Isn't that becauase everyone just knows / assumes NI is part of Team GB?

(Even though you're strictly right that NI isn't actually part of GB, obviously.)

More generally you're no doubt right though. Supporting the national footie team is one way of expressing / asserting your Scottishness (or Welshness, or whatever). That would be much less so if there was just a UK team. And we (the English) would probably feel the smallest sense of loss on that score.

Posted By: Tricky Hawes, Sep 3, 11:20:52