England World Cup Blog England v USA - The Scottish Perspective
England v USA - The Scottish Perspective
Written by Dave Allan Sunday, 13 June 2010 21:18
A scorching day in Glasgow inspires an afternoon of barbecued burgers and beer drinking, followed by an evening of football and more beer drinking.
I watched the game at the Carslaw household in Jamestown, with eight friends of vastly differing ages and backgrounds. Youngest guest in the house was 12 year old Rangers fan Monica McFayden, and the oldest was 74 year old Betty Doyle, a Celtic fan.
Householder Alan Carslaw is a die hard Rangers fan and has erected a giant USA flag in his front garden. All nine of us agree to support the United States. Most predict odd goal wins for the States, except for Dougie Smith, a Motherwell fan who predicts a 3-1 win for England.
Also present are Celtic fan Michelle Barton and Rangers fans Phylis Carslaw, Grieg Carslaw, Tony McFayden. Finally myself Andrew Williams a part time supporter of several teams.
As the game nears kick off we miss the line-ups of both sides due to adverts being shown right up until 7.30 and we havn't even identified all of Englands starting 11 before Steven Gerrard gives England the lead in the fourth minute.
When we finally identify everyone, we discuss the inclusion of Emile Heskey, with the concensus being that he is not good enough to be in the starting 11, Robert Green's inclusion goes unnoticed until his 40th minute howler which ties the game at 1-1. We then realise that Green is the 3rd choice keeper after a remark by a commentator and at half time we discuss the state of the English world cup campaign, between Terry losing the armband, Wayne Bridge walking out and Rio Ferdinand being carried out it seems to be an unprecedented period of bad luck for England.
At full time everyone is reasonably pleased that the US have earned a draw. The consensus is that England will still qualify from the group but they will not go particularly far with a quarter-final spot looking the most likely finishing position for Fabio Capello's unlucky squad.
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Kris Mole
said:
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... I was always of the belief that Rangers fans support England in major competitions. This is at least what hooligan documentaries have told me. |
andy
said:
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... Yes a high percentage of rangers fans like England. Id guess around half of all Rangers fans would support England against anyone and a small percentage would even support England against Scotland. Celtic fans have a similar affection for the Republic of Ireland. |
Mick
said:
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... Yes, Rangers fans, like England, But only when they are not busy destroying it's cities (Manchester). To be totally fair, in my opinion, the people of Scotland do not dislike the English Football team, quite the opposite, some of there players are outstanding. However it is more the constant drivel that the commentators hit out with, They hype England up so far they get everyone believing they deserve to win the world cup based purely on the fact they won it 44 years ago. Yes England have a good team, However 1 or 4 countries have far better teams, Unfortunatly for England they are countries they all hate, Argentina, Germany, France (not this world cup), Brazil, Spain. England don't have the god given right to win the world cup, But the English media, would have you believe otherwise. |
andy
said:
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... i think thats a good shout mick. its the media and commentators that make so many non englanders will them to lose. |
The Big Chair
said:
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... We are Britain and we should be united never mind the rest. Rule Britannia. USA are also a good side to support because of Edu & Beasley but we should be supporting England together. |
Sonny
said:
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... Okay, Green made a howler, but seriously, England were pretty average. As for me, since Scotland never even made it, I'll support another perennial underdog - c'mon New Zealand. (There was never any chance of me supporting England - the commentators put paid to that about 20 years ago, but still they persist in mentioning 1966 - just turn the 9 upside down and take away the 1 - within the first minute of every game. Not to mention that if any overseas player has ever even had a reserve game in England's leagues then it is mentioned. The Premier league MAY be the best in the world, but those commentators just don't get the fact that the England squad are not the best in the world). |
Baron von Wagenheim
said:
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... England might have their eyes on the major prizes and subsequently regard Scotland as almost a piddling irrelevance but for Scots England will always be our major footballing rivals and as a consequence the day the majority of Scots support England in a World Cup will be the day Leeds Utd supporters cross the Pennines to embrace Manchester United supporters and swap love heart lockets, it will be the day giant hugs of affection are exchanged between Chelseas, Millwall and West Ham fans while they lace daisy's in each others hair in a beautiful London love in. It will be the day Real Madrid and Barcelona fanatics clasp hands and skip through flowery meadows and it will be the day Everton fans bewail a last minute winner against Liverpool declaring it to be unsporting and unnecessarily hurtful to their fellow city folk. Anyone who understands football as a sport must understand why Scotland fans will never and can never support England, it is one of the most potent football rivalries in the world and it is such things that make the game greater than any other sport. Those who try to politicize and use that football rivalry for their own means outside of its true context are nothing but wretches and fools. Football demands Scots support England's opponents, it is in the very nature of the sport and to decry it is to decry football itself. |
william mcgregor
said:
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... as a scotsman who has lived in england for 20 years, supports chelsea, has an english girlfriend, served in the british army, has an english job, and english friends i will be fully supporting england. it would be nice to follow scotland in the world cup, but that is not possible, yet again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but england need to get the finger out!!! |
DaveA
said:
|
... I appreciate all the comments. It is interesting we have more comments about this Scottish article from Scottish people than we have had on any article about England. Where are all the England fans!!?? It appears to me that the Scottish don't want England to do badly because of the English people but rather because of the English media and the way they treat Scotland. It's not always noticable to the English but the Scottish notice it in subtle things and it must grate on them. Nothing would have stopped me supporting Scotland in 1974 and 1978 and I have got behind Scotland in other tournaments - basically because I know most of the players and games where you know the players are more fun to watch in my opinion. What I am not too keen on is this 'Anyone but England' mentality. If it is light hearted then it is ok and fun but anything more becomes a bit more sinister. |
Kris Mole
said:
|
... I don't mind the 'Anyone but England' mentality, in fact, if it gives the Jocks something to make a World Cup a bit more interesting for them, then I'm happy for them, because let's face it, their own team will never again qualify. I care not if Scotland win or lose. They are insignificant to me, just like any other mediocre national team that I recognise only a few if any at all of their players. Saying that, I am a big advocate of the 'Anyone but Wales' campaign. Dunno exactly what it is, but I just love seeing them lose, even to Germans. |
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