If you thought Stan was getting a hard time...

[GavinZac]

Also -while it's down to common usage issue -I'm fairly sure most Czechs just call the country 'Czech'. Maybe the rest of us should give it a try too.

its called czechia, similar to slovakia (which is also just the slovak republic). for some reason its never caught on in english

[theworm2345]

The Czech Republic lay claim to the past achievements of 'Czechoslavakia' as they were the dominant of the two states politically, financially etc. Eventhough 8 of the '76 team were indeed Slovaks. This is a bone of contention in Bratislava.

Its a similar situation in Russia (USSR), Germany (West Germany) and Serbia (Yugoslavia). The USSR team of WC86 was made up entirely of Ukrainians from Dynamo Kiev.

I don't need to take World Cup history, believe me, especially not from a Septic who uses Wikipedia for his research !

Here are a few sites to educate YOU ;

www.fifa.com
www.planetworldcup.com

And we don't need to 'Do the math', we can count over here.

You think I need to be more educated in Czech history? My last name is Czech, I can trace my ancestry back to a small village in Czech Republic, or Bohemia as the region was called where my last ancestor left from there. While I am only as Czech as I am Irish, it still wouldn't make sense to listen to YOU (unless, of course, you are a Czech history major, Czech yourself, or are from where your username would suggest, in which case it would be pretty pointless to argue with you as you would, automatically be at least partially correct) when, I would just have to guess (as your sources seem to be Planet World Cup and FIFA, you probably don't know much of anything about the Czech Republic, Czechoslovakia, Austria-Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia, etc (believe it or not, the name Bohemians is not an Irish name). I probably don't know as much as I should, but I'd guess I know more about it than you (just from reading books, taking a short course on it, etc.) Also, planet world cup does not give you complete histories of the teams, and FIFA takes forever to load so I don't use it. Thus, RSSSF and Wikipedia are the better sources for me.

Anyway, wouldn't it just be more helpful to just ask a Czech person what they think? Well, I did, I was in Boston (yesterday and earlier today) I was on the T, and I saw a guy wearing a Czech soccer shirt. I asked him what he thought, and he said basically that they are very proud of what the Czechoslovakian team accomplished, but they do not consider their team to be the direct descendant, and he does recognize this World Cup as their first. Please, I hope you will ask a Czech person as well, seeing you as well versed in what Czech people think it shouldn't be hard for you to find one.

P.S. If you did the math, then why didn't you post how many World Cups the Czech Republic has been to like I asked?

[dr_peepee]

You better Czech yourself before you wreck yourself!!!

[stojkovic]

You think I need to be more educated in Czech history?

No, I said World Cup history.

believe it or not, the name Bohemians is not an Irish name

Really ! Jaysus, next you will tell me that Plzener and Budweisser were not invented in America.

Anyway, wouldn't it just be more helpful to just ask a Czech person what they think?

Ask ONE person! Thats like asking an Irish person how many Counties there are in Ireland. One will say 32, another will say 26 and another will say he doesnt know. It's all about opinions.

P.S. If you did the math, then why didn't you post how many World Cups the Czech Republic has been to like I asked?

You are the one who first made the smart comment about 'Do the math' (I did Maths in school but since then I just count ). By your rationale (East) German players like Matthias Sammer and Michael Ballack cannot be proud of (West) Germany's rich World Cup history ?

PS I can see the point that you are making. Maybe you are not making it very well. I am not from Central Europe, I just take a keen interest in European Football, History and Geography. I do hope to be in Bratislava and Praha in September.

[eirebhoy]

At the end of the day, 8 of the of the 11 players in the 1976 European Championships winning team were from Slovakia.

[stojkovic]

At the end of the day, 8 of the of the 11 players in the 1976 European Championships winning team were from Slovakia.

Thats been stated numerous times already.

And 8 of the Irish team that played England in 1990 were not born in Ireland

Morris, McCarthy, Houghton, Townsend, Sheedy, Aldridge, Cascarino, McLoughlin.

