Each country has it's own problems with football thugs, many worse than England these days.

Whilst singing 'we won the war' and waving inflatable spitfires is not really very nice, compared to some other fans it's just having a laugh.

The German fans have problems with neo-Nazis. They use inflatable numbers to represent Hitler, the Holocaust etc, and they are ultra-violent.

The Polish represent the biggest problem though. Their football hooligans make the Chealsea firm look like the W.I. They are incredibly violent, arranging fights on and off the pitch and they riot nearly ever game - it's been a long time since that's happened in English football grounds (and long may it remain so).

From: GUEST,Inkspot - PM
Date: 13 Jun 06 - 07:01 PM

Superb post Inkspot - do you actually know what you're talking about or do you just belive what you see on the telly?

"England fans draped in the flag of St. George" Probably because that's the national flag - anything to say on the Brazilians/French/Germans etc etc draped in their flags or wearing their team's shirts? Here's a clue for you - and it's folk music - listen to the track Roots on the new Show of Hands album to give some insight into how many English feel about their national identity.

"Come on England" and "Football's Coming Home" are footbal fan's songs, completely inoffensive as far as I am aware (indeed, many foreign fans sing the Baddeil and Skinner song - this is about the spirit of football to most people).

"The Great Escape." This is sung because for years a small brass band has followed the England team to support them from the stands. They play the Great Escape when an incident happens on the pitch resulting in a lucky break for either team playing - it's got sod all to do with the fact it's Germany or anyone else - it's just a bit of humour about the game.

The real problem with football hooligans is they tend to colour the views of the less discerning about all football fans from any particular country - and this Sun reader mentality is far more dangerous than the boorish antics of spitfire-waving binge-drinkers.

stigWeard