World Cup: Divided Loyalties

Yeah, we joked a bout going to our local and me cheering on the Americans, but it was a joke.  People take it too seriously here to risk something like flying the flag or cheering on the Americans in a huge crowd of England fans.

A little off topic: I just found out last night that this is going on for like a month! WTF?  MY EASTENDERS!

USA!!  My Scottish husband is now happy he can legitimately root for someone as he can't stand the english team.  Americans rooting for other countries is why football will never be taken seriously in the US. 

Yeah, we joked a bout going to our local and me cheering on the Americans, but it was a joke.  People take it too seriously here to risk something like flying the flag or cheering on the Americans in a huge crowd of England fans.

I guess that might be true in the larger cities, I don't know, but I doubt I would come to any real harm in my village by showing an American flag or whatever. I think it will just make people laugh, to be honest. I think most people like a friendly rivalry. There are those who take things FAR too seriously, but I would think that tends to get more out of hand when there are whole crowds involved - like Man U fans vs. Man City fans or whatever (I don't even know if that's a good example, but you know what I mean.) I hardly think a big group of people would really gang up on one or two USA supporters just for kicks. But maybe that's naive of me!

Americans rooting for other countries is why football will never be taken seriously in the US. 

That doesn't make sense to me. I think it's that most Americans prefer sports that are slow and stop a lot so they can get more food and beer and go to the loo without actually missing anything

That doesn't make sense to me. I think it's that most Americans prefer sports that are slow and stop a lot so they can get more food and beer and go to the loo without actually missing anything

And the fact games can end in a tie...had arguments time and again with a friend in Florida and we'll never agree over this!

Though I would just love to see the faces of my friends and the others at the pub if USA beats England, I just want a good, exciting match. I remember watching the Spain versus Germany final match during the Euro cup and was bored out of my mind. I bet Argentina and Brazil will do very well. GO AMERICAS! 

I guess that might be true in the larger cities, I don't know, but I doubt I would come to any real harm in my village by showing an American flag or whatever. I think it will just make people laugh, to be honest. I think most people like a friendly rivalry. There are those who take things FAR too seriously, but I would think that tends to get more out of hand when there are whole crowds involved - like Man U fans vs. Man City fans or whatever (I don't even know if that's a good example, but you know what I mean.) I hardly think a big group of people would really gang up on one or two USA supporters just for kicks. But maybe that's naive of me!

Maybe I am being overly cautious.  I don't think that many people in our neighbourhood even know that I am an American.  I would think that me "coming out" as one in our local by waving the Stars and Stripes whilst cheering on the US team would be the best way of doing that.

It could be that I am just sensitive right now with the anti-American sentiment in a lot of the media/overheard conversations/online comments regarding BP/Obama row.  I actually heard someone talk about the England team wearing BP logos on their shirts.

I guess that might be true in the larger cities, I don't know, but I doubt I would come to any real harm in my village by showing an American flag or whatever. I think it will just make people laugh, to be honest. I think most people like a friendly rivalry. There are those who take things FAR too seriously, but I would think that tends to get more out of hand when there are whole crowds involved - like Man U fans vs. Man City fans or whatever (I don't even know if that's a good example, but you know what I mean.) I hardly think a big group of people would really gang up on one or two USA supporters just for kicks. But maybe that's naive of me!

While I live in a middle sized town, I wouldn't expect any major harm or anything to happen if I flew an american flag; however, I am on a main road that fans will walk by on their way home from the pub. If England were to lose and they passed my house and saw an american flag flying, I wouldn't at all be surprised to have a kebab thrown at my window or something.

Nothing on display at the front, but in the back yard I've just put up an England flag, England bunting and some small American flags.
I hope our American friend coming is ok walking through town from the railway station wearing her USA shirt.

USA is being supported in the house today. Yesterday at school my 5 yr old girl had to write in her school book who she supported in the World Cup and read it in front of the class. Apparently she wrote USA ALL THE WAY according to her teachers. 

DH and I went to our local to watch the game, I had my little American flag and was teased a bit by it....however, once the game got going and after the US scored, things got a bit nasty! At one point I had a couple of young idiots threaten to burn my flag!  I told DH if they had there should have been serious trouble!!! All in all, it wasn't too bad in the pub, but they few bigoted idiots (young ones and old) made things unpleasant!

In 1998, in a Bristol city centre pub, after a young French student cheered on his country's team during the televised World Cup final - they won - he was followed outside and set upon by a bunch of thugs who fractured his skull and left him in a coma. He was flown home in an air ambulance and later on when he was out of danger the mayor of Bristol went over to see him to apologise on behalf of the city.

The same year, a large number of England fans visiting France for the World Cup ran amok in Marseille, trashing a large part of the Old Quarter near the harbour. One guy when arrested said he did it "for England". Another, a Royal Mail manager was jailed for three months.

A couple of years ago a man went into a Bristol pub wearing a Bristol Rovers scarf, and was attacked by some Bristol City fans. He later died.

This sort of thing happens disgracefully often.

In 1998, in a Bristol city centre pub, after a young French student cheered on his country's team during the televised World Cup final - they won - he was followed outside and set upon by a bunch of thugs who fractured his skull and left him in a coma. He was flown home in an air ambulance and later on when he was out of danger the mayor of Bristol went over to see him to apologise on behalf of the city.

The same year, a large number of England fans visiting France for the World Cup ran amok in Marseille, trashing a large part of the Old Quarter near the harbour. One guy when arrested said he did it "for England". Another, a Royal Mail manager was jailed for three months.

A couple of years ago a man went into a Bristol pub wearing a Bristol Rovers scarf, and was attacked by some Bristol City fans. He later died.

This sort of thing happens disgracefully often.

That's truly sad. And of course I could get beat up just for saying so, but really... it's just a game. 

I had a great time winding everyone up last night, and they certainly had their fun with me! I got booed the minute I walked in the door and told Yankee Go Home, etc.... haha. It was all in good fun, though. Fortunately everyone in town knows my husband and so they all know me and wouldn't have given me too much grief. I couldn't help but jump up and scream "YEAAAHHHHH!" at the top of my lungs when the US scored (I'm not even a sports fan, but my body just reacted) and I got a few dirty looks for it. Ooops! I loved the atmosphere there, though, it was incredible. So cool to be watching the World Cup here in England this year versus watching it last time in America while I was waiting tables at a pub that was showing the games. NOT FUN. I think that was the most miserable summer of my life!  It was hot and crowded, I was so exhausted by the end of my shifts I would just collapse when I got home, and the French were the worst tippers I'd ever encountered. 

I had a great time cheering for England last night. I follow England football more than American soccer so it was just natural to cheer for them.  And sure I had a few funny looks and comments about my England top but I didn't care.  And the atmosphere of a passionate crowd was awesome.   

So I was all prepared to cheer for England, but once the game started, I couldn't do it.  I had to cheer for the good old USA.  Actually the draw was a perfect outcome for me, and is very symbolic of my feelings of the two countries.  I love them both...