And an increasing number of Irish people are supporting the traditional Auld Enemy, with various opinion polls suggesting anything between 12% and 25% of people here will be cheering on the Three Lions and their bid to win their first Euros – as well as their first major soccer silverware since the 1966 World Cup.
It may be because the likes of Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Conor Gallagher in the current England are all eligible – or have even played in Rice’s case – for Ireland thanks to their ancestry.
Or it might be due to the ongoing peace process which has seen less visibility of British troops on the streets of the North since the Good Friday Agreement in 1998 and a thankful end to the Troubles.
Des Cahill
Then there’s the huge support of English teams by the general public here, as well as a large ex pat community in Britain, with friends and family sharing both islands.
But there’s still no escaping the fact that the vast majority of the Irish public share with our Celtic cousins in Scotland and Wales the condition ABE – Anybody But England.
Colourful sports pundit Eamon Dunphy is pragmatic when asked if he’ll be backing England tonight.
“Yeah. I have no problem with that, I’d be fine with it,” he told the Sunday World.
He believes the historical baggage is irrelevant.
“I don’t believe in that s**t,” he storms. “ I lived in England for 17 years. I’ve no beef against them. Obviously this Football’s Coming Home and all that stuff, it irritates people, but I think it makes a lot of people laugh as well.
“Any country is passionate about their own team, every country is. They’re not that different. I think Gareth Southgate is a good man, whether he’s a good coach or not I don’t know. I have no problem with them at all.”
Dunphy believes England were lucky who they’ve faced so far.
Gerald Kean
“They avoided Spain, they avoided Germany, they avoided France, who were the big countries,” he notes. “The Netherlands were never in that league, and Slovenia, Slovakia and so on, they were lucky with the draw.
“They did OK the other night and went through with a great winning goal. They haven’t been impressive, but they’re there so we will see what happens.
“Spain have been very good. Their wingers are very good, they have experienced players, in midfield particularly. They would be favourites. England have some good forwards, but they haven’t played well. Kane looks knackered.
“Whether they stumble over the line I’m not sure.”
Sports broadcaster Des Cahill is another keen observer.
“I’ve been supporting England’s opponents all Summer,” he tells us.
“But I like to think I’m not irrational if they deserve to win the final. Fair play.
“That said Spain have been the most attractive and entertaining team in the tournament, so for that reason they deserve it.”
Celebrity lawyer Gerald Kean is a major football fan, and has numerous top players on his books.
“The reason I will be supporting England is because I’m a Manchester United follower, and two United players are on the panel,” he explains.
“Separately we act for two of the players as well, so if you have a strong loyalty if you’re a solicitor for two of the players. It would be very hard to want to lose. So I’ve been behind England since the start. I couldn’t have it any other way.”
He admits he is in a minority.
“There will be 16 of us watching it in my house on Sunday, and we’ve done a survey before and myself and one other will be supporting England, and the other 14 supporting Spain.
“I think a lot of people will see England are the occupiers, and 800 years and so on. I think a lot of my friends would support Russia before they support England.
“I think Spain will win and it will be 2-1 or 2-0.”
Wolfe Tones singer Brian Warfield discloses he travels regularly to England to see his favourite team Everton in action.
“I was over there with my grandson about four years ago when, he got Seamus Coleman’s shirt and Jordan Pickford’s (the England goalie) gloves. He got the captains armband. He has it all framed and put on the wall of his bedroom. That’s about four years ago,” he beams.
Brian Warfield
But supporting England is a different matter for the veteran Republican.
“My reflection is I find it very hard to say ‘come on England’,” he laughs. “I don’t think the words would come out too liberally (chuckles).
“I think the problem with England is they’re so cocky about everything, if they do win something we’ll never hear the end of it, and people get fed up of that. “
He concedes things have changed politically.
“I think the sting has gone out of it,” he confirms. “We all have relatives, half of my family is living in England and all over the place. I know they’ll be supporting England.
“I think Spain will win 2-1. England haven’t been great at scoring, they’ve been very lucky.”
Newstalk reporter and TV contributor Henry McKean has perhaps the best known English accent on Irish airwaves, but points out he moved to Scotland at a young age and is an Irish citizen having lived here since 1986.
“As for the game against Spain, I’d like to see England win. If they win they might shut up about it,” he smiles.
“Their fans are the worst in the world. I feel sorry for the players and their families.
“I’ve met various people on the road who say they’d like to see England win. Many Irish people secretly want them to win.
“I think Spain will win, which will cause England to go into a national depression.”