>>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.
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>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?

It's not the UK competing in the Cup - it's England. Scotland, Wales and NI (and Eire - though that's not part of the UK) failed to qualify.

It's that we've a "Great Britain" team for the sports but for some reason the separate kingdoms have split up into separate footy teams. I guess it gives us more of a chance of being a contendewr if we can draw on c. 60 million people in the UK, rather than just the popn. of England. However you may remember from the recent Commonwealth Games that we competed as separate kingdoms (and principality - Wales - and NI)

Note however there IS a Great Britain rugby team. Go figure.

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

I'd like one if you have some spare. How come they're spare? Why have you got them anyway (AFAIK the "Red Duster" is used for merchant ships)?

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>>Is this only in England or have other countries who are taking part in the tournament experiencing a similar bout of "patriotism"?
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>Since were ranked 83rd, not so much.

That's why I was only querying "countries who are taking part in the tournament".