bovril

I think you're right that there is something in the English character and culture that makes them avoid spontaneous shows of national pride or any other emotion really. Then stuff like the Olympics and the Lionesses feels a bit state sanctioned, like the celebration of the NHS in the 2012 opening ceremony or the renaming of the 'Lioness line' last year. It's all very safe and government-approved.

Yeah Farage is right on this occasion. Another example of how puerile and unintelligent most political discourse is in this country.

Small pockets of counter-revolutionary resistance will remain around Ashby de la Zouch, sporadically releasing grainy videos of them in balaclavas huddled around a small table reminding us about the free pie and a pint and that we were in league 1 once.

they're on a roll?

I live here but I spent much of my adult life in other countries. Maybe I'm just mixing in the wrong circles but I think national pride is seen in a much more negative way here than in other countries. Which is why I think people have gone crazy for the Lionesses because it gives them a vehicle for a lot of emotions they usually feel the need to suppress.

I don't want to derail the thread but from the outside I don't think the English resemble a people with deep national pride, not any more. They like to compare themselves favourably to other countries, but that's not the same as national pride.

My I "I never went to the island" T-shirt has people asking a lot of questions already answered by the t-shirt

It's funny because he's just a glorified local councillor

Listen I'm made up that the English have finally found a way to express their national pride in a PC way, we were all getting worried about you there for a while.

Thought it looked fun to be honest. Like I'm all for the traditions of test cricket and everything but why the forced solemnity, why not have a bit of a dance and sing along.

every time I watch England I'm amazed by how much they kick and stamp on the opposition. "In their DNA" I guess...

Critique the women's game at your own peril. It's safer to call for deportations of foreigners than ruminate on the popularity of our brave girls.

Not enough little flags on cars

I will be the bigger man and make no comment on some of the slightly weird Pearson fandom on this website

You're right and it's partially that, but it is also that the English are very protective of finally having a successful football team they can support in a much safer way than the men's, which is frequently associated with hooliganism and toxic patriotism. I mean I don't really see how saying women are crap at penalties is any worse than complaining the greasy Italians and Spanish are diving and time wasting as usual, other than it is in the context of the 'Lionesses' so touches more nerves.

Some handsome bastards in that era as well (obvs not Waggy). Real Mav/Iceman homoerotic energy about that team.

Some proper ****ing footballers in that lineup.

Not many of us watching the Tour de France then...

Contrarians are always going to write cynical comments on social media whether it's about men's football, an Oasis concert, a high grossing film, whatever. Dunno why people are so touchier about it when it comes to women's football other than this is a sport that England excel in and therefore an acceptable patriotism we all have to embrace.

They're unsure which side to put it. Too indecisive, keep changing their mind

Great to see Le Tiss winning that elusive trophy

The England goalie's arm's arder

I have serious football fatigue and I've enjoyed watching other sports this summer, like last year with the Olympics. Funnily enough though when I say this to my bourgie friends in the context of the 'Lionesses', I'm met with a kind of awkward silence and attempts to quickly move the conversation on to more acceptable topics. I'd probably get hearty agreement if I said the same thing about the men and the incessant football's coming home hype. I am terrified that someone from Sports Joe is going to stop me on the street and a video of me struggling to name a single women's footballer will go viral, leading to my ostracism from polite society.

I thought technically both Spain and Germany looked way ahead of England's organized chaos but admittedly I watch very little women's football

Would even go as far as saying Oasis were bad for British music