“The dark aftermath of the frontier, of the vast promise of possibility this country first offered, is an inflated sense of American entitlement today. We want what we want, and we want it now. Easy credit. Fast food. A straight shot down the interstate from point A to point B. The endless highway is crowded with the kinds of cars large enough to take a mountain pass in high snow. Instead they are used to take children from soccer practice to Pizza Hut. In the process they burn fuel like there's no tomorrow. Tomorrow's coming.” WantFirstsKindChildrenCountryEnoughTodayUsedEasyProcessDarkPracticeCarPossibilityTomorrowPromiseFutureMountainShotsCreditEndlessSnowSoccerFuelHighwaysFrontiersCrowdedPizzaEntitlementFast FoodAftermathHutsInterstate Author:Anna Quindlen
“You know the marathon in my country is just exceptional. It's like soccer in England. If England win the world cup and Ethiopia win the marathon - it's the same.” IfsKnowsWorldCountryWinningEnglandCupsSoccerExceptionalMarathonWorld CupEthiopia Author:Haile Gebrselassie
“In 2001 Steve Staunton became the record cap holder for which country? Brazil.” CountryRecordsFansMediaFootballSoccerCapsBrazil Author:Anne Robinson
“Even before 2007, this half of a small island was the richest football country on earth. In 2005-2006 the Premiership's total revenue was about £1.4bn, 40 per cent more than its nearest rival, Italy's Serie A. That was before take-off. Now foreign television channels are sending so much cash that the Premiership is expected to take in nearly £1.8bn this season. Even the team that finishes bottom of the table (Wigan might be a good bet) will get £26.8m from TV. That's more than all of Argentine or Belgian football put together.” CountryMightEarthTogetherHalfTeamTelevisionFootballTvsSeasonsTablesBottomExpectedSoccerAnalysisIslandsCashCentsRevenueRivalsBelgiansWigan Author:Simon Kuper
“In a manner akin to the influence of Tiger Woods on the other side of the Atlantic, Thierry Henry has helped kick down a few of the remaining bigoted stereotypes. Through his undisputable class and dignity, Henry has made a deep-seated difference to race relations in this country. Racism will flounder whenever white children grow up with a black man as their hero. That so few comment on Henry's colour is a silent tribute to his impact.” MenChildrenMadeCountryGrowsSidesBlackDifferencesWhiteRaceClassGrowing UpInfluenceFootballHeroRacismDignityRelationImpactSilentWoodsSoccerAnalysisKicksColourCommentStereotypeTigersRace RelationsTribute Author:Pete Gill
“Whichever country you are, if you lose games you are criticised. It's only when it's England it's like a new world war.” IfsWorldWarCountryGamesLosesFootballEnglandManagersSoccerWar Of The WorldsNew WorldChairman Author:Sven-Goran Eriksson
“The combination of an out-of-control tabloid press and a readership that thrills to the destruction of the England head coach is something no other country can offer. Scolari was driven out; Steve McClaren's personal life made the front pages. Neither of them even held the job. Then there was the fake-sheikhing of Sven-Göran Eriksson. That a newspaper should so brilliantly and deliberately destabilise the national head coach in a World Cup year is something no other sporting nation would consider.” WorldShouldYearsMadeCountryJobsNationsFrontsFootballOffersPagesDestructionEnglandPressesDrivenCoachesNewspapersCupsManagersSoccerCombinationRanFakeOther CountriesPersonal LifeChairmanWorld CupTabloidsReadershipHead Coaches Author:Simon Barnes
“They [people of Afghanistan] didn't want Al-Qaeda in their country. They didn't appreciate the Taliban taking control. But they really have an incredible amount of dignity. And by that, they are grateful for America's help in ridding them of the Taliban. The average, ordinary person is glad that their daughter can go to school now. There's no public executions, no banning of soccer games. The difference is, they're appreciative, but they don't want any prolonged military presence of the United States there.” PeopleWantPersonsCountryStatesHelpingSchoolAmericaGamesDifferencesUnitedUnited StatesMilitaryAmountOrdinaryDaughterAppreciateDignityGratefulIncrediblesAverageGladSoccerAlsAfghanistanExecutionAl QaedaTalibanAppreciativeOrdinary PersonSoccer GameMilitary Presence Author:Immortal Technique