Do Scottish fans really not support England?

[HouseofHills]

There’s always a running joke about Scottish fans wanting anyone but England to win and supporting which ever team England is playing against. I totally get the friendly rivalry but is it actually true that most Scottish fans want England to lose in the Euros final or do most want England to win deep down given Scotland is out?

If England aren’t playing I think most England fans would support Scotland or Wales as fellow Brits, especially in a Euro or World Cup final!

This type of conversation always makes me think of Limmy's reaction to Britain's got Talent coming to Scotland. This video is over 15 years old but I think perfectly captures what it's like to be Scottish and have all your media be England centered. As with talent shows, so with football. Wouldn't you get tired of this attitude towards your country too, everyday playing on your own TV in your own country?

Do 'they'? Who's they? The entire nation of Scottish people? You think we're all sitting in our houses booing at the tele?

I don't want them to win because we'll never hear the fucking end of it in the media.

Everyone always says "oh we English would support the other home teams" but I've never actually found that to be the case on the rare occasions you get the opportunity to put your money where your mouth is.

I was living in London for the 2016 euros and everyone in the entire pub was very loudly supporting Portugal over Wales when we got to the semi finals.

Whenever it's wales/scotland vs england in the 6 nations the BBC are very obviously biased towards England despite the fact its the BRITISH broadcasting Corp!

It's the final of the tournament; it'll be on everywhere and you'll be fine.

Contrary to fans from some other countries we're generally known for being friendly and having a laugh because we know we're shite and have made our peace with it. We don't tend to go abroad and make headlines for negative reasons.

It's not an expectation or thinking it's deserved like I've seen alot off people saying we know we've not won it since 66 we know the team has played shite etc its about believing they can actually do it again ya know supporting the team how fans should be!!!

@SirChenjins delightful isn't it? My brother asked me if I had thought about crossing the border to give birth, so that my child wouldn't be "stuck" with a Scottish birth certificate for life. Funnily enough, no, I didn't want to drive 3 hours while in labour to give birth in some random place away just to reinforce the idea that my DC should be ashamed of where they're from. This sort of attitude wouldn't be tolerated about anywhere else, it just counts as "banter" for Scotland (and to be fair I would probably have laughed had my brother been joking, but alas, he was actually serious!).

The reality is there is truth in the ‘National Lampoon’s’ Eric Idle stereotype about the British and English in particular - saying sorry when someone else actually wronged us, in order to keep the peace and avoid conflict. It’s how we rub along.

This is the reason that hating English people isn’t seen as racist or xenophobic, whereas hating other Nations, even if they have a belligerent, colonial past or present, and their tourists behave abominably abroad, is automatically viewed as racist and xenophobic - especially if it is an English person doing it - I think the only other acceptable country to hate is the USA.

English people apologise to people who hate us, even if it is hypocritical, unwarranted, etc, you get English people telling each-other, like that ex-pat patronising numpty upthread saying we need to ‘reflect on what we did wrong’ in order to deserve the hate.

In reality, most xenophobic/racist people hate out of habit, because it feels good, not because the target of their hatred did something to deserve the hate, this includes people who hate the English.

This pretty much nails it. For those who don't understand our attitude, watch this (although you may need a translator 😉). And it's not about any desire for independence (although, full disclosure, I DID vote yes), coz even unionists get pissed off with this patronising bs.

No, but it is so annoying to endure that I just want England to crash out as quickly as possible. An English win would be reinforcing the arrogance and entitlement of the media, all thr coming home shite etc. Is it not easy to understand how people might want anyone but England to win?

I don’t get when people say this. The whole ‘it’s coming home’ thing is normally said tongue in cheek. We take the piss out of ourselves more than anyone else. And most people I know are shocked we’ve made it into the final! Literally no one I know expects us to win…I really don’t see any arrogance

Never heard of them. Not sure it’s really necessary to eye roll a reasonable question. I’m sure I know things that you don’t. Are you Scottish 😂

Great reflection @ToadOfTheThreads ! I do hope that you don't feel patronised by that.

I haven't noticed us apologising to people who hate us as it's not how we function, but it's interesting to read your take on it.

🙄

It never fails to amaze me that people expect football fans to suddenly switch allegiance. It's literally the whole point of the game to support one team. Otherwise what is the actual fun- are you watching it just for the beauty of the game?
I'm no more going to support England- basically our biggest rivals - than as a Hibs fan I will suddenly support Rangers in the Euros.
Viva España!

Exactly this. If Spain and France were playing in a final I wouldn't automatically support France because they're closer geographically, or because of the Auld Alliance, or because their flag is the same colour, or some other spurious reason. If Scottish people don't want to support England that's fine - why should they?

I’m English but live in Scotland. They don’t support the England men’s team ever, I expect to see Spanish flags up. Most people I know did support the England women’s team though.

Lots of English up here heading to Carlisle / Newcastle for the match.

Sadly English fans let the team down, and we are sore winners and sore losers so it’s really no wonder.

One of my parents is Scottish but lives in England, they are supporting England.

I hope they win, but dread the aftermath if they do.

In the World Cup I was out up here and there was a group of England fans screaming and shouting about ‘first we will bring it home and show the Scottish b how it’s done.’ They were tourists. They wondered why they got moved on and whinged about it. It was beyond embarrassing. Plenty of us english up here support England but have the respect and sense to not be absolute dicks about it. If I wasn’t working I’d have gone home to watch it.

That's a very twisted take on it to be honest.

The eye role was meant for the lions part of the name, what with the English teams also being called lions n9t you sorry for the confusion

I’m Scottish and really like Gareth Southgate and the team and I want to support them. But I can’t, I just can’t! It’s not their fault but as others have said the coverage, the media and a few English fans make it difficult to get behind them. Even on STV everything is about England whoever is playing. Before the Scotland games it was all about England and planning their route to the final. When England played badly, the players and Southgate was villainised, then they played better and they were on for winning again.

Ally McCoist is a welcome voice on the commentary but sometimes I need to mute it and just watch the game.

I watched the England vs Switzerland game whilst on holiday with a mix of nationalities. When Switzerland scored some people whooped and celebrated. When England equalised a group of English supporters leapt up, swore loudly and told everyone to ‘get it up them.’ I know they are in the minority but it doesn’t help with the aggressiveness and arrogance.

@Apolloneuro was the rasict dig about being Scottish nesscary

Ally Mccoist has been getting pelters for being too enthusiastic about England 🙈

England are far more successful than Scotland, and have some of the best players in the world, of course they are going to get more attention.

It's like moaning that the top seeds get more attention than the unseeded players in tennis.

I was thinking along the same lines just now. That I have often been annoyed if I am watching and rooting for an athlete or nation and all the pundits are talking about the favourites to win overall. I think FFS can’t we just watch this?