Spain v. England
Trip Start
Oct 12, 2008
1
4
Trip End
Jun 2010
Seville, Spain
Monday, February 9, 2009
This has been a difficult decision but I'm decided. I've lived in Spain for over 20 years now and I have to admit that international competitions haven't been much fun. You see, I suffered from divided loyalties. Because I watch Spanish football every week, I knew the Spanish players much better than I did the English but for some strange reason I felt that by supporting England, I was somehow being true to my roots. I now realise that I was completely mistaken.
This summer I enjoyed myself so much. Why? Because England didn't qualify for Euro 2008 and this meant that I could put every ounce of my footballing soul behind Spain. It was absolutley fantastic. No arguments. No snotty Spaniards (there's always one!) coming up and telling me that I didn't belong.
And what's more, Spain won and they did it by playing the most gorgeous, delicious, sumptuous football ever seen on God's earth. You can tell I enjoyed myself, can't you?
So this game on Wednesday is a real test of my resolve. But if I stop and think about it, 5 of the Spain squad come from FC Barcelona - the team I support and, apart from my Catalan wife and daughter, my only true love - and another 5 come from Liverpool FC - my favourite team in the Premiership. I'd have to be mad to support England.
I'll be watching the match here in Catalonia in my local bar with all my mates and although I'll have to take some ribbing, I'll be shouting 'Come On Spain! Viva La Roja!'
PS: I won't be TOO upset if England win. I'm just looking forward to seeing a good game, really.