PS I know McGrath was born in Ealing.

[eirebhoy]

Thats been stated numerous times already.

But would you say Slovakia has ever qualified for a major tournament?

[stojkovic]

But would you say Slovakia has ever qualified for a major tournament?

No.

Likewise Ukraine before WC06. Eventhough the majority of the starting 11 in 1986 in Mexico were Dynamo Kiev players. I think Dasaev was the only exception - Spartak Moscow.

[theworm2345]

No, I said World Cup history.

In this topic arent the two sort of one and the same?

Really ! Jaysus, next you will tell me that Plzener and Budweisser were not invented in America.

That was a joke

Ask ONE person! Thats like asking an Irish person how many Counties there are in Ireland. One will say 32, another will say 26 and another will say he doesnt know. It's all about opinions.

That one person means I am at least partially right, because at least a small percent (and he did say many people thought this) believe that. If you ask someone how many counties are in the Republic of Ireland, can the answer possibly be 32? I suppose its all about specificity

You are the one who first made the smart comment about 'Do the math' (I did Maths in school but since then I just count ). By your rationale (East) German players like Matthias Sammer and Michael Ballack cannot be proud of (West) Germany's rich World Cup history ?

Perhaps someone should ask those fellows if they are proud of it

PS I can see the point that you are making. Maybe you are not making it very well.

Thats how it usually is

I am not from Central Europe, I just take a keen interest in European Football, History and Geography. I do hope to be in Bratislava and Praha in September.

That would be a great time to ask, but I have to guess we won't still be arguing over this

[Stuttgart88]

Calm down lads.

Can anyone remember the media reaction in 1987 when we only barely beat Luxembourg at home, a late Paul McGrath volley saving the blushes and earning 2 crucial points? Was Jack crucified?

I was in London at the time and have no recollection how it was received. Expectations were lower then I suppose but it would still have been a massive shock.

In fact our home form in that campaign was quite poor, nil all draws against Scotland and Belgium, a narrow win over Luxembourg but a late, great win over Bulgaria.

[stojkovic]

Calm down lads.

Can anyone remember the media reaction in 1987 when we only barely beat Luxembourg at home, a late Paul McGrath volley saving the blushes and earning 2 crucial points? Was Jack crucified?

I was in London at the time and have no recollection how it was received. Expectations were lower then I suppose but it would still have been a massive shock.

In fact our home form in that campaign was quite poor, nil all draws against Scotland and Belgium, a narrow win over Luxembourg but a late, great win over Bulgaria.

Twas at all those games. Funny thing was about that time was that the senior players like Brady and Stapo got alot of stick (like Robbieeeee is now) and Jack didnt. The game against Scotland was shocking and the Belgians put ten men behind the ball and scrapped for a point. The win over the dirty cynical Bulgars was not late. We hammered them, eventhough Liamo was sent off.

[Stuttgart88]

Sorry, by late I meant late in the campaign. I remember it well, Brady was magnificent and his continental style "*** you" to the ref - or was it the Bulgarian? - as he was being sent off was a classic moment.

I was at all but the Luxembourg game myself.

[geysir]

I remember that fully committed clenched fist 'up yours' to the ref after lashing out at the Bulgarian, was that why he got a 4 match suspension? No doubt, the classiest ever sending off for Ireland.
I had always thought that Liam would go on to be our version of Belgium's Van Moer, baldy, plump but still running midfied well into his middle age.

[Wolfie]

Sorry, by late I meant late in the campaign. I remember it well, Brady was magnificent and his continental style "*** you" to the ref - or was it the Bulgarian? - as he was being sent off was a classic moment.

I was at all but the Luxembourg game myself.

Was at them all myself - the first campaign I attended, so have fond memories of the games.

A major shame that Brady was injured / suspended for Euro 88.

If you consider that Lawrenson and Beglin also never got to play in a major finals either.