigurdsson, Pelle, Fonte, Skrtel, even Giroud. Then look at the Welsh team, Ben Davies, Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, James Chester, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen. |
|
|
|
|
|
#17 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 474
|
Quote:
Wales easily.
England in Euro 96 were average. The win over a fractured Holland squad which was infighting makes it a lot better than it really was. England should of lost to Spain. Compare that to this Wales team, which has already won 4 games this tournament (which incidentally would have seen them win the tournament in 1996) and I actually think Wales 2016 would beast England 1996 |
|
|
|
|
|
#18 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,578
|
Quote:
By your statement that Wales are minnows compared to England one assumes that England are a big nation. So why is their record for such a big nation so abysmal as their record since winning the World Cup in 1966 testifies.
7 Tournaments didn't qualify 5 went out at the group stages Won 6 Knockout games Lost 11 Knock out games For 22 years I accepted failure, then my son reached the age of 6 where you hoped he would see some success. 28 years and he is suffering the same inevitable disappointments. My grandson who is only 3 but by the next tournament, provided they qualify ofcourse will just be at the age he will be able to understand and follow football. Is there any hope that he will not suffer the same old story. There has been plenty of talent since 1966 but what is lacking is mentality, tactical nous and probably when up against the very best such as Germany the talent to match them. England can win as many qualifying groups, although they have managed somehow to fail in 7 of them, they can win against Germany in a friendly but when it really matters, they have failed abysmally. And if I ever hear that because of the Premier league they are tired, they don't have many players to choose from because foreign players dominate the league then I'll be even more angry. Half the Welsh team play in the Championship which is far more testing and longer than the Premier League, the other half play in the Premier League with the exception of Bale who was involved right up to the last match in the Champions League, where Spain had only one week winter break this season and players from the Premier League playing for other teams in the Euros have made such an impression such as Payet, De Bruyne, Lloris, Koscielny, Kante, Ozil, Sigurdsson, Pelle, Fonte, Skrtel, even Giroud. Then look at the Welsh team, Ben Davies, Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, James Chester, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen.
|
|
|
|
|
#19 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,410
|
Quote:
Wales easily.
England in Euro 96 were average. The win over a fractured Holland squad which was infighting makes it a lot better than it really was. England should of lost to Spain. |
|
|
|
|
|
#20 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,578
|
Quote:
The England 96 squad was much better than this Wales squad, had Wales been in the other half of the draw they would already be out.
|
|
|
|
|
#21 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,410
|
Quote:
By your statement that Wales are minnows compared to England one assumes that England are a big nation. So why is their record for such a big nation so abysmal as their record since winning the World Cup in 1966 testifies.
7 Tournaments didn't qualify 5 went out at the group stages Won 6 Knockout games Lost 11 Knock out games For 22 years I accepted failure, then my son reached the age of 6 where you hoped he would see some success. 28 years and he is suffering the same inevitable disappointments. My grandson who is only 3 but by the next tournament, provided they qualify ofcourse will just be at the age he will be able to understand and follow football. Is there any hope that he will not suffer the same old story. There has been plenty of talent since 1966 but what is lacking is mentality, tactical nous and probably when up against the very best such as Germany the talent to match them. England can win as many qualifying groups, although they have managed somehow to fail in 7 of them, they can win against Germany in a friendly but when it really matters, they have failed abysmally. And if I ever hear that because of the Premier league they are tired, they don't have many players to choose from because foreign players dominate the league then I'll be even more angry. Half the Welsh team play in the Championship which is far more testing and longer than the Premier League, the other half play in the Premier League with the exception of Bale who was involved right up to the last match in the Champions League, where Spain had only one week winter break this season and players from the Premier League playing for other teams in the Euros have made such an impression such as Payet, De Bruyne, Lloris, Koscielny, Kante, Ozil, Sigurdsson, Pelle, Fonte, Skrtel, even Giroud. Then look at the Welsh team, Ben Davies, Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor, James Chester, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen. |
|
|
|
|
|
#22 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,410
|
Quote:
I think Wales would have given Iceland a good game
![]() |
|
|
|
|
|
#23 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 4,578
|
Quote:
Wales are minnows compared to England, they hadn't qualified for a major tournament for 58 years, during which time England have won the World Cup and reached 3 semi finals, sure their overall tournament record hasn't been great, but Germany, Argentina, ect still regard playing England as a big game, while nobody regards playing Wales as a big game
Yes, England is historically one of the big football nations and it's still a big football nation by name, but as long as people close their eyes at how bad England is actually playing, you will never change anything and you will never win anything. Take Germany as an example. Obviously, they have always been one of the big football nations and everyone considers playing Germany a big game. However, when their FA and the German fans saw how terrible the team started playing in the early 00's they called a spade a spade and said that their team was fricking awful and needed a complete overhaul if they were to maintain their status in world football. The fact that they had only recently won the Euros (1996) or that they reached the final in WC 2002 did not change people's understanding of the fact that German football was in crisis and needed to change. Why is England so unwilling to face this?! |
|
|
|
|
#24 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,410
|
Quote:
*Sigh* this is the kind of mindset that has led to England playing worse and worse at every tournament.
Yes, England is historically one of the big football nations and it's still a big football nation by name, but as long as people close their eyes at how bad England is actually playing, you will never change anything and you will never win anything. Take Germany as an example. Obviously, they have always been one of the big football nations and everyone considers playing Germany a big game. However, when their FA and the German fans saw how terrible the team started playing in the early 00's they called a spade a spade and said that their team was fricking awful and needed a complete overhaul if they were to maintain their status in world football. The fact that they had only recently won the Euros (1996) or that they reached the final in WC 2002 did not change people's understanding of the fact that German football was in crisis and needed to change. Why is England so unwilling to face this?! |
|
|
|
|
|
#25 |
|
Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,975
|
Quote:
They have beaten Iceland, but they would have lost against France.
|
|
|
|
![]() |
| Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 07:43.



