"...the arrogance of the English media, fans and players..."

More like the ignorance leading to people believing that's unique to England.

The Dutch are the same, if not worse, being quite patronising about any team which is not playing in Orange.

The Portuguese are also convinced they will win it, as are the Italians. I was in Warsaw when the 2002 fixtures came out and the newspaper had a prediction wallchart with Poland reaching the final.

It's the same everywhere. It's only the British puritanical sense of guilt at blowing your own trumpet which makes us feel so bad about it.

Posted By: Steve in Holland, Jun 15, 12:26:08