Observer Article

[Marky]

Lorna Martin, Scotland editor
Sunday June 13, 2004
The Observer

Before the World Cup, an English journalist ventured north to find out why
the Scots would be supporting anyone but their neighbours.

'They treat us like dogs. They think they're superior. We just hate them,'
was the general consensus. Feeling battered and bruised but none the wiser,
the reporter, from this very newspaper, staggered into Sandy Bell's pub in
Edinburgh in search of a more intellectual perspective. 'I quite like the
English,' a bearded man said. 'But I wouldn't eat a whole one.'

Two years on, have the Scots lost their appetite for hating the English?
According to a poll in the Daily Record, Scotland's biggest red-top, the
unthinkable has indeed happened: six out of 10 Scots will be backing the
Auld Enemy in Portugal and a quarter have put old rivalries so far behind
them that they actually want David Beckham's team to win.

In addition, a Tory MSP has lodged a motion urging his colleagues to
support England, and several brave commentators have called time on
Anglophobia. Despite these entreaties, it's not easy finding a Scot who
will be rooting for the three lions.

'I know it's childish and I'm probably a bit of a hypocrite,' said
Christopher Brown, a 28-year-old enjoying an afterwork pint in The
Glaswegian, 'but I think it's a genetic thing. I don't hate them. I just
don't want to see them do well. We'd never hear the end of it.'

His friends agreed. 'It's not the players; it's the London media,' said
Scott McLean. 'For the last three weeks, we've heard nothing but England
this, England that. We have to listen to it non-stop.'

Graham McGonigle blamed arrogance for inciting such loathing. 'They have
such a high opinion of themselves, so it's good when they fall. The way the
English feel about the Germans - that they're loud, arrogant, obnoxious -
is the way the Scots feel about the English.'

Others were more measured in their lack of support for their oldest rival.
Former Scotland manager Craig Brown told The Observer he would be rooting
for Latvia. Of today's match, he was ambivalent: 'I couldn't care who wins.
But I think the team with more flair and panache is France.' Alex Salmond
MP also hoped for a French victory - 'partly because of the Auld Alliance'
- but he'd be 'very happy' if England did well.

The day after the Daily Record poll, the Scottish Sun encouraged readers to
support Croatia. Its front page featured a Page 3 lovely wearing the team's
jersey under the headline: 'Here we Cro, Here we Cro, Here we Cro.' The
following day, after a reported rise in sales of Croatia strips, its
headline declared: 'We're all going Croazy.'

The poll was also greeted with dismay by Scotland and West Ham captain
Christian Dailly, who said his life would become unbearable the longer
England remained in the tournament. He pledged his support for France 'as
any good Scotsman would'.

His comments generated an outpouring of gratitude from the Tartan Army
supporters group. Messages on its website suggested Dailly should be
granted 'the freedom of Scotland'.

'It's not a racist thing; it's a football thing,' according to Hamish
Husbandof the Tartan Army. 'They are our oldest rivals and supporting them
is just something we'd never do.'

Ian Black, author of the book Tales of the Tartan Army, agreed: 'If the
fascist red spiders from Mars were playing England, I'd be saying, "Come on
the fascist red spiders".'

So where are all these mature and sophisticated Anglophiles who have
replaced their Saltires with St Georges? Didier Martinet of the French
Tartan Army suggested they didn't actually exist. 'These Scots who said
they would support England don't know anything about football. They think
Henry, Pires, Viera, Makelele, Gallas and so on play for England rather
than an English team. They must learn before saying this rubbish.'

But back in The Glaswegian, one Scot said a couple of his friends would be
wearing England jerseys. 'It has nothing to do with supporting them
though,' he explained. 'They're mad Rangers fans and it's really a way of
saying, "Get it up you," to Celtic supporters.'

In Scotland, it seems, there is still no love lost for the Sassenachs