Club or country?

Is support for England dropping? Join the Sky Sports debate

Last updated: 10th September 2008  

Club or country?

England face Croatia in a World Cup qualifier on Wednesday amid reports that support for the national team is dropping off.

Fewer fans than usual travelled to Barcelona to watch the win over Andorra with many preferring to boo rather than get behind the team. Has England's poor form in recent years seen your interest drop off?

Skipper John Terry says England's players take part in bigger games during their club season than at international level. Do you agree? Would you rather see your club team be successful than England?

Bearing in mind England have not won a trophy for more than 40 years, why should interest in the team be dropping now?

Do you agree with coach Fabio Capello that Wembley is not the happy hunting ground for England's players that it should be? Would you rather see games taken away from the national stadium and played at grounds such as Old Trafford and St James' Park?

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Comments (28)

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Antoine Weir (Liverpool fan) says...

I've allways thought that the National team is more important than anything else. I'm devastated when England don't do well but I was over the moon today.

Posted 01:36 11th September 2008

Anthony Oliver (West Ham United fan) says...

I haven't watched an England friendly since the awful loss to the Aussies in 2003 at UP and haven't watched a competative game since we were eliminated from the World cup and McClown took over. Successive England managers seem to pick the same players, in the same formations and get the same results. It's baffling. Is it the FA's agenda that we continue to fail in this way?

Posted 00:56 11th September 2008

Jimmy Driver (Everton fan) says...

It has been extremely hard to support England since the turn of the Millenium, what with Keegan being a total let-down, Sven supposedly getting it all wrong and then us all wishing he was back when McClaren spectacularly messed up our chanes of being at Euro 2008. But I've always had the affection to care for the England side, since after all it is my country, and as an 18-year old fan of a Premier League team, that seems a rarity these days. But after a performance like tonight, I reckon we could well be back and onto something special with the likes of Walcott. Sure the managers Italian, but I couldn't care less if he was Spanish, French or Martian, he's instilling confidence into the players that was evident tonight. Sure, we've been woeful at times, downright embarrassing at others, but it's still England and without the pride of a nation behind them, why should the players be bothered to represent us if we can't bring ourselves to support them, regardless of our day-to-day club allegences?

Posted 00:37 11th September 2008

Michael Rose (Nottingham Forest fan) says...

I was a member of England Fans for the period upto and including Euro 2004 in Portugal. I loved being an England fan, travelling around Europe like I used to do with Forest. BUT, the treatment and contempt of the fans by the club, by other nations police forces (particularly In Bratislava), the press, the tournament organisers, and the players led me to turn into an old man and think it just wasn't worth turning out any more to be treated like an inexaustable cash point with endless patience. I was an England fan and deserved to be treated and thought of as scum whereever I went abroad, and as a muppet by the organisation at home. The hoops we had to jump through to get tickets, the disrespect from the players after a match (Beckham was the only player who earned my respect as a player during and after matches). I thoroughly enjoyed my month in Portugal but there are only so many times that you can be a doormat,

Posted 23:56 10th September 2008

Christopher Rollins (Bristol City fan) says...

Is support for England on the wane?...... I think the result tonight will sway some of the fans decisions!

Posted 22:58 10th September 2008

Peter Raku (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Isnt it funny Man U fans would rather watch UTD than England, this goes to show how SAF has direspected the National game for years, can anyone tell me how many friendlies Giggs/Ince/Keane played, they were always injured or had a minor op, and then ready for their club games, and we wonder why the national team is devoid of passion, they know they cant commit 100% because they have a club game coming up, which PAYS more, incredible!!! i asked a Man U season ticket holder what was more important England winning the world cup or Man U winning the champions league, to my amazement he said the Champions league, i would rather Spurs got relegated and be alive to watch the euphoria of watching England win the world cup, that is the difference - Bilic is spot on when he says he questions Gerrards op and Hargreaves injuries, Country should always come first!! Untill the Managers and players realise that, mediocre countries will always play well against us, they have passion and total pride to pull that shirt on, our lot are loving the club money and direction from so called top Managers.

