England. A thankless task but that's the rule isn't it? You can't pick a team that is good or has players you actually like, you have to stick with the one you were given.
very good point.
i should have caveated my Nigeria pick (which was for political reasons, somewhat dilettante i know) w this.
it's random but ever since Thaksin came in at City (nothing to do w the national team, true), my enthusiasm for the game in general took a beating as i became disillusioned w Thaksin coming in (though what else should i have expected in the modern game, of course?). i'm trying to get back in to it and be less angsty, baby/bathwater.
the Manchester area is something of an interesting case as amid patriots of every stripe you do get loads of United fans who will support anyone but, stereotypical internationalist sorts, hangover from the national Beckham animus, etc.
a fair few of my mates are like this, although i know United fans who are England supporters too. (my pa for one!)
there was an interesting letter in a United fanzine once from a Pompey fan who was taking them to task for chanting Argentina stuff a few years back at Fratton, and the writer said it offended some of the home fans as quite a lot of sons of Portsmouth lost their lives in the Falklands conflict.
