Is Britain the Greatest sporting nation on Earth?
Discussion
t at football. Score goals against piss poor teams in the qualifiers, but flop at the real stage.This is an interesting site. Gives figures for Olympic medals won on a per capita and per GDP basis.
http://www.medalspercapita.com/#golds-per-capita:2...
http://www.medalspercapita.com/#golds-per-capita:2...
Moonhawk said:
This is an interesting site. Gives figures for Olympic medals won on a per capita and per GDP basis.
http://www.medalspercapita.com/#golds-per-capita:2...
That settles it then, Finland it is http://www.medalspercapita.com/#golds-per-capita:2...
Without the Uk, motor racing would be a traditional hobby persued by rich folks. Like real tennis.
No other country has such dominance over one sport.
An we are always there or there abouts in just about every other sport. Rather then a specialism, like rugby, hockey, cricket, kabaddi etc etc
No other country has such dominance over one sport.
An we are always there or there abouts in just about every other sport. Rather then a specialism, like rugby, hockey, cricket, kabaddi etc etc
Moonhawk said:
This is an interesting site. Gives figures for Olympic medals won on a per capita and per GDP basis.
http://www.medalspercapita.com/#golds-per-capita:2...
What about Sark? Population of 600 and a Gold in Dressage and World Champion Powerboat Class holder. Guernsey has Matt Le Tissier, Andy Priaulx, Heather Watson, Alison Merrion (Bowls), Dale Garland and Lee Merrien (Team UK Running) and not a full Guernseyman, but British Landspeed Record holder (Street Motorcycle @ 233.7mph) is Zef Eisenberg.http://www.medalspercapita.com/#golds-per-capita:2...
Not bad for a little Island.
williamp said:
Without the Uk, motor racing would be a traditional hobby persued by rich folks. Like real tennis.
No other country has such dominance over one sport.
An we are always there or there abouts in just about every other sport. Rather then a specialism, like rugby, hockey, cricket, kabaddi etc etc
Agreed when it's not a British driver winning there's a high chance it's a British car. No other country has such dominance over one sport.
An we are always there or there abouts in just about every other sport. Rather then a specialism, like rugby, hockey, cricket, kabaddi etc etc
Thankyou4calling said:
ecsrobin said:
Why have you put football on the list? We are not good at it.
I'll tell you why. Football is the most widely played game in the world, pretty much every country plays football, that's what 250 countries. Every four years they hold the World Cup for the top 32 teams in the World, England pretty much always qualify and generally get to the last 16 teams or better.
At the moment we are in the qualification process for the European championships, it'll be pretty much a World Cup save for a few teams.
England have won every single qualifying game, no other country has and all other British teams are in with a shout.
The Premier League is widely accepted to be one of the most competitive and highest quality leagues in the World.
So, with Football being such a widespread and popular sport and England being one of the highest ranked teams we do well and I say England rather than Britain for obvious reasons.
Edited by Thankyou4calling on Saturday 27th June 21:15
Challo said:
Thankyou4calling said:
ecsrobin said:
Why have you put football on the list? We are not good at it.
I'll tell you why. Football is the most widely played game in the world, pretty much every country plays football, that's what 250 countries. Every four years they hold the World Cup for the top 32 teams in the World, England pretty much always qualify and generally get to the last 16 teams or better.
At the moment we are in the qualification process for the European championships, it'll be pretty much a World Cup save for a few teams.
England have won every single qualifying game, no other country has and all other British teams are in with a shout.
The Premier League is widely accepted to be one of the most competitive and highest quality leagues in the World.
So, with Football being such a widespread and popular sport and England being one of the highest ranked teams we do well and I say England rather than Britain for obvious reasons.
Edited by Thankyou4calling on Saturday 27th June 21:15
The EPL can attract players from all over the world, however our own domestic players are less attractive to foreign teams.
fttm said:
Yes they have , beat Canada whose population is 30m and spend half their life snowed under , great feckin achievement . How are the Brits at winter sports ?
You sound very bitter, 
For what it is worth we are pretty terrible at it - but you guys were rubbish at the 2012 London olympics too, presumably all that snow and ice stops you from swimming or riding a bike indoors right?
