After months of protracted negotiating and arguing, it looks like the 2012 Olympics will finally see the footballing nations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland united under one banner as Great Britain looks to field its first Olympic football team since the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.
However, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have resolutely opposed any kind of Great Britain team, fearing the threat this precedent will pose to their status as independent footballing nations. They have recently agreed not to block any team that may arise, but will refuse to play any part in it.
Effectively, this means the GB team will basically be England in all but name.
Are they being paranoid? Perhaps, but equally it is easy to sympathise with the home nations’ viewpoint. The only assurance of their independency remaining unaffected is from Sepp Blatter who let’s face it, isn’t exactly the most trustworthy individual, and whose words have been quite rightly taken with a pinch of salt they are barely worthy of. In any case, by 2012 Blatter will be long gone, leaving in his stead known anti-Brits Michel Platini and Jack Warner in his stead.
On the other hand, it can be seen in other sports that groups of countries can compete under one banner without threatening their individual statuses. In rugby, the British Lions tour happens every four years, yet the home nations appear able to compete in regular internationals with little fanfare.
Either I’m being simplistic or have missed something pretty major, but should this not be the case in football?
Others have suggested that the reluctance of the home nations to participate is because so few of their players would actually be picked.
Supposing a GB team was picked now – which non-English players would actually be selected? In the past, Ryan Giggs would have been integral; but now he would be at best a fringe player. Darren Fletcher might possibly get a look in, as could Gareth Bale, and Aaron Ramsey and Jonny Evans both look good bets for the future.
As you can see, the potential contribution from the non-English teams isn’t exactly awe-inspiring. Of course the 2012 Olympics will see a completely different team, but beyond the aforementioned Ramsey and Evans, there appears little potential within the home nations.
Personally, I would love to see Team GB competing at the Olympics, and I’m sure fans of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would too if there was a firm guarantee that their independence would not be under threat. But as there appears to be no such reassurance, their stance remains deeply defensive. Which is a shame, but I can hardly say I blame them.
