WHO recently in Ireland was fearlessly supporting the under dog, the outsiders, the unfancied and the always beaten? It is the Irish tradition to support such habitual losers; the ones who never have a hope, who achieve nothing in competition; who are regularly; being beaten. Such people invite pity, hope, support, and the traditional victor, the habitual, and confident champion, in Ireland is regarded with disfavour. The Irish love an underdog. Except when he is English.
Since 1966, the Germans hake always beaten the English at football. They have twice won the World Cup, clearly and decisively, and not with disputed goals, and not playing at home. The same with the European Championship. Germany has produced players of elegance and style and intelligence for generations, much as it produces motor car engineers. German teams have been equalled only by the Dutch in their combination of exuberant intelligence, style, physical courage and energy. They are champions, through and through.
A quadrennial tragedy
And England? England has been a quadrennial tragedy in football competitions. Its most perfectly defining moment came when it was playing - I think - San Marino. In order to get 11 players on the pitch, San Marino had to raid a home for the bewildered - their centreback thought he was a teapot. Their fullbacks were two cloistered nuns who could only be with them in spirit. Their goalkeeper was a St Bernard which got at the brandy, bit the teapot and had to be put down. The nearest they could get to a striker was a one legged picket protesting about a wage cut outside the San Marino coalmines, and the only sweeper they could find was from the city's street cleaning department. A net of potatoes would have exceeded the net value of the San Marino team.
The San Marino team were one up over England in five seconds.
Everybody beats England. We do it with ease. Effortlessly. In recent decades, England has been to football what Tanzania is to space exploration. To beat England requires no great skill. Everybody does it; so why traditionally have the pubs and bars of Ireland erupted in unseemly, bawling ecstasy if the Germans score, and respond in doleful silence if England scores?
Of course this is not confined to Ireland. It will be the same in Scotland, and no doubt Wales. Why? Is it some ancient feud between Celt and Anglo Saxon which prompts such ungenerosity? If it is a feud, it is not reciprocated; English football fans do not instinctively cheer whenever Ireland or Scotland go behind.
Charlton's winning goal
It is even considered quite chic to wish England harm; a proof of one's national credentials. Yet, it was not always so - Ireland in 1966 was agog and jubilant at the English World Cup success. When Bobby Charlton's winning goal against Mexico was seen on cinema screens in Ireland, people rose to cheer it. In those days - the year of the 50th anniversary of the Rising - people took a broad and generous approach to England's soccer fortunes, wanting England to do well because of proximity, and because so many Irish people were living in England.
They still are. England is still the main destination for our departing emigrants and our holidaymakers - we are now the second largest spending group for the British tourism market. The fastest growing market for Irish tourism is the British. Our trade is mutually indispensable, even after a quarter of a century in the European Union - so much so that hard choices await us as the hour monetary union approaches and the British remain outside.