Gillingham FC Forum

We're 20 days away from the World cup and all the media can find to talk about is Van Gaal and Scudamore. Last night our under 21's beat Wales to make Euro qualification a near certainty and our under 17's just beat a very good Portugal side to reach the final of an international tournament in Malta. There's hardly a mention of those things anywhere.

WTF !!

Ok I am not being funny, or even trying to be but please tell me when did they became a good Portugal side and not a good Portuguese side or a good France side and not a good French side ??? Thanks.
Were hearing nothing about the World Cup over here. The US and Mexico are both in and no one seems to care, only folks that do are the Bosnian guys who are all enthused.

It's because I'm using it as a proper noun, so just like you would say a good Gillingham side you can say a good Portugal side. Lesson over.

That surprised me too. Occasionally a ticker will go across the Sky Sports News banner and you raise an eyebrow as it came as a surprise. I guess the World Cup takes over everything, even every advert is all about it but somehow Man Utd is the biggest news of everything. Perhaps it's a ploy to play down our chances? Keep the hype down and the pressure off.

OK thanks but still need more learning, I have never heard the name of the country being used as a proper noun in this context until recently , now everyone but me seems to have started doing it, I bet if I had used it at school as in, the Italy team is a great team, not the Italian team etc.etc. I would have got a D. Oh I did, and many of them I am proud to say. Still don't like it but hey what the ....................

Following on this good England/English (take your pick) side proved to be worthy winners - well done lads

It's standard practice in sports reporting partly because it's a little more elegant for many countries names, for example you wouldn't often read about the Zimbabwean cricket team or the Argentinian football squad. Using the name of the country as a proper noun rather than as an adjective is easier on the eye and much easier to say if you are a broadcast media reporter.
Or you could simply say ' this bunch of crap ' if it was Scotland's team in anything other than your favourite sport, Curling.