Anyone But England

[TobyEsterhase]

My social media is jam packed with Scots declaring their support for DR Congo/Mexico/Norway/ whoever England are playing next.

I find this obsession with our neighbours weird and cringeworthy.

Do you think Canadians make such an issue of supporting Anyone But USA or the Dutch supporting Anyone But Germany ?

Doubly ironic when players like Scott McTominay and Che Adams are about as Scottish as Morris Dancing.

Well I suppose the Canadians have never been "ruled" by the USA although there were a few very early border skirmishes. The Dutch admittedly were "officially" under German occupation during the war, but not only were they one of many countries in that position, but much of their administration was complicit with the Nazis. Hence the Netherlands having one of the highest Jewish mortality rates in Europe.

Same here in Wales!
I have an English DH and therefore half English DC.
I think the “anyone but England” thing is harmless banter up to a point but at some stage it crosses into being mean and a bit pathetic.
Personally I would rather see the World Cup coming to one of the British nations rather than anywhere else.
Yes we won’t hear the end of it of course but they have waited 60 years for another win, seems mean to not wish England well

It's predominantly the media who cause this, by overstating England's success or otherwise, and mentioning 66 any chance they can. Happens in Rugby as well. Up until a few years ago, the England players have added to this, but the current team, in my opinion, have behaved as sportsmen, and deserve to win. Said as a Scotland supporter who got up in the middle of the night to watch their first game!

You’d never hear “Anyone but China” in Hong Kong or Taiwan. Or “Anyone but Japan” in China. And I feel they’ve got more cause. It’s just not classy. Countries should focus on their own team and if it’s not good enough to get through they shouldn’t be shitty to other teams that are doing better.

I generally support the underdog. Or the teams whose squads don't include known rapists, domestic abusers etc. Which has been quite difficult this World Cup.

I'm English born, lomg time resident of Scotland,but rarely support England . But now i'm definitely in the Anyone but USA camp.Especially given Trumps intervention to change the rules to give the USA an unfair advantage re their striker who should be suspended.

Norway is a bit different though - some parts of Scotland are closer to Norway than England, no? And used to be part of the Danish kingdom alongside Norway, speaking Norn

Maybe if England supporters would stop singing about it coming ‘home’, it might be easier to support. In Nordic countries, Sweden is harder to support. And I don’t think Canadians are in any hurry to support USA USA…

As a Scot, I despise the anyone but England pish. Its not friendly banter and those dishing it our would be up in arms if the rest of the UK took an anyone but Scotland stance.

Personally I thoroughly enjoyed the MEX-ENG clash in the early hours and England are far more entertaining to watch then the shite Scotland served up. I really don't care if the tartan army are the envy of the world - known for being happy losers? No thanks.

My thoughts are , the uk is 4 countries but everything seems very London England/London centric national news TV newspapers even the weather was all about a "heatwave" that was in 1 area of England no other weather occured Pair that with "historic" sport rivalries, then you are going to get ABE.
I can understand the sentiment, even though I don't agree with it but I think the adoration of football and hanging onto a win in 1966 is ridiculous and I can see how that would grate.

The last time Scotland was "ruled by England" was in the 14th Century and the last time there was a military conflict between Scotland and England was in the 16th Century

I think the adoration of football and hanging onto a win in 1966 is ridiculous and I can see how that would grate.

You don't think Scots would bang on about it if they won before? Of course we would!

'I think the “anyone but England” thing is harmless banter up to a point but at some stage it crosses into being mean and a bit pathetic'

I'm Irish, living in London, and I find it mean and pathetic from start to finish. Yes, banging on about 1966 is boring as hell, but Scotland 'banged on' about getting to the World Cup this year and fair enough - it's a huge achievement. I'm not a football fan as such but I watch the big England games and I'm chuffed that they're still in it.

Scotland fans talk more about 1966 than the English media do in my experience

And Scotland's national anthem "hanging on to a win in 1314" is also cringeworthy

Everywhere focuses on the areas with the largest population: Scottish news is very Central Belt centric and virtually every BBC and STV drama is set either in Glasgow or the Highlands

Billy Connolly pointed out that hating the English is a complete waste of time because they don't care!

As for being ruled by, in 1601 after the death of Elizabeth, the King of Scotland, James VI, came down to be King of everyone as James I. Who was ruling who then?

Inferiority complex?

This. The ABE is framed as 'bitter rivalry' but in reality no one in England thinks of the Scottish team as in the 'great rivals' stable.

Argentina, Germany, France, Spain? Yes.

Yup! I am TEAM BELGIUM 🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪

Genuinely torn over Norway vs. England. Haaland and Harry Kane head to head is quite exciting! Once the US are out I’ll support whichever of Norway or England remain.

ABE is stupid, we might get another bank holiday out of it!

Did anybody see the Paddy Power advert with Souness, Nicholas and Strachan dressed as Mexicans? I thought that was really bloody funny and I hope they have similar planned for Norway.

The media and politicians make far more of the rivalry than I have ever experienced in real life.

Long time Scotland resident English person here! Love that I can and do support each home nation.

ABE is dressed up as banter but there is an undeniable nasty undercurrent. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the sea of Maradona bewigged, Argentina shirt wearing pub goers at a previous World Cup game England v Argentina. I’ve never watched England play in a pub since, it’s not light banter. I imagine Mexican hats did a roaring trade these last few days and Viking get ups will be next!

Like others I am horrified by the USA player situation and even if I didn’t have family history with Belgium, I’d be backing ABU

I agree with it being the media stirring a lot of this, they do it every time there’s a big game and it’s so tiresome. Newspapers full of chest-thumping comments, it’s very cringe!

I’m English, but live in one of the other parts of the UK.
I loved to watch the Scots in Boston, and loved how the home fans joined up with them, it’s how it should be. If it were Scotland in the QFinals, I’d be chuffed for them.

Im glad England have got this far, but I didn’t bother staying up to watch it.
I’m getting old & I can’t be arsed with the “anyone but England” mentality, It’s a game, at the end of the day - can’t we just watch / not watch without all the petulance and snideyness? My DP only wears his shirt around the house, and we get glared at by the locals round here.
Pathetic.

it seems pretty harmless to me, I am not a big football fan and only bothered for the Scottish games but Kane is a brilliant player and fun to watch. I enjoy the skits of people claiming Mexican/Norwegian heritage etc

My husband a huge football fan who goes on away days always says it's just banter and he welcomes it. He says football without banter is just rugby where everyone claps and pats eachother on the back for scoring.

I like England. I do have a Norway flag though I bought on holiday a few years ago and might lend out if anyone wants ro
borrow it!

It's not true it's just a Scottish thing. Look at South Africa it was pretty much united across the african continent any one but south africa. Now it will be a lot of African people supporting anyone against Belgium. It was common when I grew up in Nz to support any on but Australia. Sports doesn't exist in a vacuum history and politics will always play a part.

Oh yes. How dare a country want to win and sing about it. At least it's not a xenophobic song about "Anyone but Scotland." It's not putting another country down. The words even mention us not winning for decades!