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Can someone please explain what it is about beating the English that is so high on the agenda of many people who are not English!
It's an amazing thing that seems to infect the whole world... Closer to home the Welsh absolutely must beat the English at Rugby, The Scots have a national holiday if they can squeak past the English in soccer.
Further afield the USA enjoyed it's finest sporting glory when it beat the English in a footy game 50 years ago and the Aussies have 'questions in the house' if they lose against us at cricket!
It's better to be hated than pitied, I suppose... but it's better still to be loved! But that ain't gonna happen, is it!
You'll have to explain it to me because I don't understand. I've met loads of Aussies and liked them all but talk to them about cricket and the English then depending on the game/series then you'll get a cold red cast drop over the antipodeans facial features and an unstoppable unceasing hatred begins to emerge.
The Americans are not used to losing anything because as part of the US culture "losing is not an option!" So when they lose against the Englsih they always remind us how lucky we are not to be speaking German!
As for the insane nationalism of the Scots... I don't think I've met a Scot that I didn't like, but don't start them on football... you'll not survive that encounter for sure.
So what can it be?
The English don't hate anyone. We aren't show offs that revel in winning, nor do we pout when losing, either. We aren't especially good at football, cricket and rugby, but (like other countries) we are competitive and we try to win on the field.
Some years back I remember being in a bar when England and Scotland could secure entry into The World Cup if some results went in favour of the teams playing that night. (They weren't playing each other.)
Every single Englishman was urging the Scots to win their game so they would go on and play at the big dance. But since that day I have seen the scots baying for blood when it's another country playing against England.
So it's not about just beating the Englsih. It's about seeing them lose and seeing them humiliated and against anyone will do, too!
I can't say that I've ever felt this way about another country. The English are good losers and we are supporters of our neighbours and friends during sporting rivalries.
Am I just imagining this or is there really something in some peoples psyche about crushing the English or at least seeing it happen?
Anyway... feed off the historical injustices, perceived or otherwise, be they political, social or sporting. That is why, no matter the state of the countires in terms of playing ability and skill, the scalp of England will always be the most treasured.
It's an amazing thing that seems to infect the whole world... Closer to home the Welsh absolutely must beat the English at Rugby, The Scots have a national holiday if they can squeak past the English in soccer.
Further afield the USA enjoyed it's finest sporting glory when it beat the English in a footy game 50 years ago and the Aussies have 'questions in the house' if they lose against us at cricket!
It's better to be hated than pitied, I suppose... but it's better still to be loved! But that ain't gonna happen, is it!
You'll have to explain it to me because I don't understand. I've met loads of Aussies and liked them all but talk to them about cricket and the English then depending on the game/series then you'll get a cold red cast drop over the antipodeans facial features and an unstoppable unceasing hatred begins to emerge.
The Americans are not used to losing anything because as part of the US culture "losing is not an option!" So when they lose against the Englsih they always remind us how lucky we are not to be speaking German!
As for the insane nationalism of the Scots... I don't think I've met a Scot that I didn't like, but don't start them on football... you'll not survive that encounter for sure.
So what can it be?
The English don't hate anyone. We aren't show offs that revel in winning, nor do we pout when losing, either. We aren't especially good at football, cricket and rugby, but (like other countries) we are competitive and we try to win on the field.
Some years back I remember being in a bar when England and Scotland could secure entry into The World Cup if some results went in favour of the teams playing that night. (They weren't playing each other.)
Every single Englishman was urging the Scots to win their game so they would go on and play at the big dance. But since that day I have seen the scots baying for blood when it's another country playing against England.
So it's not about just beating the Englsih. It's about seeing them lose and seeing them humiliated and against anyone will do, too!
I can't say that I've ever felt this way about another country. The English are good losers and we are supporters of our neighbours and friends during sporting rivalries.
Am I just imagining this or is there really something in some peoples psyche about crushing the English or at least seeing it happen?
Anyway... feed off the historical injustices, perceived or otherwise, be they political, social or sporting. That is why, no matter the state of the countires in terms of playing ability and skill, the scalp of England will always be the most treasured.
That has a lot to do with it
We invented a lot of games we are no good at 
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