England team visit Auschwitz.
Discussion
I'm not trying to be flippant, but is this the kind of preparation England need a couple of days before the first game?
I've never been, I'm sure a trip there would have a very profound effect.
It should be a personal thing too. Seeing the team lined up outside just smacks of a photo opportunity.
Am I being too harsh?
I've never been, I'm sure a trip there would have a very profound effect.
It should be a personal thing too. Seeing the team lined up outside just smacks of a photo opportunity.
Am I being too harsh?
Edited by B Huey on Friday 8th June 14:41
B Huey said:
I'm not trying to be flippant, but is this the kind of preparation England need a couple of days before the first game?
I've never been, I'm sure a trip there would have a very profound effect.
It should be a personal thing too. Seeing the team lined up outside just smacks of a photo opportunity.
Am I being too harsh?
I do agree. Visiting a place such as this must be a personal choice, but perhaps they all made that choice. I can't imagine it was put to them without an option to decline.I've never been, I'm sure a trip there would have a very profound effect.
It should be a personal thing too. Seeing the team lined up outside just smacks of a photo opportunity.
Am I being too harsh?
I do wonder though how visiting that place will sit with the potential for some serious racial abuse at the stadiums. The stark contrast between visiting Auschwitz and monkey noises and salutes will not sit will with most sane people and if anything will put both Ukrane and Poland into closer focus. It seems nothing changes in the mindset of many, just the passing of the days and nights.
It's not just the England team, the Dutch squad have been as well.
Considering how many men and women laid down their lives from this country alone in order to end the Nazi Regime and the concentration camps, I don't see anything wrong with them visiting it as a group, if anything I think it highlights to people the fact that the remains of these camps are still there. I'm not going to jump into the "all football fans are uneducated morons" group (because I'm a football fan myself), but I do think there's a lot of people that support our national squad that are unaware that you can visit concentration camps, and this visit may give a fair few of them something to think about.
Like it or not, football players set an example to the youth of today. These youths are the ones that have PHers baying for their blood when they get caught pissing on war memorials or nicking charity collections from the British Legion etc etc. Plenty of times I've seen people on here complain that visiting a concentration camp isn't part of history lessons in schools. By having this visit it serves as a reminder of the history of Europe, and might make some of the idiots we have in this country think twice about their actions (I'm well aware that that's a very big "might" though and maybe I'm just being hoplessly optimistic).
Plus considering the racism stuff that's going on at the moment I don't think it's a bad thing to remind people that a very dark path has been wandered down before, and it's not something anyone wants to repeat.
Like I said, maybe I'm just being hopelessly optimistic, but I certainly can't see any harm in it.
Considering how many men and women laid down their lives from this country alone in order to end the Nazi Regime and the concentration camps, I don't see anything wrong with them visiting it as a group, if anything I think it highlights to people the fact that the remains of these camps are still there. I'm not going to jump into the "all football fans are uneducated morons" group (because I'm a football fan myself), but I do think there's a lot of people that support our national squad that are unaware that you can visit concentration camps, and this visit may give a fair few of them something to think about.
Like it or not, football players set an example to the youth of today. These youths are the ones that have PHers baying for their blood when they get caught pissing on war memorials or nicking charity collections from the British Legion etc etc. Plenty of times I've seen people on here complain that visiting a concentration camp isn't part of history lessons in schools. By having this visit it serves as a reminder of the history of Europe, and might make some of the idiots we have in this country think twice about their actions (I'm well aware that that's a very big "might" though and maybe I'm just being hoplessly optimistic).
Plus considering the racism stuff that's going on at the moment I don't think it's a bad thing to remind people that a very dark path has been wandered down before, and it's not something anyone wants to repeat.
Like I said, maybe I'm just being hopelessly optimistic, but I certainly can't see any harm in it.
B Huey said:
I'm not trying to be flippant, but is this the kind of preparation England need a couple of days before the first game?
I've never been, I'm sure a trip there would have a very profound effect.
