EURO 2000

An obituary to Engerrlund.

Well, didn't they do well! After being the only nation to openly boast of winning the competition, out they crash in the first round with their three lions tails' between their legs. Deep joy. I thought these things only happened to Scotland. Shades of Argentina 1978.

Real Scary Stuff - this came from a web site dedicated to hooliganism - the site Chat Room started with an entry "we could do with a day out stabbin in Scotland"

For oh so arrogant England to exit (so deservedly) by conceding a last minute penalty was more than even the Tartan Army could have hoped for in their wildest dreams. Perhaps there is a God after all. Whatever else your views on the English football team, there can be absolutely no doubt that the tournament will forever be tarnished by the memory of the so-called English 'fans' who, yet again, brought shame and disgrace upon their nation.

Their behaviour, captured in graphic detail on television for all the world to see, in both Brussels and Charleroi was little short of chilling. Their own peculiar brand of 'National Pride' appears to extend to open displays of racist xenophobia fuelled by a deep-rooted but utterly unrealistic sense of superiority. Or, if it's not English, abuse it. When will they learn that patriotism (fortunately for Scotland) doesn't mean being better than everyone else?

I give you just a small selection of the Engerrlund chants to which our European brothers in football were treated; To kick off the jolly old sing-song, a diplomatic ditty guaranteed to endear them to their Dutch (or French/Belgian etc etc) hosts;

"IF IT WASN'T FOR THE ENGLISH YOU'D BE KRAUTS"

In at No.2, and to the same tune, the old party favourite;

"I'D RATHER BE A PAKI THAN A TURK"

And where would we be without;

"NO SURRENDER TO THE IRA"

Last, but not least, for the benefit of younger Germans;

"WE WON THE WAR, WE WON THE WAR, EE-AYE-ADDIO, WE WON THE WAR"

And they wonder why people pick on them.............