to hope that Andy Murray does not make it to the Wimbledon final...

[AliGrylls]

I don't know why but I find there is something about him which is arrogant.

Also, I find it so bizarre the way the media always plays up how good he really is. At the end of the Ferrer match yesterday the Brit commentator made out Andy was some kind of demi-God for beating Ferrer. To me it is a match he should have won easily anyway.

Give me Nadal / Federer anyday!

My friend is a Wimbledon driver and takes the players back to their houses / hotels after matches. She says many are horrid, with a 'master and servant' mindset definitely in place. But Federer always charming and thoughtful, apparently (and un-smelly, unlike some ...).

I need to sound her out about Murray ...

Ok. Time to fess up. I don't even follow the tennis, not at all. I just thought I would try to be clever and throw in a comment I hear from the in laws day in and day out!! That's all I ever hear them go on about, Murray and that comment. But I'm too nice so I'm taking it back

As you were ladies!

Roddick invited his driver to his wedding - so guessing he's not got too much of an attitude!

I can't say Im a fan but wouldn't begrudge him winning .

Couldn't stand Henman - and his 'slamming' of a ball into a ball girl has been lost when we were all supposed to love n worship at the feet of tiger tim ......or the 'Chickenman' as we called him !

And Murrays comments re England/World Cup ..... and? Do you seriously think that all the Scots/Welsh & Irish cheer for England? In the little town I come from in Wales the shop that sells welsh dolls, costume, rugby shirts etc sells t-shirts saying "I support whoever England are playing"

well you got your wish

Great! The final with a preppy girl and a chap with an annoying baseball cap.

All this regional tribalism is silly. I wanted him to win because he is British. He's playing for Great Britain. Same way I wanted Henman to win because he is British.

I want the English football team to do well and I want the Scottish football team to do well. When England play Scotland I support England. I'd expect Scots to support Scotland. I support Wales and England at rugby.

If you go into an English pub during an international football match where Scotland are playing, you'll find a group of Englishmen rooting for them. The miserable Scots, on the other hand, think it is big and clever to support "anyone but England." (If they hate England that much, why watch the World Cup? Why not just watch a video of the last time Scotland did well? OK, it would mean dusting down the Betamax machine, but all the same...)

I don't know many people who've got to the top of their particular trees without that level of self-belief. Never met the Pope though - perhaps clerics are an exception.

Self-doubt is charming but it doesn't win many matches.

'The miserable Scots, on the other hand, think it is big and clever to support "anyone but England." '
It's not just the Scots. Have you ever been to Australia or NZ? You frequently see t-shirts with 'I support NZ or whoever Australia is playing' or vice-versa. Scotland and England are just old rivals, it's the same the world over between neighbouring countries.
In my experience the Welsh can be pretty anti-English too but most are very nice to the Scots - with possibly you being the exception!

sorry my reply was to unquietdad

I'm half Welsh and half English, which occasionally makes rugby tricky!

Apparently the 'anyone but England' comment was aimed at Tim Henman who had been slagging him off about Scotland going out.

Honestly if you asked any 20 year old Scottish lad they would probably have said the same thing. Why tar everyone with the 'miserable Scots' tag when they don't automatically start supporting England once Scotland is out? Do Liverpool fans support Everton if their team gets kicked out?????

What I can't understand is why you would stop supporting someone just because of a throw away tongue in cheek comment?

I am actually sad Murray is out as I wanted to un-support him in the final. Now I don't care (except wanting the dashing Federer to win, obv).
UQD you CANNOT be serious about supporting Scotland in the footie, surely? No England fan would ever do such a thing; it's patronising really, like saying 'oh, it's my baby/second team, I do so hope they will do well'. What I mean is supporting a football team is a serious business, unlike the idle pleasure one has in being free from patriotism in tennis and therefore rooting for whoever the hell you like.
Disclaimer: have had wine.

I don't follow a "home" football team normally. In the World Cup/Euros, I want all the British teams to do well. That's not unusual.