Heroes? I don’t think so.

The divers that brought the Thai boys out of the cave are heroes.

It is a misuse of the word but I have been trying to think of an alternative for people who have done better than expected and made people feel better for a while but not actually won. Someone you want to give a pat on the back to but not a crown and that would fit in a headline.
Trier is the only word I can think of but that doesn't really work.
So, not hero - but what?

Please let's get this into perspective, Sportspersons are playing a game. Great if they are playing at a high level of skill but heroes they are not. They are not putting their life on.the line. They are very good at one set of skills and if they are playing at a national or international level they are paid at levels most people could only dream about. Let's celebrate and acknowledge real heroes and heroines not just people who are very good at a particular sport.

A few years ago there was an outbreak of Ebola in Kigali. Knowing the horrendous death they would face if they caught this disease, the doctor in charge of the hospital there called together his staff and told them they could leave if they wanted to.

If I remember rightly none did; they stayed to assist the afflicted. The doctor himself died of Ebola along with most of the staff.

The media barely covered this story but these, along with many brave rescue workers, are my heros and heroines!

Could we not just call them talented sports people or footballers, rated the word hero for the football team.

My Mum was my hero.

She raised me well and against all the odds.

Well at least G S wont go hungry apparently been offered free pizzas for life Im sure he needs them
!

They are NOT heros, just a group of overpaid prima donnas who lost a football match

I agree - especially if its footballers vs firemen or anyone who puts their lives on the line to save others. They are heroes. On the positive side though regarding the England team, they have donated their fees for playing to charity and they have done so for many years.

I'd define a hero as perhaps the the firemen/women who had to pick their way through the remains of Grenfell Tower trying to locate the remains of the poor buggers who couldn't get out.

They'll probably have nightmares for years to come but SOMEONE has to do that sort of thing.

So that's a Hero, IMHO.

I think the term "heroes" as used by the newspaper is just a reference to the "hero worship" that people have...not only for footballers but film stars...celebrities...sportspeople....etc. It just an expression really for people who have extreme admiration or idolise a particular person or group or team. Newspapers like to sensationalise to get the attention of the reader ...as in this case.

Of course there are heros in many different areas of life. To say these young men are not heroes because they weren't firemen at Grenfell or divers in Thai Land is a bit like saying a potato isn't a vegetable because it's a different shape and colour to a carrot.
For many these young men have acheived something fantastic, and have done so in spite of the forecasts about them. It is in fact 28 years since England reached the World Cup semi-finals and over 50 years since the winning squad. Football is now well paid and presents for ordinary working class kids a way to acheive. It is also a sport where great levels of discipline are required and the temptations and pitfalls are many. These young men did more than was expected, gave thousands an opportunity to celebrate together and provided a brief interval where problems could be forgotten. They then lost with good grace. There is no stipulation that heros always win. They are heroes for many, and all this griping shows why young people regard their elders as a bunch of old moaners.

Immense amount of sense spoken by Gareth Southgate and the FA today. Good to see that their thinking is in line with the ‘old moaners’!

To my 8 year old football mad grandson the England team and their manager are all heroes . He works hard at school and is an excellent well disciplined young sportsman. If he ( and plenty like him) wants to look up to them as hero’s who are we to argue ?

Giving an opinion on the definition of hero is not griping trisher

Katek one of the qualities of a hero is that they behave well and constantly deny they are any such thing. The British divers have just done the same I suppose you wouldn't deny them heroism?

Definitions are not changeable Annie. Words retain their meaning, it is the application of the word being debated. And there is a lot of griping.

Just a little fact the entire England football team are donating their World Cup fees to charity. The England football team has been doing this for 11 years so far raised 5 million. So they are heroes to the people they help and they give their time as well.

I was surprised by the dictionary definitions put on here several times but if that is what the dictionary says it must be correct. Dictionaries change over time according to popular usage so this will stay as a definition.

As a non-football fan I can still appreciate how much work and dedication goes into becoming a professional sportsperson at any level but to become good enough to play for your country requires a huge amount of ongoing hard work and such hard work counts as heroism in my book.

I agree with Iam64 and Gillibob. Okay the footballers aren't heroes in the correct meaning of the word, but Iam64 you have shown what all the England supporters feel about the players and managers. Well done! Why read about football if you're not interested, Katek?

I feel proud of them because they did their best and brought enjoyment to a lot of people - surely the latter, in itself, is a good thing?
But they’re not heroes and they do get paid too much.

I sign many petitions especially to do with animal welfare but last night I received a new petition asking for Gareth Southgate to be made Sir Gareth Southgate. I did not sign it as although he did a great job with the England squad it does not warrant a knighthood.

I totally agree with you Grandma70s. They're just playing a game, kicking a ball around and being paid far too much for it. I'm always pleased to see England's sports people win at something, but to make such a big fuss about losing (or winning) a football game is ridiculous.

Sad but true that the only reason they got as far was from a penalty in the match with Columbia and then they couldn't even beat Croatia.?

The same Columbia who were the dirtiest , cheating team in the entire tournament !