Independence Day (but from whom?)

As if England limping out of the World Cup was not bad enough, just three days later the world's sole superpower noisily celebrates their independence from us (or Britain to be precise).

Fortunately for us expats currently living in the US, any anti-British sentiment has largely faded away to be replaced with a spectacle that the Yanks are probably the best at, namely a celebration of all that is great about their nation (and there is plenty to be fair).

There has been a sense that the generally good behaviour of England fans at the World Cup has helped to reinstil a distinct 'English identity', and make people proud to display the flag of St George as opposed to the Union Jack (or more likely, no flag at all). Unfortunately it is all bound to increase the confusion of the average American who uses the terms 'England' and 'Britain' interchangeably (and that's before you've explained that Britain and the United Kingdom are different again). In a way it's lucky they're not vitriolic anymore because I'm not sure they'd know any longer who to target their vitriol at.

Personally I'm a little uncomfortable with the whole concept of Englishness, although I admire attempts to try to instil the same sense of national identity that the Welsh and Scots have acquired. It was inevitable that by far the largest and most populated nation in the 'Kingdom' would find its identity diluted, in the same way that you don't see Madrilenos noisily affirming their 'Spanishness' in the midst of separatist movements in Catalonia, the Basque Country and increasingly beyond.

It seems also that we have enough intra-England rivalries to sort out before we can claim a unique identity. Until people stop speaking of a 'North/South divide' or until you can order a pint in a Newcastle pub without being accused of being a 'Cockney b*stard', I'll stick with the all-encompassing British identity thanks very much (and anyhow that's what it says on my passport).

Even the tabloids back home seem to be a little confused about their loyalties. The Sun is not shy about proclaiming its acute sense of 'Englishness' but even they got a little confused on Saturday, declaring that Andrew Murray had "cheered up the nation" after England's defeat on penalties (he was born in Dunblane).

Some English nationalists argue that the Welsh and Scots hate us, so it's about time we returned the compliment. Well for sure, there are probably some ill-educated Welsh and Scots who would proclaim to 'hate us' (no doubt alongwith asylum seekers, gays, black people etc..) but they're like the people who claim to 'hate' supporters of another football team (but actually mean it) ie. to be ridiculed, or preferably incarcerated.

I think Scotland in particular is a beautiful place, I'd like to live there one day. Many of my favourite bands are Welsh or Scottish (Belle & Sebastian, Super Furry Animals, Teenage FanClub, Franz Ferdinand, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci). I hope I don't have to begin 'hating' them too because there'll be nothing left on my Ipod.

Although I suspect I'm in the minority, I still don't fully understand why the possibillity of a United Kingdom football team hasn't been seriously contemplated. If FIFA won't allow it then fair enough, but I for one feel more comfortable supporting say the UK Olympic team than the England football team, again because the whole concept of 'England' means little to me. Although perhaps only Ryan Giggs would have made the squad in Germany, it's difficult to imagine we would have been worse off with him on the left wing than Joe Cole and 'his amazing inability to go outside a defender.' It is also pretty likely that the 'UK' would have qualified for the 1974 and 1978 World Cups if they had been able to call upon the best Scottish talent available at the time (who did qualify of course).