Posted 13:24 10th September 2008

Jim Overton (Chelsea fan) says...

There's no doubt, the mood is negative, but am I losing interest in England? No way. It's too easy to jump on the boo-boys bandwagon, but it only takes a couple of good performances and you'll see, passion for the national team will be as good as ever. There so much hot air spoken about players commitment and their salaries, but the same is true for them. Each of them would love to be adored by the masses and make a name for themselves as a World Cup finals. They still dream of doing the business in an England shirt. It's the dream of every player. So don't give up your heritage, people, keep believing. Sooner or later, we will learn to pass the ball, and what a beautiful day that will be!

Posted 13:22 10th September 2008

Ben Russell (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Has anyone else noticed it tends to be the Man U and Chelsea fans who wont support England when they aren't doing well where as many of the travelling fans support less well off teams who are used to losing a few matches. The term 'glory chasers' does spring to mind, and a real football supporter follows their team whether they win, lose, get relegated or whatever. Not saying England are great, far from it, just wondering if these people are real fans. All the disappointment of recent years will make any minor success seem very sweet to those who have remained faithful.

Posted 13:18 10th September 2008

Paul Thompson (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...

Who really cares about england anymore? If i'm honest i've lost interest along with the rest of the team, football changed too much and you can see that the players don't want to be there half the time really, unless its a big game. club football is much more important now. saying that i wouldn't say they don't care just that they are over paid and extremly hard to moativate now days when your playing likes of andora. but we have a handfull of decent players but they just can't play as a team. really good player should be able to play together no matter what. beckham past it, rooney a little over rated but still the best we have just hasn't proved himself yet on the international seen but hopefully he will come good for england. terry, lampard & gerrard brillant club players just don't seem to do it on the international seen. tonights game will show how much if at all we have improve since the mac!! cheers

Posted 13:14 10th September 2008

Jason Knight (Liverpool fan) says...

I used to be so passionate about being an england fan, but now i don't really pay attention, i remember being so proud in the world cup of 1990 and then in euro 96. All i hear from John Terry and the gang is how they are passionate, but i don't see that anymore. Their attitude stinks...I care far more about my club and glad that gerrard is resting through the england games. Money has sucked the sole out these guys.

Posted 13:10 10th September 2008

Dan Richardson (Sunderland fan) says...

If its not Sunderland, its nothing. Thats the motto i follow. Its all about club football for me, I would much rather pay to watch Sunderland even though we are at the other side of the table, than pay to watch England. And now we can't even watch England games on Sky on BBC anymore. I have the full Sky + Package. But now some Irish Company has the rights to all of the English National games. Club, Club, Club

Posted 13:01 10th September 2008

Holt Mark (Preston North End fan) says...

Cannot abide the England team says it all about the state of our national game only team that fills me with pride are the original invinciables Preston Noth End

Posted 13:00 10th September 2008

Kev Kirkwood (Hearts fan) says...

Unfortunately for England fans, you are being let down by over-paid, uncaring, selfish players, who can only see their next pay packet ahead of them instead of the pride and passion of playing for their country. Can you imagine how your World Cup Winning team must feel watching the players of today? I would imagine embarrassment and anger at the lack of pride in wearing your national colours, which are adored by the fans. I'm a Scot and know all about having a poor team, but what we lack in individual skill we make up for in passion and hunger to play for our country and our fans. Don't give up yet though, just because you didn't stuff Andorra, at least you got 3 points away from home, unlike some other countries closer to home ie Scotland, Northern Ireland and France! It'll come good, but someone has to take a few of your players into a darkened room and explain a few of life's truths to them. Probably slowly! Good luck for tonight.

Posted 12:57 10th September 2008

Ian Wilkinson (Manchester United fan) says...

