‘Insufferable’, ‘tiresome’ or deserving of our support — we ask some well-known local figures
And just as it was when they were getting ready to face Italy in the same situation three years ago, the rest of the UK and Ireland are taking to social media to share their (sometimes serious, and sometimes not) hopes that Gareth Southgate’s men will once again lose.
The Belfast Telegraph spoke to some well-known figures to find out if it’s all just bluster and if there can be camaraderie and good sportmanship regardless of who is playing.
Jackie Fullerton, former BBC NI sports commentator, believes the media frenzy is a big component. He said: “I’ve nothing against the England players or the manager, but the English press get hysterical, as they did at the start of this tournament when they were going badly, and now, all of a sudden, they’re in the final and they’re even more hysterical.
“I think that’s what rubs the people of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland the wrong way.
“This ‘it’s coming home’ — it gets tiresome.”
Jackie Fullerton
Jackie, who was the voice of football here for 43 years before his retirement in 2016, said that the ‘tribalism’ of English football also doesn’t help: “It’s hard to get behind the likes of Man United’s Luke Shaw for example, if you’re a Liverpool supporter.
“It’ll not be the end of the world if England wins. I wouldn’t wish them any harm, but if they do win, I’m going to emigrate to Iceland. We’ll never hear the end of it!”
Gerry Armstrong, the legendary NI player who scored the winning goal against Spain in the 1982 World Cup, will also be supporting Espana on Sunday.
Whilst Gerry has that famous link with Spain, he also lived there for a period and played for Spanish side Real Mallorca. But, he believes that when it comes down to it, many NI neutrals would support their English neighbours in the spirit of good sportsmanship. “I think with England — the majority of their players play for Manchester City, Manchester United, and Liverpool — most fans in Northern Ireland support those clubs, so they’re going to support those players,” he said. “And it’s not just the player you support — if they play for that country it’s the same.
“It was the same when we qualified in 1982. We had a lot of support from Scotland, England, the Republic of Ireland, Wales and everywhere else.”
Gerry Armstrong
West Belfast comedian Ciaran Bartlett politely disagreed, and noted that he already has the paella pan greased up ahead of the weekend.
As host of the comedy podcast ‘No Blasters’, where Ciaran is joined by guests as they play the football-based video game FIFA, the Man United fan is more knowledgeable than most when it comes to the beautiful game.
“I think people will look back and say they were happy watching players like [Phil] Foden and [Jude] Bellingham play for any team, but it is hard to stay neutral if you’re watching these games with the commentary turned up,” he said.
“I mean I know it is a cliché to say ‘no, I can’t’ [support England] because I hate England etc, but the real truth is that some of the media personalities around the broadcasts of England games make it impossible for me to get behind them. Lee Dixon, Jermaine Jenas and Rio Ferdinand are big culprits here.
“In any case, I’ll be doing my best to drown out the commentary with some Spanish Eurovision songs.
“It’s going to be an interesting final but I think Spain will be a goal up for a long time and then they will score a second on the counter attack late on to win 2-0. You heard it here first.”
Ciaran Bartlett
Fellow Belfast comedian Vittorio Angelone — who is half-Italian — has lived in London for nearly a decade now. He gave up trying to jump onboard the England bandwagon in 2018, when he said an English fan ‘spat’ on him because he was talking to some Belgium supporters after the latter beat Southgate’s squad in the World Cup.
Vittorio Angelone
But Vittorio assures it hasn’t left him holding a grudge. His issue with England winning the Euros this year runs deeper.
“I’m hugely concerned — there’s a big chunk of jokes about the fact that England never wins anything in my stand-up show that I’m currently touring with. If England wins, I have to rewrite my show and I don’t want to do that!
“And I actually prefer doing those jokes to English audiences over Irish ones (although I will be making those jokes across NI with my tour this autumn). Making fun of people to their faces is good fun, and none of our wind-ups are mean-spirited.
“For example, I don’t spit on people. I have a lovely English girlfriend, some of my best mates are English and to me, it’s all just a bit of fun.
“However, they would just be insufferable if they won a tournament. Nobody wants that.”