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!

The commentators on the coverage from the opening match, Germany v Scotland, didn't take long to start talking about England's chances. Despite knowing our team wasn't great we weren't even allowed to just enjoy being part of the opening match with our hosts!

I could be wrong about this but to me in seems that when you live in England (especially in the south) Scotland just feels vaguely like a more north version if the north of England. So it's perhaps hard to understand how when you live in Scotland (especially the north) England just feels so far away. We have our own capital city, our own political parties, our own way of describing the geography (for example, what counts as south and north). I just don't think about England all that much, I don't feel any close association to it.

So back at the start of the euros (and other sports like the 6 nations), breakfast news will come live from somewhere in England at a pub or sports club etc and interview England fans. The process will run for about 5-10 minutes. All about England and usually referring to winning the World Cup or some other title loads of years ago. The commentary will revert back to the studio where it will be followed up with 10 seconds explaining who Scotland, Ireland and Wales are playing and at what time. That’s it.

The media are to blame. They hype England up all the time. The coverage is completely biast. Scotland just can’t be bothered for the most part. I suspect most will be supporting Spain on Sunday. I for one can’t stand football. I have already switched off national news because of the coverage about Sunday. It will be hellish come Monday if they win. I don’t think they will though. We can then return to normal.

It’s nothing to do with Scotland not progressing at the Euros either. We knew we wouldn’t. We just went for the experience and atmosphere.

Tbh they were probably trying to distract attention from what was going on on the pitch.

Why though?

We weren't badly humbled.
We knew Germany would hump us.

"I have already switched off national news because of the coverage about Sunday. It will be hellish come Monday if they win"

How utterly miserable.

As someone who lives in the very far Southwest of England, that an interesting point. I agree with that. Thanks!

OK.

It would be very rare to experience a Scottish person being hostile towards you, I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, it does, but the majority of Scot’s are friendly to people from England.

Im in Scotland and some of my neighbours have England flags up for the football, no one has batted an eyelid, and no one has said anything.

What a silly response.
Commentators need to be discussing the active match, that's their whole role.

Not at all. We just can’t be bothered with the media wittering on and on about it. Media are still twittering on about 66. It’s tiresome.

That’s bad and I’m not surprised it pissed you off.

I can see that’s annoying. I guess it’s because most of the commentators are English and they care more about England. The producers need to challenge it more but ITV and BBC are completely London-centric so probably don’t even think about it. It’s not the fault of the average England supporter though.

How utterly miserable for you perhaps, other people are free to make their own choices.

I have never actually experienced these things in Scotland or Wales, but just knowing the contempt for the English which is socially acceptable, it’s unnerving.

You are unbelievable quite honestly and need help with your anxiety. 'I have never experienced these things....' ffs

If you're not taking the piss, it is INSANE to think everyone in Scotland is a massive spitting in your coffee nutcase that'll slash your tires when you open your mouth for directions and they hear your English

What a twat

Yes that is crap.

Interesting that the whole “it’s coming home” song has been mentioned as an example of perceived English triumphalism.

Except it is a song all about holding on to optimism in the face of continually shattered hopes.

Most English people I know tend to be fatalistic about the performance of the national football team, there is a continual assumption that things will ultimately go badly, and complete surprise when they are proved wrong!

https://talksport.com/sport/1747538/team-gb-football-team-2024-paris-olympics/

It was a joke.

It was an embarrassing match for Scotland, but they had a bad draw it's true.

I think if the boot was on the other foot, most English football fans would be saying 'anyone but Scotland' but it would be jokey and fun! I don't think it's very deep. Its what we'd call 'friendly banter'

Clearly you don’t get what I’m talking about and can’t process subtleties. Of course I don’t think ‘EVERYONE’ in Scotland is doing anything. It’s just that sense that the undercurrent of anti-English contempt could surface at some point which I can’t predict. It’s unnerving that anti-English contempt is so undisguised and widespread - it puts me on edge.

The underdog always has a pop at those above them, so yes, if the situation were reversed and England were poor and Scotland were one of the favourites, then this would happen

If it's any consolation, there's quite a bit of anti-Englsih sentiment in touristy areas of spain as well...

And across the whole of Europe since Brexit.