To wish England hadn't won (almost)

[littlegreybird]

I'm not a football fan but someone who tends to get swept along during big tournaments and a few years ago would have been thrilled by last night's result.

This year I hate it. I think the team and manager seem great, but the booing during the other teams' national anthems is sickening and makes me utterly ashamed. Then you just know it'll be jumped on by Johnson (already has) and the victory, or even getting this far, will become part of his populism. Then there's all the covid cases that will be spread due to all the mixing in pubs etc, more than would have been the case anyway.

I just feel nothing for this country anymore after the events of the last few years. Latest bit of shit news is that my daily commute will now be shared by exhausted lorry drivers who won't have had breaks thanks to Brexit, so that's a cheery thought.

When is anything good going to happen that isn't sullied by this utterly shit governement?

Yes !!

Tickets are so limited surely they could be identified (the bit I omitted)

I do agree with your overall points OP re increasing the Covid risks with congregating for matches, the disgraceful behaviour of a few louts at the recent match reflecting on All fans, and politicians suddenly becoming top fans and jumping on the bandwagons (but when haven’t they frankly).
However you do seem overwhelmed by it all and I do wonder if you have let things get on top of you of late OP? It’d hardly be surprising if you’ve escaped the negative mental effects of the pandemic that so many people have succumbed to so maybe reflect on whether you could actually be more down than general and whether you should do something about it and even chat with your GP perhaps? What if you tried to just focus on the smaller more positive things going on in your own life for a while instead of thinking about the state of the Country? Some things are so out of our control we can feel utterly despondent and, whilst I can empathise, it’s no good for you personally. Try simple things like turning off the radio or tv news, avoiding newspapers and pro-actively doing positive things like walking in nature, keeping a gratitude journal or practising mindfulness to rebalance you a bit.
Whilst you’re not “wrong” you are in danger of tipping over into poor mental health OP so keep yourself well. Take care x

I agree with you op

Corrupt rotten government . Selfish self serving but so many voted for them . The NHS is being sold off there will be no care for health , the environment . It’s all about defect , blame others ,lining your own pockets . Yes ghastly Johnson making the most of the football too . Great team love their stand for humanity . Many of the fan. Seem to be prejudice and racist

I bet you're fun at parties

I agree with every single sentiment in your comment. I feel exactly the same. Have many international friends (Danish including) who are permanently based in UK, and I feel truly ashamed in front of them of what has happened to this country, perfectly illustrated by the despicable behaviour of the football fans.

Anyone who thinks they can do a better job of running the country, what exactly is stopping you

OK... I'll just run off and be PM 😂

Why don’t you move out then. I couldn’t stay in a country I felt nothing for.

Tony Blair sold off the first NHS hospital, please learn the facts before droning on.

Seems an extreme reaction from you, people shouldn’t bo the anthem or the knee but they do. Don’t let it effect your enjoyment of a great tournament as those minority fans aren’t represented by the team

OP you say: "I just feel nothing for this country anymore after the events of the last few years".
Please list your preferred countries and the reasons.
The hundreds risking their lives every day to get here from France, obviously don't agree with you.

I agree with you, OP. You've articulated exactly my feelings. We've had so much xenophobia, WW2 nostalgia, flag-waving to cover up feeply divisive policies that it's hard to get on board with this even though, as you say, members of the team, including most obviously Marcus Rashford, seem admirable and the taking of the knee is a brave gesture that politicians such as Priti Patel (who obviously was not expecting the team to get this far) condemned. The prospect of the triumphalism of Johnson and co is nauseating.

Tbh your post should have finished at "I'm not a football fan". If you don't care about a sport don't talk about it or pretend to be a supporter and then whine when the team actually does well 🤫

If you hate the government don't vote for them. If you didn't and got outvoted tough that's democracy.

Tying your general distaste for the whole country to a sport that you don't even follow is pretty stupid.

Exactly what I was thinking

Can't help feeling the London based media would not be nearly so excited if the Scots, Welsh or N.Irish were in the final. England is not necessarily supported by everyone in the UK. I agree that the players and manager are fantastic but a lot of the fans are appalling.

I’m proud of the England team and Gareth Southgate, but the government are a bunch of murdering lowlife - why should you tell someone to live elsewhere, just because their political opinion differs from yours? Typical brexiter

Suggest you move to France??

Yaaaaaay

I was in Portugal when the Euros were held there and I supported England in huge fan zones and also in one of the stadiums. In the month I was there, I saw ONE fab being a dick head...and I told him. With no word of a lie, the fans were amazing , well behaved and well mannered towards their hosts. Sadly there will always be a couple of idiots but that doesn't represent a true English football fan. I'm delighted at how well they've done and I think it's a bit sad when people just focus on the negative aspects. We need some joy and this is it!

@supperlover

Can't help feeling the London based media would not be nearly so excited if the Scots, Welsh or N.Irish were in the final. England is not necessarily supported by everyone in the UK. I agree that the players and manager are fantastic but a lot of the fans are appalling.

True, there wouldn't be as much excitement but at least the majority of English people would support Scotland if they've gone through but the vast majority of Scots would support anyone, even if it was North Korea, over England.

Loool. Precisely!

Dry your eyes

For God’s sake it’s sport. Separate it from politics and enjoy it for what it is.

What is the thing on this thread of connecting enjoying the football with being a brexiteer?? I love watching England and have loved every minute of the euros. I also voted leave and have never voted Tory in my life! Football has nothing to do with politics!