Scotland, Wales, And England Should Have Their Own International Football Sides.

Scotland, Wales, And England Should Have Their Own International Football Sides.

I am not talking about politics of whether or not there should be a United Kingdom or independent Scotland, Wales, and England. That is separate to sports, and I do not cover politics on this blog. 

I am talking about at football, cricket and rugby. 

I am a passionate Scot. I love Scotland, and Wales having our own football and rugby union sides. I also love Scotland having our own cricket side. I love this as a way for Scotland to show itself to the World. That is noting to do with the issue of independence, or the unity of the UK. 

Lots of people I have seen recently have started arguing on social media that Scotland, Wales, England, and Northern Ireland should play as the United Kingdom at football. 

My reply to that is emotional, and passionate. I love the Scotland national football team. It is a vital part of my identity. I look forward to and am proud of Scotland having our own international side whether we win, lose, or draw. The Scottish are as passionate about the Scottish international side as fans of any other nation are about their national side. Whether or not Scotland stays in the UK, the issue is that Scotland, England and Wales have every right to their own international sides. 

I am not getting involved in the Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland issue. Some argue for one united Ireland team, other for two sides. That is not an issue I am getting involved in. 

So sticking to Scotland, Wales, and England. 

1. Scotland, England, and Wales are the oldest international sides. They add to the history of football with that factual statistic. What is the point of getting rid of that history, by merging the 3 nations as Great Britain. You would then be swapping teams with a century and a half of football history for a united Great Britain team with no history. 

2. Scotland v England was the first international match. There should always be Scotland and England international sides. 

3. Some have said to me that no other country does this. Some have said that only the United Kingdom has multiple teams. That is not true. The Kingdom of Denmark has the Danish team, and the Faroe Islands as international teams. 

4. Gibraltar has a international team. 

5. There are smaller states like San Marino, and Andorra in the UEFA trophies. So Scotland and Wales should be allowed to compete.  

6. In the Asian Football Confederation, the USA territory of Guam, has an international side. The same is true for  the Northern Mariana Islands. 

7. Hong Kong  and Macau which are special administrative regions of China and have their own international sides.

8. Reunion, a overseas department and region of France has an international team. 

9. In Oceania, American Samoa is a territory of the USA, and has an international team. 

10. New Caledonia is an overseas territory of France and has an international team. 

11. In the Caribbean. Aruba is a constituent country in the Netherlands and has their own international side. 

12. Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands and has their own international side.

13. Guadeloupe is an overseas department of France and has their own international side. So does Martinique a department and region of France.

14. Montserrat an overseas territory of Britain has an international team. 

15. The US Virgin Islands has an international team despite being a territory of the USA. 

16. The British overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands has a team. 

17. The British Virgin Islands a British overseas territory has their own international side. 

18. Bermuda is a British overseas territory and has their own international side. 

So despite all of this there are still people wanting Scotland to give up having their own international football team when other international teams represent places that are territories of larger countries, but have their own international team. 

Above all I support Scotland. And I think Scotland, Wales, and England gave the World history so should have their own teams.  Scotland v England is a massive derby, as is Wales v England. Respect these rivals to have their own sides.