>Here in England, every 5th car sports a pair of St George's Cross flags, fluttering from the back windows (I read somewhere that the - A15? - road has c. 3 every mile that have fallen off). Garages and £ shops have been doing a roaring trade selling them. Some housing estates resemble Loyalist estates in Northern Ireland with all the English flags draping from the windows.

Why is it that the UK participates in the Olympics as "Great Britian and Northern Ireland" but in the World cup as England? That freaky St. George's cross makes me nervous like Richard the Lionhearted is about to attack. Why not field "United Kingdom" teams for both? Or is Gibralter holding out?

By the way, do you guys need any red ensigns? We have some used spares if you like.

>Is this only in England or have other countries who are taking part in the tournament experiencing a similar bout of "patriotism"?

Since were ranked 83rd, not so much.