As a Welshman, the concept of falling at the first hurdle is disturbingly familiar with me, none more so than with International Football, where in my 24 years of existance, I have seen Wales come close to qualifying for a major tournament twice – once in 1993 where a missed penalty against Romania saw us miss out on a World Cup place in USA ’94, and in 2003 where a goal from an inelligible drug cheat bastard Russian saw the Russian progress to Portugal at the expense of ourselves. Those are considered to be “good” campaigns, as usually defeat to footballing powerhouses such as Latvia, Albania, Northern Ireland and Belarus usually means byu the time we play the big teams our qualification hopes have been diminished.
It is with sheer delight that joining us on our “Extended summer holidays without football” are a large contingent of English fans. Yes, England rather spectacularly failed to qualify for Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland, and whilst the rest of Europe can enjoy some fantastic action without worrying about being assulted by skinheaded, lager drinking, unemployed Sun readers. Austria and Switzerland: You will remain beautiful and untrashed.
But what of England fans. What do they do for the summer? Well, a lot has been said, but one question is “How can a football loving nation find a team to support? We can’t support other nations, what with Three Lions on our shirt etc.”. As somebody who supports anybody but England, I hope to advise you on first picking a team to support, and how to support them.
Picking a Team
First of all, who will you support? If you like a Premiership team, you may support countries who have your players (the BBC has a handy guide for this). Or you may have visited a country to support. Support the underdogs, or even arch rivals (a lot of people have chosen Germany, largely because they’re England’s rivals – but mostly because they play a similar style of football, and generally play fair). You have your own reasons though – one of my friends was dating a Greek during the last tournament, so supported Greece. Turns out they won the whole thing, so he was drunk on Ouzo and fat on feta cheese and olives. Well done him!
Supporting a Team
Depending on your budget, supporting a team could be buying a shirt, down to simply wearing a badge or a flag of the nation. It doesn’t need to be expensive, and most European nations have great beer (Germany especially) and food (Portugal), so it’s easy to live like your continental cousins.
The Final Answer
So, who are you supporting? I’ve plucked for Sweden, as it’ll probably be the next country I visit, plus they have a great knack of beating England. So they’re my team, who are yours?
Comments: 6 Comments
Rhys Wynne, the author of this blog, is a 20 something web designer from Colwyn Bay. 
Romania – supporting Chris’ sweepstake team so we can win some cash! Good a reason as any i think. Not sure how successful they’ll be though…
3 teams – Portugal because of that (soon to be traitor) great Man U player Ronaldo.
Netherlands because I have liked them for years and they have Van Der Sar and Ruud
Spain – Underachievers have to win sometime, yes?
Kaz I’ll give you 10quid if romania win im that confident they wont!
Personally im supporting holland mainly due to the class they have and there very enjoyable to watch! but i completely agree with Manuel… only other team that might come out could be ze germans! never right them off!
The problem is with international football is, hardly any of the players were actually born in the country they play for. Look at France, half of their players were born in Northern African countries, Portugal have a couple of Brazillian players, Germany have a Polish player that still supports Poland, and so on.
But anyway, a big football tournament isn’t the same without Fat, lilly-white, larger drinking louts shouting profanities together with select verses from “football’s coming home”, shortly followed by kebab-and-beer ridden vomit.
Anyway, like last time, and indeed, current champions of Europe, I’m behind Greece. I doubt they’ll win this time, but one can live in hope. And no, I’m not glory hunting, I’ve always have a fairly strong affinity for Greece!
I have to go for Spain as they are my second home nation. Seeing my first home nation of England didn’t make it I have to root for them!
On paper, with Villa, Torres, Alonso, Fabregas, Casillas and Iniesta they should walk all over the likes of the Germans and hopefully the Portuguese. However they have the curse of England in their ability to underperform so it could be a bit close.
If not Spain then Germany or Holland.
bizzare, Brazil and a link to Portugal? France and North Africa? No, i cant see any connections there.