Originally Posted by O'Neill: “The Queen visiting your country changed attitudes that much? Ireland really is stuck in the past it seems.”
It actually did. People began to question if they were defining their Irishness by their anti-Englishness. The change in attitudes was coming for some time though......England's anthem being warmly applauded at the Six Nations match at Croke Park in 2007 for example, a stadium inextricably linked through history with Irish nationalism and republicanism.
Originally Posted by timboy: “Not just Dubliners but also folk that support British rule in Ireland.
West Brits.”
Even the term West Brit is losing it's impact : it tends to be used these days mainly by Sinn Fein types who have decided that the rest of us aren't as "Irish" as they are.
I want Scotland to qualify for major tournaments as I do Wales and the Irish teams. I'd even support Murray if he weren't such a petulant sod. I don't do bitterness or hold historic grudges. Although I can't quite forgive Scotland for The Krankies.
Originally Posted by Bosox: “Sad if Scotland's greatest joy comes from England's failures. Doesn't sound like a strong, confident, independent nation.”
A fair amount of support for England in these parts if I'm honest. The only thing that still riles Scots is your pundits and commentators. A lot of English players and teams are very popular in Scotland and most Scots acknowledge that England supporters aren't all that different from ourselves. It's the likes of Adrian Chiles, though.....
Originally Posted by Peter Venkman: “Every year the Scots rely on England to get to the World Cup to give them something to do.”
Maybe for some.
For others who follow football all year round and are quite used to not having their national team at the big events then they can take a more neutral outlook and simply enjoy the football on show.