Submitted by Daniel, Dec 14, 2006 18:49

Steve makes the typical American stereotype that "Latin" refers to south American slumps, and misses the point of the article which contrast "Latin" to the "northern European". If you ask any Italian, French, Spaniard, Portuguese around they will identify themselves as Latin before northern Europeans. Don't forget, that the Latin term was actually coined by the French to enhance their bonds with south America, in contrast to the (at the time) preferred term of pan-Americanism that bonded the south American (Latin) countries with the Anglo descendant countries. To answer the question, there is nothing wrong with European football, there is something wrong with NORTHERN European football. Of the 10 best teem in the world none is northern European, and only England once, and Germany (with special technical distinctions that would not place it squarely into the northern style of game) have achieved any success.

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