Should UK be one team??

Do you think the United Kingdom should be one international team, instead of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales?

I think so, its high time.... for all practical purposes, its one country... and one country = one team!!

The plus'es will include a stronger EPL (specially with celtic and rangers joining in), larger base of talent, better chance for some great talents like Best/Giggs/etc of the future to make an impression in the international stage, and some good local coaches like SAF!

Also, together they would have at least one team qualifying for the major championships!! (sorry, couldn't resist that one!!)

Negatives - can only think of one - it undermines the local unique-ness of Scotland/Wales/N Ireland... some of the international/CL exposure than these guys get will reduce... less CL spots, etc.

But overall, I think it will be good for football.

What do you guys think?

It would never work. Fans would say why are they 9 English players or where will the game be played etc these nations have had years of separate identity would not be sacrificed for a football team IMO. On the other hand, the USSR did something similar, maybe it can work all you need is a ruthless top-down totalitarian government making sure no nationalistic tendencies leak out if so brutally undermine it

Not a chance, if anything we are slowly becoming less politically aligned.

Sporting wise, the nations have all been recognised by their own supporters as individual countries now, not only in football but Rugby also for example.

Would never happen.

If you can have the same prime minister, same government, same queen, then sure you can have the same football team!!

johan the baptist wrote:It would never work. Fans would say why are they 9 English players or where will the game be played etc these nations have had years of separate identity would not be sacrificed for a football team IMO. On the other hand, the USSR did something similar, maybe it can work all you need is a ruthless top-down totalitarian government making sure no nationalistic tendencies leak out if so brutally undermine it

Yes, the best British players were non-English..so IMO in the end the team will improve!

You can still call it England though, cause abroad the UK=England.

Besides they do the same at the Olympics allready...the cheaters!

Well, if they do it in football, they should do it for all sports!!

Christmas Genius wrote:Not a chance, if anything we are slowly becoming less politically aligned.

Sporting wise, the nations have all been recognised by their own supporters as individual countries now, not only in football but Rugby also for example.

Would never happen.

bluenine wrote:If you can have the same prime minister, same government, same queen, then sure you can have the same football team!!

johan the baptist wrote:It would never work. Fans would say why are they 9 English players or where will the game be played etc these nations have had years of separate identity would not be sacrificed for a football team IMO. On the other hand, the USSR did something similar, maybe it can work all you need is a ruthless top-down totalitarian government making sure no nationalistic tendencies leak out if so brutally undermine it

This goes way back in History, Scotland used to have their own King etc so they have their own identity as FG pointed out, they see themselves as a individual nation like Wales. It would never work imagine if only one Scottish player gets picked for a game there would be uproar! the other problem is if there is a UK team there has to be unification of the Scottish, Welsh and English leagues plus the Northern Irish one the only way UEFA/FIFA would recognise it and you think the English FA, Scottish FA would unify their leagues.

Hypothetically speaking, what is the best British XI at the moment?

no

borocooper wrote:no

I do wish you wouldn't post such long winded replies

In Rugby there is the British & Irish Lions side comprises a pick of the best players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. They play tour matches against the likes of New Zealand , South Africa etc why don't the Football team do this pick the best from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and play one of exhibition matches against the likes of Brazil

Just make it one country and stick with it! England, Great Britain, UK, Little Britain..its confounding!!

You cant have multiple nations on an island..it never works, just look at Lost!!

Dude, if you go as far back in history, can you imagine how many countries India would represent?? We have 30+ languages for god's sakes!! We face the same problem, specially in cricket, with every state crying over the selection... our selection committee is from 5 zones, each selector representing a bunch of states... earlier some selections were clearly on basis on zonal representation... but now things have become better.

These things can always be ironed out.

The more I think of it, I think UEFA should put their foot down and tell UK to have one team!!

johan the baptist wrote:

bluenine wrote:If you can have the same prime minister, same government, same queen, then sure you can have the same football team!!

johan the baptist wrote:It would never work. Fans would say why are they 9 English players or where will the game be played etc these nations have had years of separate identity would not be sacrificed for a football team IMO. On the other hand, the USSR did something similar, maybe it can work all you need is a ruthless top-down totalitarian government making sure no nationalistic tendencies leak out if so brutally undermine it

This goes way back in History, Scotland used to have their own King etc so they have their own identity as FG pointed out, they see themselves as a individual nation like Wales. It would never work imagine if only one Scottish player gets picked for a game there would be uproar! the other problem is if there is a UK team there has to be unification of the Scottish, Welsh and English leagues plus the Northern Irish one the only way UEFA/FIFA would recognise it and you think the English FA, Scottish FA would unify their leagues.