I would agree with a lot of what OP says apart from the football, its our first choice national sport, we have the best league setup in the world and let's be honest we underachieve. Nearly 50 years since a cup was won. We should be up there no excuses.
I would barely put them in the top 10 in the world at the moment.
Winning all of your qualifying group games is nothing to shout home about if your piss poor at the finals, and I know it was a friendly but they should have thumped ireland , a country which football is easily their fourth sport and a population less than 1/10th.
I would barely put them in the top 10 in the world at the moment.
Winning all of your qualifying group games is nothing to shout home about if your piss poor at the finals, and I know it was a friendly but they should have thumped ireland , a country which football is easily their fourth sport and a population less than 1/10th.
Thankyou4calling said:
I hope this stays in the lounge but here goes.
I think Britain IS THE GREATEST SPORTING NATION ON EARTH.
By nature, we are self deprecating and like to moan be it about the weather, our roads, the cost of living and the performance of our sports teams and individuals.
Yet, if you look at almost any sport, Britain has representation and success at the highest level. Bear in mind, there can only be one winner so to get to finals and the closing stages is a hell of an achievement.
Cricket, Rugby, Football, Athletics, Cycling,Horse racing, F1, Boxing, Golf, Tennis, Badmnton, Rowing, Swimming can any other country come close to the quality of Sport offered and level of achievement overall?
I only wish it were true.I think Britain IS THE GREATEST SPORTING NATION ON EARTH.
By nature, we are self deprecating and like to moan be it about the weather, our roads, the cost of living and the performance of our sports teams and individuals.
Yet, if you look at almost any sport, Britain has representation and success at the highest level. Bear in mind, there can only be one winner so to get to finals and the closing stages is a hell of an achievement.
Cricket, Rugby, Football, Athletics, Cycling,Horse racing, F1, Boxing, Golf, Tennis, Badmnton, Rowing, Swimming can any other country come close to the quality of Sport offered and level of achievement overall?
Edited by Thankyou4calling on Saturday 27th June 17:06
As a nation considering our size and relative wealth, we underperform.
Conversely, consider New Zealand. They outperform.
dazwalsh said:
I would agree with a lot of what OP says apart from the football, its our first choice national sport, we have the best league setup in the world and let's be honest we underachieve. Nearly 50 years since a cup was won. We should be up there no excuses.
I would barely put them in the top 10 in the world at the moment.
Winning all of your qualifying group games is nothing to shout home about if your piss poor at the finals, and I know it was a friendly but they should have thumped ireland , a country which football is easily their fourth sport and a population less than 1/10th.
With the Football I take all on board, I'm looking at all (most) significant sports and we do well, not the best at them all but always in contention, a nation that gives a good account of itself.I would barely put them in the top 10 in the world at the moment.
Winning all of your qualifying group games is nothing to shout home about if your piss poor at the finals, and I know it was a friendly but they should have thumped ireland , a country which football is easily their fourth sport and a population less than 1/10th.
People have said New Zealand and of course in Rugby and cricket they, overall and overtime are I'd say comparable to England in those sports, no better, but what else?
I'm trying not to cherry pick and look at the overall picture, the UK does a lot better than many would have us believe.
Wimbledon is around the corner and let's say Andy Murray goes out at the quarter finals, we know what the papers will say but that's an AMAZING achievement.
As well as our performances we also host what are widely considered to be many of the worlds greatest sporting events and that all comes under the same umbrella of making us the GREATEST SPORTING NATION ON EARTH!
Thankyou4calling said:
I'll tell you why.
Football is the most widely played game in the world, pretty much every country plays football, that's what 250 countries. Every four years they hold the World Cup for the top 32 teams in the World, England pretty much always qualify and generally get to the last 16 teams or better.
At the moment we are in the qualification process for the European championships, it'll be pretty much a World Cup save for a few teams.
In the last two world cups, we have only won one game, and that was against Slovenia. Football is the most widely played game in the world, pretty much every country plays football, that's what 250 countries. Every four years they hold the World Cup for the top 32 teams in the World, England pretty much always qualify and generally get to the last 16 teams or better.
At the moment we are in the qualification process for the European championships, it'll be pretty much a World Cup save for a few teams.
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