Starling on Sport: Why did we have to get Wales in Euro 2016 group?

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Starling on Sport: Why did we have to get Wales in Euro 2016 group? If you did not know it, I’m English. One of those English types who usually gives his national teams a bit of stick for being rubbish, but will always support them. In rugby, cricket, darts and tiddlywinks, I will always support England no matter what. The problem is I just don’t have much faith in my national team, whatever the sport is. For example, take the football team. There’s nothing more I would like to see in my lifetime than England wining a major tournament. Any tournament actually. I look back fondly on Italia 90 and Euro 1996 when we reached the semi-finals, but will always have that feeling of ‘what if’? What if Pearce and Waddle had scored the penalties? What if Gazza had got his toe to the ball in front of the empty net? It’s the same old story for us, unfortunately. And there will no doubt be more heartache next year at the European Championships in France. Looking at the draw, I can see England getting through to the knockout stages. We can beat Russia, we can beat Slovakia – I just don’t think we will beat Wales. Because of this we will probably scrape through in second place and then get a Germany or Spain and be sent home on the back of a 3-0 defeat. Out of all the teams I did not want England to face, I did not want Wales in the group. Many of my friends feel like we will beat them easily. I don’t think so. On paper England have a better squad than Chris Coleman’s Wales. But what we don’t have is world-class talent like Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale or Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey. As an Englishman of course I don’t want to see us get beat from our friends over the border. And especially not at a major championship. If we do win it will be a relief. If we do lose, I won’t be able to face the abuse I get from my friends in Cardiff. It will be absolutely horrific. Fingers crossed Roy and Rooney can inspire a victory, otherwise it won’t be worth going back to the UK next summer. Just relegate villa now!   Aston Villa are a sorry sight aren’t they? Languishing at the foot of the Premier League table, there are no signs of improvement and they look like losing every game. This Villa team are so bad we should just assume them relegated now. I feel sorry for Remi Garde, but he’s fighting a losing battle. Better start looking for work, Mr Garde.   Organisers proved right inviting Paige It seems that Paige Spiranac has been getting some flak from members of the worldwide golf media. After making her professional debut at the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters last week, her appearance was criticised because she is seen more of an “Instagram phenomenon” than a golf pro. OK, so she didn’t do too well – she finished 101st out of a field of 107, which meant she missed the cut – but did she attract a bit of fanfare for a ladies golf event? Yes she did. Let’s look at this realistically. Would the world’s golf media be writing about the Dubai Ladies Masters if Spiranac hadn’t been in the field? Probably not. Would a women’s golfer have been on the front page of this paper if she hadn’t played at Emirates Golf Club? Probably not. Whatever is said about Paige Spiranac and her Instagram account with 400,000-odd followers, she certainly did help promote the event. The organisers of the Dubai Ladies Masters should be applauded for their marketing nous. I look forward to next year’s tournament. Read the original story at: Starling on Sport: Why did we have to get Wales in Euro 2016 group?