Hypothetically speaking, what is the best British XI at the moment?

The sweaties would riot.

Gordon, Bale, Giggs, Bellamy and Healy would all have got called up in the current campaign for a combined UK side.

Hypothetical UK side

--------------------Gordon
Richards---Ferdinand---Terry--A Cole
------------Hargreaves---Barry--------
Gerrard--------------------------Giggs/ J Cole
---------------Healey---Rooney

Santas Xmas grOtto wrote:

borocooper wrote:no

I do wish you wouldn't post such long winded replies

No point being long winded with such a question

So you're saying the scots should be asked to give up their national team to watch a bunch of englishmen represent them? Good luck with that.

Don't worry - if they invade you Geordies will take the brunt of it

Roger Hunt wrote:Don't worry - if they invade you Geordies will take the brunt of it

We always did Roger, and what thanks did we get?!?!?!

I can see why the powers that be do not want to do this:

1. Coustituents would like to have their own identity (specially the scots) and CL berths, etc

2. The 4 countries mean more votes in UEFA!

3. UEFA are probably happier with more coinstituents, which helps them with FIFA

ie these reasons are very political. Maybe a radical like Platini could take a bold non-political stand, but he will not if he wants a future in FIFA.... sad.

Coz logically, this is how it should be. One country, one team!

Should of been done years ago when they stopped the home international games. Was always for it when I grew up in England. The Scots may have a hard time with it.

It would be better for the football...and this way people like Giggs can show on a tourny as well.

Make a Britain team ( Give N-Ireland back to Ireland), make one Yugoslavia team again, and a USSR team!

Hell..let's make a Benelux team as well...or even a Germanic team

Do the English and Scottish FAs have a history of voting the same as eachother? I always thought they were at odds and disagreed alot. I don't think that's a factor.

Realistically - the other side of the coin is Spain. Many players don't feel 'Spanish' and aren't that bothered about the national side. maybe this is a reason that they have underperformed historically.

I don't think you can disrespect seperate countries, thats what international football is all about... the debate in Uk is basically coz its one country.

lets not confuse football with international political issues. A separate country has to have a separate team! But England, NI, Wales and Scotland are not really separate countires!!

Feynal Fantasy wrote:It would be better for the football...and this way people like Giggs can show on a tourny as well.

Make a Britain team ( Give N-Ireland back to Ireland), make one Yugoslavia team again, and a USSR team!

Hell..let's make a Benelux team as well...or even a Germanic team

They are countries though, they're constituent countries.

Thats how you brand it.... for all practical purpose, they are one country. In most other parts of the world, we call it "constituencies" rather than "constituent countries".

Merry Krimbo wrote:They are countries though, they're constituent countries.

Merry Krimbo wrote:So you're saying the scots should be asked to give up their national team to watch a bunch of englishmen represent them? Good luck with that.

Kimbo helpfully points out the obvious.

Most. Grotesque. Suggestion. Ever.

Maybe India should have a joint cricket team with Pakistan, after all they're basically the same people.

Allez les rouges wrote:

Merry Krimbo wrote:So you're saying the scots should be asked to give up their national team to watch a bunch of englishmen represent them? Good luck with that.

Kimbo helpfully points out the obvious.

Most. Grotesque. Suggestion. Ever.

Maybe India should have a joint cricket team with Pakistan, after all they're basically the same people.

Racist

Well, that's as may be, but arguably no more than the original suggestion.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partition_of_India

From a historical point of view, to say nothing of the emotional or nationalistic point of view, it's no more or less grotesque than suggesting the English and Scots are the "same people".

Merry Krimbo wrote:So you're saying the scots should be asked to give up their national team to watch a bunch of englishmen represent them? Good luck with that.

Braveheart II?

Yeah with Bluenine as Edward I.

Or maybe Edward II's boyfriend getting chucked out of the tower