[Football] Champions League 2024/25

[dazzer6666]

Burgess Hill, I believe.

The incoming Astroturf might be an issue

 

[The Optimist]

I watched an interview with Fratessi after the game. He had impressively good English, especially for someone who hasn't played or lived abroad and comes form a country where the general population isn't particularly renowned for it's English ability.

Which got me thinking, he's not the only foreign player that has good English. Some it's because they've played in England or in countries where English might be the dominant language in the dressing room or because they come from a country that has a high level of English generally(Scandinavia, Holland etc).

Those guys I can understand having a certain level of English. But players like Fratessi? How come? How come so many players like Fratessi - players from non English speaking countries who have only played in their country - can speak decent English? Where have they learnt conversational fluency? I'd understand if it was basic football phrases needed to communicate with refs but to hold a full interview in English and deal with people with wildly varying accents to boot?

It can't be because of what they learnt in school. Italy as a nation doesn't have great English. Nor do many other countries yet their players often do.

Perhaps it’s the international language for professional footballers.

 

[Ali_rrr]

I watched an interview with Fratessi after the game. He had impressively good English, especially for someone who hasn't played or lived abroad and comes form a country where the general population isn't particularly renowned for it's English ability.

Which got me thinking, he's not the only foreign player that has good English. Some it's because they've played in England or in countries where English might be the dominant language in the dressing room or because they come from a country that has a high level of English generally(Scandinavia, Holland etc).

Those guys I can understand having a certain level of English. But players like Fratessi? How come? How come so many players like Fratessi - players from non English speaking countries who have only played in their country - can speak decent English? Where have they learnt conversational fluency? I'd understand if it was basic football phrases needed to communicate with refs but to hold a full interview in English and deal with people with wildly varying accents to boot?

It can't be because of what they learnt in school. Italy as a nation doesn't have great English. Nor do many other countries yet their players often do.

I think the younger generations generally do speak better English than those 10-15 years ago, especially due to the internet. Fratessi is 2 years younger than me and whenever I've been to Italy a lot of younger people are able to at least hold a conversation. Plus, if they ever want to leave Italy they have to learn English.

 

[jcdenton08]

What a signing he would’ve been…

 

[BNthree]

I think the younger generations generally do speak better English than those 10-15 years ago, especially due to the internet. Fratessi is 2 years younger than me and whenever I've been to Italy a lot of younger people are able to at least hold a conversation. Plus, if they ever want to leave Italy they have to learn English.

All of this plus some people are just good at languages.

 

[jamie-oh]

That dummy/body swerve to send the defender then curl it over him was beautiful

I loved that Shearer just couldnt compute it, as well - 'he's shaped to shoot, and then he hasnt, and i'd have shot there' fucks sake Alan, hes dummied to put the defender on his arse, its so much cleverer than you can even envisage

 

[jcdenton08]

I loved that Shearer just couldnt compute it, as well - 'he's shaped to shoot, and then he hasnt, and i'd have shot there' fucks sake Alan, hes dummied to put the defender on his arse, its so much cleverer than you can even envisage

Yeah, that annoyed me too. Completely undermined an excellent piece of skill saying he “hesitated”. No he didn’t, Alan, he knew exactly what he was doing

 

[Hotchilidog]

Having missed the first leg due to the Worthing play off last week, I was absolutely delighted that these two teams served up an even better game this week. Considering there were 7 goals in the game I thought the defending was pretty good and both keepers had good games too. It really was a stunning display of technical and incisive attacking football with an ebb and flow as they both dominated long periods of the game. Just wonderful.

How do Arsenal and PSG follow that?

 

[Bombardier]

Having missed the first leg due to the Worthing play off last week, I was absolutely delighted that these two teams served up an even better game this week. Considering there were 7 goals in the game I thought the defending was pretty good and both keepers had good games too. It really was a stunning display of technical and incisive attacking football with an ebb and flow as they both dominated long periods of the game. Just wonderful.

How do Arsenal and PSG follow that?

They don't!

 

[Garry Nelson's Left Foot]

I think the younger generations generally do speak better English than those 10-15 years ago, especially due to the internet. Fratessi is 2 years younger than me and whenever I've been to Italy a lot of younger people are able to at least hold a conversation. Plus, if they ever want to leave Italy they have to learn English.

That's a good answer that makes a lot of sense(even if in a nice way it appears to be calling me an old bastard!).

Bloody young people being better than me at stuff

 

[Steve in Japan]

Yeah, that annoyed me too. Completely undermined an excellent piece of skill saying he “hesitated”. No he didn’t, Alan, he knew exactly what he was doing

A little Shearer goes an awfully long way

 

[MTSeagulls]

I watched an interview with Fratessi after the game. He had impressively good English, especially for someone who hasn't played or lived abroad and comes form a country where the general population isn't particularly renowned for it's English ability.

Which got me thinking, he's not the only foreign player that has good English. Some it's because they've played in England or in countries where English might be the dominant language in the dressing room or because they come from a country that has a high level of English generally(Scandinavia, Holland etc).

Those guys I can understand having a certain level of English. But players like Fratessi? How come? How come so many players like Fratessi - players from non English speaking countries who have only played in their country - can speak decent English? Where have they learnt conversational fluency? I'd understand if it was basic football phrases needed to communicate with refs but to hold a full interview in English and deal with people with wildly varying accents to boot?

It can't be because of what they learnt in school. Italy as a nation doesn't have great English. Nor do many other countries yet their players often do.

I have two friends here in their late 20's/ early 30's who have never been outside of Brazil and English wasn't taught in their schools.
We converse and whatsapp all the time in English because a) my Portuguese is poor and b) because they like the opportunity to talk English.
They learnt English from games, music videos and English/US TV series & films.
I can get by in bars and restaurants, and it actually improves the more I drink, but I can't ever see myself conversing at the same level as they do in Portuguese.

Edited p.s. They are both Brighton fans now too.

 

[Motogull]

I have had some wine and expect to make it home in time for kick off. Can’t wait for the 0-0.

 

[jcdenton08]

I have had some wine and expect to make it home in time for kick off. Can’t wait for the 0-0.

Pretty much guaranteed it won’t come close to last night’s game, which was one of the best matches I’ve seen in years. Absolute belter it was.

 

[Steve in Japan]

Decent game so far. Arse should have scored at least one, but haven't. PSG have scored with a beauty. Game on

 

[Gabbiano]

Goes to show that Arsenal can play exciting high intensity football, instead of the turgid cynical crap they serve up in the Premier League.

Still losing though

 

[Simster]

Decent game so far. Arse should have scored at least one, but haven't. PSG have scored with a beauty. Game on

I agree with what you say except the "game on" bit. Arsenal are well out of this.

 

[Steve in Japan]

I agree with what you say except the "game on" bit. Arsenal are well out of this.

You're probably right. I think this PSG team are one of the best I've seen. Chock full of technically brilliant footballers, fearsome on the break.

 

[A1X]

A third goal for PSG kills this tie in all likelihood

An Arsenal goal, however…

 

[Simster]

A third goal for PSG kills this tie in all likelihood

An Arsenal goal, however…

...won't happen