Germany hosted England in Dortmund last night, with the game decided in somewhat fairytale fashion: Lucas Podolski scored a screamer on his final appearance for the national team. It was a lovely farewell for Podolski, who was making his 130th appearance for Germany. Jow Hart congratulated him on the goal, and Podolski was later subbed to an ovation and, strangely, to the theme tune from Gladiator.
The other big talking point from the game was the behaviour of the English fans, who spent much of the game singing about World War II and the IRA. Songs included singing about "ten German bombers" who were shot down by the RAF, accompanied by supporters making aeroplane gestures.
At the time, a number of journalists who were in the ground criticised the behaviour of the English fans:
England fans haven't sung one song about a player on the pitch yet. Just the War, the IRA and 'staying here to drink beer.' Classy.
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) March 22, 2017
I know offence is the whole point but what does it say about England fans that in 2017 they still always go for World War II and the IRA?
— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) March 22, 2017
Sure it's just a coincidence that the England fans were doing the actions to the 10 German bombers song during the German national anthem. pic.twitter.com/uiYHBzwDD1
— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) March 22, 2017
"Have you ever seen the Germans win a war," sing England fans, skirting round Germany's four World Cups and three European Championships.
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) March 22, 2017
A number of pieces in the English media today have been equally critical. Ian Herbert in the Independent was very strong in his appraisal of the supporters' behaviour, and the likely impact on the World Cup in 2018:
The ugliness of the hand gestures for Podolski when he left the field are almost beyond words. This was the behaviour of scum. Such are the liberties for which our forebears laid down their lives. What would they think to see these people now?
The Russian state is determined that its event will not be scarred by images of violence, though there will be little slack cut for any who arrive on Russian soil and behave like an invading English army. Any such individuals can expect to get holy hell beaten out of them. In the aftermath, they will no doubt want to claim they are victims. Don’t let them say they weren’t told.
James Olley of the Standard was equally appalled:
It is both staggering and unfathomable that, in 2017, a group of adults believe buying a ticket to a football match gives them carte blanche to abuse the country they visit...While the people of London were spreading the defiant message that terrorism will never triumph, a huge number of England supporters dredged up a conflict that ended 72 years ago.
Writing on Football365, Daniel Storey says the behaviour of a minority is affecting the majority:
Plenty of England away supporters manage to attend matches without causing trouble or offence, but they are being drowned out by those that do. Most importantly, it is dissuading many from doing something they love.
‘Don’t be a d*ck’ is advice that shouldn’t need to be given, but rarely has it been more necessary. Unfortunately, most of the d*cks care as much about what you or I think than about the actual football.
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