No where to go but up for both Nike and Adidas after the abysmal kits from 4 years ago...and the FIFA mandated (??) monochrome color schemes. Germany, Argentina, Colombia and England (to name a few) with white shorts. Woof.
Can someone with knowledge about UK politics/history explain something to me? Scotland and Wales have their own "national anthems" that are played before games but Northern Ireland plays "God Save The Queen." I always had an impression that the non-England "states" of the United Kingdom didn't really have that much love for anything from the centralized government yet I just watched most of Windsor Park belt out the anthem proudly. Am I just misreading it and there is nationalistic pride, even across the Irish Sea?
God Save the Queen is the anthem of the UK. taking each country in turn: England has no official national anthem of its own; "God Save the Queen" is treated as the English national anthem when England is represented at sporting events (though there are some exceptions to this rule, such as cricket where Jerusalem is used). Scotland has its own national song and Wales has its own national anthem for political and national events and for use at international football, rugby union and other sports in which those nations compete independently.[15] On all occasions Wales' national anthem is "Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau" (Land of my Fathers). Scotland has no single anthem; "Scotland the Brave" was traditionally used until the 1990s, when "Flower of Scotland" was adopted. In Northern Ireland, "God Save the Queen" is still used as the official anthem.
Croatia is essentially through to the WC - 4-1 first leg mauling of Greece. Switzerland takes a slim 1-0 back home against Northern Ireland.
People in Ireland (North)who see themselves as British are always more likely to insert Britishness into events than people in Wales or Scotland (particularly) becuase those "nations" see themselves as separate Nations in a conjoined Britain. N. Ireland is vastly different as it is a small part of the Irish Mainland where the larger population would tend to be remonstrative against all things British/English. Quite simple really ....
Now - back tp them main agenda... Can someone PLEASE tell me that Coutinho did NOT get on a plane to Brazil????
Interesting. Just seems odd that the people furthest away from England are the ones devoted the most. I'd like to read more about this long history sometime. Sorry, not trying to derail the thread.
mane played fro senegal in the 2-0 win vs South Africa, he laid on the first goal and caused the second (an OG).
It’s not the distance. Northern Ireland didn’t exist until 1921. It was created as a gerrymandered six counties that, at that time but declining ever since, had a majority of non-Catholic people who did not want to be in the Irish Free State that was formed by a treaty between the UK and the new Irish State. The partition avoided issues back then but led to an active war in the late 20th century known in Ireland as “The Troubles”. Peculiarly the Irish Rugby team still plays as an island with players from both sides. They even have a neutral song that they use for away matches. When they play in Dublin they use the Irish Republic’s anthem. Anyway the six county state has no real history and it’s majority adher to the UK and Mrs. Windsor so they use God Save the Queen.
England have called up Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke and Bournemouth midfielder Lewis Cook for Tuesday's friendly against Brazil at Wembley.
Ruh roh: Liverpool winger Sadio Mane returns to Merseyside early after 'feeling old injury' on hamstring, Senegal confirm ahead of clash with South Africa Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...returns-feeling-old-injury.html#ixzz4yIgznTYH