I think they're safe from any kind of 'profound effect'; you're familiar with the intellectual capacity of your average footballist, right?I've never been, I'm sure a trip there would have a very profound effect.
MentalSarcasm said:
It's not just the England team, the Dutch squad have been as well.
Considering how many men and women laid down their lives from this country alone in order to end the Nazi Regime and the concentration camps, I don't see anything wrong with them visiting it as a group, if anything I think it highlights to people the fact that the remains of these camps are still there. I'm not going to jump into the "all football fans are uneducated morons" group (because I'm a football fan myself), but I do think there's a lot of people that support our national squad that are unaware that you can visit concentration camps, and this visit may give a fair few of them something to think about.
Like it or not, football players set an example to the youth of today. These youths are the ones that have PHers baying for their blood when they get caught pissing on war memorials or nicking charity collections from the British Legion etc etc. Plenty of times I've seen people on here complain that visiting a concentration camp isn't part of history lessons in schools. By having this visit it serves as a reminder of the history of Europe, and might make some of the idiots we have in this country think twice about their actions (I'm well aware that that's a very big "might" though and maybe I'm just being hoplessly optimistic).
Plus considering the racism stuff that's going on at the moment I don't think it's a bad thing to remind people that a very dark path has been wandered down before, and it's not something anyone wants to repeat.
Like I said, maybe I'm just being hopelessly optimistic, but I certainly can't see any harm in it.
This, and in a far better way than I could put it. Considering how many men and women laid down their lives from this country alone in order to end the Nazi Regime and the concentration camps, I don't see anything wrong with them visiting it as a group, if anything I think it highlights to people the fact that the remains of these camps are still there. I'm not going to jump into the "all football fans are uneducated morons" group (because I'm a football fan myself), but I do think there's a lot of people that support our national squad that are unaware that you can visit concentration camps, and this visit may give a fair few of them something to think about.
Like it or not, football players set an example to the youth of today. These youths are the ones that have PHers baying for their blood when they get caught pissing on war memorials or nicking charity collections from the British Legion etc etc. Plenty of times I've seen people on here complain that visiting a concentration camp isn't part of history lessons in schools. By having this visit it serves as a reminder of the history of Europe, and might make some of the idiots we have in this country think twice about their actions (I'm well aware that that's a very big "might" though and maybe I'm just being hoplessly optimistic).
Plus considering the racism stuff that's going on at the moment I don't think it's a bad thing to remind people that a very dark path has been wandered down before, and it's not something anyone wants to repeat.
Like I said, maybe I'm just being hopelessly optimistic, but I certainly can't see any harm in it.
MentalSarcasm said:
It's not just the England team, the Dutch squad have been as well.
Considering how many men and women laid down their lives from this country alone in order to end the Nazi Regime and the concentration camps, I don't see anything wrong with them visiting it as a group, if anything I think it highlights to people the fact that the remains of these camps are still there. I'm not going to jump into the "all football fans are uneducated morons" group (because I'm a football fan myself), but I do think there's a lot of people that support our national squad that are unaware that you can visit concentration camps, and this visit may give a fair few of them something to think about.
Like it or not, football players set an example to the youth of today. These youths are the ones that have PHers baying for their blood when they get caught pissing on war memorials or nicking charity collections from the British Legion etc etc. Plenty of times I've seen people on here complain that visiting a concentration camp isn't part of history lessons in schools. By having this visit it serves as a reminder of the history of Europe, and might make some of the idiots we have in this country think twice about their actions (I'm well aware that that's a very big "might" though and maybe I'm just being hoplessly optimistic).
Plus considering the racism stuff that's going on at the moment I don't think it's a bad thing to remind people that a very dark path has been wandered down before, and it's not something anyone wants to repeat.
Like I said, maybe I'm just being hopelessly optimistic, but I certainly can't see any harm in it.
