When it comes to sport, even non-sports fans will admit to supporting England during events like the World Cup. While many people in England would not consider themselves particularly nationalistic, there is something in all of us that is brought out during events such as the World Cup.
A couple of weeks ago a colleague of mine wore an England football shirt to work; apparently he had run out of clean clothes. He was asked by another colleague if he supported England; he replied “no not really, I just got caught up in the hype during the World Cup”.
I wasn’t sure what was more strange: him being asked if he supported England or his reply. Because doesn’t everyone who considers themselves English support England by default?
It’s not like club teams; you can’t pick and choose (although I think you should support your home team, but that’s another matter). What if an English person walked around wearing a Brazil shirt, saying they supported Brazil? Well, it probably does happen, but that’s not the point.
The point is if you consider yourself as English then surely it is only natural that you support England? This is proven by the interest that non-sports fans have in their national team during international tournaments, in particular the World Cup.
This is because when we are cheering on the England football team during the World Cup, what we are celebrating is England the nation, not England the football team.
Witness the plethora of St George crosses hung from cars, homes and workplaces during the last World Cup: You do not see this kind of nationalistic fervour during St George’s day.
There is something about sport, and football in particular that brings together people from all ethnicities and backgrounds and unites them in a way that nothing else does.
Some may say that supporting England is solely a white male activity. But amongst the drunken white males over Parker’s Piece during the World Cup this summer, there were many families including Asian children wearing England shirts with ‘ROONEY’ on their backs.
Sport is something that can unite people in a way that nothing else can. And in an increasingly fragmented world, surely this is a good thing?
A couple of weeks ago a colleague of mine wore an England football shirt to work; apparently he had run out of clean clothes. He was asked by another colleague if he supported England; he replied “no not really, I just got caught up in the hype during the World Cup”.
I wasn’t sure what was more strange: him being asked if he supported England or his reply. Because doesn’t everyone who considers themselves English support England by default?
It’s not like club teams; you can’t pick and choose (although I think you should support your home team, but that’s another matter). What if an English person walked around wearing a Brazil shirt, saying they supported Brazil? Well, it probably does happen, but that’s not the point.
The point is if you consider yourself as English then surely it is only natural that you support England? This is proven by the interest that non-sports fans have in their national team during international tournaments, in particular the World Cup.
This is because when we are cheering on the England football team during the World Cup, what we are celebrating is England the nation, not England the football team.
Witness the plethora of St George crosses hung from cars, homes and workplaces during the last World Cup: You do not see this kind of nationalistic fervour during St George’s day.
There is something about sport, and football in particular that brings together people from all ethnicities and backgrounds and unites them in a way that nothing else does.
Some may say that supporting England is solely a white male activity. But amongst the drunken white males over Parker’s Piece during the World Cup this summer, there were many families including Asian children wearing England shirts with ‘ROONEY’ on their backs.
Sport is something that can unite people in a way that nothing else can. And in an increasingly fragmented world, surely this is a good thing?
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