I used to follow England with the same passion as I do Manchester United, then, at the old Wembley during a game, just after a chorus of "stand up if you 'ate Man Yoo" Scholes scored, and those same people went mad cheering, an "incident" followed and I was asked to leave the stadium. England can take a jump as long as people like that follow them. The same people will tell you that I should leave club allegiancies at the turnstile and get behind England, then during a game with an England team consisting of 6 United players, bring that anti attitude up. Give me matches against club sides, both premiership, league clubs, even european clubs over Internationals any day. Then, at least, our injury list going back to Coppell, Webb, Robson, etc will for the club cause, not the FAs.

Posted 12:56 10th September 2008

Doug Sallis (Preston North End fan) says...

As a Preston fan, I would much prefer to see PNE win promotion or go on a good cup run than England win something. On the subject of our players playing better for their clubs than England, well that's obvious isn't it. Look at Lampard. He plays with Deco, Essien, Drogba etc week in, week out in the same formation. He meets up with England every couple of months or so and can't be 100% familiar with the styles of play of Gerrard etc so how can they gel perfectly?

Posted 12:51 10th September 2008

Christopher Bell (Newcastle United fan) says...

Given a choice I would much rather have my Club team Newcastle win something than England, but since neither seem likely at the moment thats not a big problem for me! :( I understand that England would rather play their competitive games at Wembley, but I see no reason why the friendly matches can not be played at different venues around the country. We have clubs that have much better stadiums than a lot of countries have so I cannot see why we do not use them for the national team, and it would also give many more football fans the chance to watch and connect with their national team! I am sure this idea has been brought up time and time again, but it seemed so sucessful when Wembley was being constructed so why not eh? It is true that a lot of England players are probably more commited to their clubs as well, but then that should be the case as it IS the clubs that pay up to £100k a week wages for their services! That does not mean they do not care about the national team though!

Posted 12:43 10th September 2008

Dean Reading (Liverpool fan) says...

Lets face facts here. We're not a world class team and have not been for decades. We're mediocre at best. Would our "best" players get in the euro champs team, Spain. Rooney and Owen for Torres or Villa, not a chance. Lamps, Hargreaves, Gerrard in for Xavi, Fabregas. Again i don't think so. Joe Cole, Becks or Bentley in for like of Silva or Joaquin. No hope in hell. The simple fact is that our team is average. If we get beaten tonght we shouldn't be suprised at all. If we win, we should be proud of beating a team better than us on their own patch. I dont watch England anymore for the simple reason that it is so frustrating watching a load of overpaid and overrated "sports stars" who cant even pass!!!

Posted 12:27 10th September 2008

Geoff Chinnery (Arsenal fan) says...

Living in Spain it is now too expensive for me to watch England live (unless they are in Barcelona!) But I have to say I prefer watching the under 21's who play with so much pride under Stuart Pearce. He has managed to create more of a "Club" feeling within his squad. Perhaps in a few years time when his fledglings are the real deal, with Stuart as manager, the full England team will also be worth watching.

Posted 12:09 10th September 2008

Joshua Nicholas (Manchester United fan) says...

I would rather be watching premiership football than an England game any day of the week. With England there is no atmosphere, excitement, passion, entertainment - and I think the media has played a big part in this. One draw and they start the callings for the manager's head, it's ridiculous. Sven got England to every major tournament, got them to the quarters every time and only lost on two penalty shootouts and individual errors/brilliance against Brazil. The media got what they wanted and he was sacked and although he did make some weird decisions, he was a very good manager for England. Give me Match of The day featuring United/Liverpool over another England borefest any day, the whole thing is a joke.

Posted 09:50 10th September 2008

Vincenzo Mesce (Manchester United fan) says...

After the sale of the rights for England matches being sold off to the highest bidder no one any more will watch England play a match, no fan will travel to London and even if they go round the country as before Wembley was build it too expensive and difficult to get tickets, Setanta have only 170,000 viewers for its premier Setanta Sports 1, the same number as it had at the end of the last football season. No wonder no one watches England so good luck to England with no fan to watch them (only the very few) and welcome club football. Don¿t sell off our football

Posted 09:48 10th September 2008
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