Ditto. More generations, further from the memory it gets. Some events should never be forgotten.Considering how many men and women laid down their lives from this country alone in order to end the Nazi Regime and the concentration camps, I don't see anything wrong with them visiting it as a group, if anything I think it highlights to people the fact that the remains of these camps are still there. I'm not going to jump into the "all football fans are uneducated morons" group (because I'm a football fan myself), but I do think there's a lot of people that support our national squad that are unaware that you can visit concentration camps, and this visit may give a fair few of them something to think about.
Like it or not, football players set an example to the youth of today. These youths are the ones that have PHers baying for their blood when they get caught pissing on war memorials or nicking charity collections from the British Legion etc etc. Plenty of times I've seen people on here complain that visiting a concentration camp isn't part of history lessons in schools. By having this visit it serves as a reminder of the history of Europe, and might make some of the idiots we have in this country think twice about their actions (I'm well aware that that's a very big "might" though and maybe I'm just being hoplessly optimistic).
Plus considering the racism stuff that's going on at the moment I don't think it's a bad thing to remind people that a very dark path has been wandered down before, and it's not something anyone wants to repeat.
Like I said, maybe I'm just being hopelessly optimistic, but I certainly can't see any harm in it.
Clearly this is more an ambassadorial exercise than a PR one.
The England (and moreso Dutch, giving their wartime occupation) teams are their to represent their countries (even if it is a sporting event) and someone clearly feels it would be insensitive not to acknowledge the events of the last century.
Maybe it should be a personal matter, but I think it's a good thing.
M.
The England (and moreso Dutch, giving their wartime occupation) teams are their to represent their countries (even if it is a sporting event) and someone clearly feels it would be insensitive not to acknowledge the events of the last century.
Maybe it should be a personal matter, but I think it's a good thing.
M.
V8mate said:
B Huey said:
I'm not trying to be flippant, but is this the kind of preparation England need a couple of days before the first game?
I've never been, I'm sure a trip there would have a very profound effect.
I think they're safe from any kind of 'profound effect'; you're familiar with the intellectual capacity of your average footballist, right?I've never been, I'm sure a trip there would have a very profound effect.
IMO the England teach should be no where near Auschwitz, or any other "historical monument".
Why the judderingf
k are they there just a few days before we kick off, with half the team injured or missing for family reasons.
With a bunch of inexperienced (and in some cases uncapped) players, I suggest Mr. Hodgeson, if you are reading this, you get on your bike to the training ground and put them through their paces. You are already the unpopular choice and a bad show at E2012 could give you the unfortunate title of "Roy Hodgeson, the shortest England reign ever".
Why the judderingf
k are they there just a few days before we kick off, with half the team injured or missing for family reasons. With a bunch of inexperienced (and in some cases uncapped) players, I suggest Mr. Hodgeson, if you are reading this, you get on your bike to the training ground and put them through their paces. You are already the unpopular choice and a bad show at E2012 could give you the unfortunate title of "Roy Hodgeson, the shortest England reign ever".
DarrenL said:
IMO the England teach should be no where near Auschwitz, or any other "historical monument".
Why the judderingfk are they there just a few days before we kick off, with half the team injured or missing for family reasons.
With a bunch of inexperienced (and in some cases uncapped) players, I suggest Mr. Hodgeson, if you are reading this, you get on your bike to the training ground and put them through their paces. You are already the unpopular choice and a bad show at E2012 could give you the unfortunate title of "Roy Hodgeson, the shortest England reign ever".
1. It's Hodgson. No "e".Why the judderingf
k are they there just a few days before we kick off, with half the team injured or missing for family reasons. With a bunch of inexperienced (and in some cases uncapped) players, I suggest Mr. Hodgeson, if you are reading this, you get on your bike to the training ground and put them through their paces. You are already the unpopular choice and a bad show at E2012 could give you the unfortunate title of "Roy Hodgeson, the shortest England reign ever".
2. It's far too late to try and teach the squad to play football. You don't do high-intensity training in the final days before a tournament in any sport.
3. Squads at previous tournaments have been locked away from the outside world and this has been decided to be an unsatisfactory state of affairs. The judgement has been made this time that it's better to interact with the public and get a look at Poland and Ukraine rather than just the inside of a hotel.
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