Home nations fans 'back England'

The ICM phone survey suggests that 83% of people in Wales will back Sven-Goran Eriksson's men in Germany.

Asked if they would support England in a final against Germany, 85% of those in Wales said they would, compared with 69% of Scots.

Support for David Beckham and his men would fall slightly if they were to face Brazil in the final on 9 July, but in Wales and the other home nations support for England remained strong.

Does this mean that traditional rivalry between Wales and England is disappearing or has it always been exaggerated? Do people in the other home nations believe that England doing well is good for the UK as the whole?

Should fans in Wales get behind England - or their opponents?

The topic is now closed. Thanks for all your replies, below is a selection of your responses:

I find this hard to believe, I know none of my Welsh friends nor myself will be supporting them.
ED.

If England are playing and Wales aren't I'll happily support England - it's the game I love, not the team.
Joao, Aberystwyth

I think most people will want a 'home' side to do well - BUT - if a 'minor' side comes through to meet England after playing perhaps more attractive football....it would have to be the minnow to win!
Chris, Cardiff, Wales

I could never bring myself to support them. In fact, if they were playing the Saddam Hussein XV, I would have severe doubts as to whom I supported. In fact, I'd probably sit on the fence!
John , Llanrwst, north Wales

The only people in Wales who will be supporting the English are the English!
Richard, Bridgend

Under no circumstances could i see myself or any of my friends supporting England. This survey must be a wind up.
Paul, Wrexham, North Wales

Quick answer no
gt, Cardiff, Wales

Yes, of course. I think you'll find that most football fans in Wales follow a Premiership side anyway, as our sides are useless! I'll be supporting England all the way - but I won't be singing God Save The Queen!
Sarah, Swansea

Support Wales for the rugby, England for the football thats how most of us see it...unless Wales qualify...Hmm!
Stewart, Newport S.Wales

I find it an embarrasment that fellow Welsh people do not support a home nation. Hang your heads in shame - and get over it!!! Go England!!!
Katie, Trearddur Bay, Wales

To paraphrase Winston Churchill: 'If England were playing Hell, I'd find something good to say about the devil.'
Llewellyn Tyler, Newport, Wales

I would like either Brazil,england or france to win this year. But the most likeley to win is england because they have world class players like Beckam,Lampard,Gerard,Terry and the magnifficant RRRRROOOOONNNNYYY!!!!!!!!!
otug markcoc ryll, cardiff wales

Support the english?!?!?.... Got more chance of me supporting Swansea!
Megan Owen, Caerdydd

I'll be supporting England to same degree as English fans would be supporting Wales if we had qualified and not them.
Steve, Llantrisant

Hell would freeze over first!
Darkie, Bassaleg

I bet many of those saying they will not be supporting England in the summer can be seen walking around in their Liverpool and Man Utd shirts pretending they are fans. Grow-up. It's not as if it's the English Rugby team - then they would have a point!!!
Tim Evans, Gowerton

When analysing the poll more closely the results show that in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland support for England depends on the age of the respondent. It cleary shows that the young are less willing to support England compared to the old. This trend suggests that the rivalry with England is likely to increase in the future. That only 88 respondents in this case were interviewed in the 18-24 age group compared to 343 in the 65+ age group should also be considered when judging the accuracy of this poll.
Jeff Rees, Karjaa, Finland

England is a foreign country and for the next few months we will have to put up with the English media ramming their team down our throats at every opportunity. Welsh people who support england should hang their heads in shame, they have no loyalty to or confidence in their own country and would rather follow England for glory rather than their own small country for pride. Every other team but england!!!
Fergus, Cardiff

As a Welshman I support two teams. Wales and who ever is playing England
Kev, Oswestry Shropshire

Want to see England win it, just to stick it up those arrogant continentals etc, but don't want to hear them bragging about it for the next 40 yrs. Any way what's the problem? We always have a good laugh when they go out!
Kevin, cardiff

If Wales were the only home team to have qualifed, would the English support us? I don't think so.
Hemal Patel, Cardiff, Wales

I'm a Trinidad and Tobago fan when Germany 2006 kicks off.
tim, Cardiff, Wales

What's this nonsense that we should support Wales in the Rugby and England in Football? I hate Rugby, but still want Wales to do well over everyone else. I'm a mad passionate Football follower and go to watch Bangor City most games in the Welsh Premier League. How can you go to rugby games in the Millennium Stadium and pretend to be mad Welsh fans, yet turn round in the summer and follow England in another sport? Perhaps Wales doesn't have any backbone after all i'm sorry to say.
Gareth Williams, Ynys Mon

I think it would be awful if England did win the WC. The country would become insufferable. I just hope that Sweden beat England. I for one will not be watching England play and I really do hope that they lose. To be honest - England don't deserve it. Any self respecting Welshman would also NOT support England. Think of it - if they won - you wouldn't hear the end of it.
Llew, Llanelli

Well, being Welsh I can enjoy Englands vicotries and defeats!!! We have the best of both worlds.Of course, the defeats are that much sweeter as the English can't help mentioning 1966. I think it'll take Alan Green or John Motson about 45 seconds before 1966 is mentioned on the commentary of all Englands games in the World Cup! So that'll be mentioned three times then! Ha Ha.
Owen, Llanbradach, Wales

I will not be supporting England. I don't think half the english supportes would support Wales if we went to the World Cup instead!!!!
Elizabeth Parry-James, Swansea, Wales

I will always support a 'Celtic' nation first admittedly; I will stretch a point on what you can call a Celtic nation. Ireland France Belgium Portugal and Spain are all pretty historically accurate. Then there is Switzerland Austria (Trans Alpine Gaul). Romania Greece and Turkey have significant populations due to invasions as do Italy. Southern Germany Trans Alpine Gaul again and of course countries colonised by those above. Should England play a country that doesn�t fit into one of those categories I would think about supporting them. England is a far more Celtic nation than most above with a several BBC commissioned genetic surveys proving that less 10% of there bloodstock can be called Anglo Saxon most of which is probably Viking and that there are all Bretonic over 60% (Welsh, Scots, Cornish, Manx etc) and most of the Irish but since they won�t admit it they forfeit my support (I am sure they can cope without it).
Paul, Newport Gwent

I was born in North Wales and that is where I stayed up until about 2.5 years ago! I am very proud to be Welsh and miss the beauty that Wales offers. I support my local team from Rhyl in the LOW and also Manchester United, with this in mind, some of the Man U players will be in it for England. I have to say I do wish England well and it would be nice to see a British team win the World Cup, but I will never watch them or cheer them on..... English would not do it for us, I know as I am always slated by people here in Lancashire for being Welsh!! Cymru am byth!!!!
Vikcy , Blackpool, Lancashire

Wow! I consider it shameful that the Welsh can show such incredibly blatant xenophobia, offensive nationalism and everyday racism. What is the difference between the English and the Welsh - oh, yes, we Welsh have got an entire chip shop on our shoulders! What an inspiring display of unionism we are showing to the rest of the world! I hope England go all the way. I believe that they've got the potential this time to really do well. Oh, and I'll remember I'm Welsh when I'm watching the matches and wish we were there too and think maybe next time. I honestly cannot believe people are such bigots.
Jes, Newport, Wales

What's this about a 'home team'?! You would never see France support Spain, or Spain support Portugal in such an event so why should we support England?
E Lewis, Wales

Is this an early April fools joke from BBC Sport?
Darren Evans, Cardiff

Why not support a neighbour, they all do it in the Euro song contest.
Steve, Newport, S Wales.

What is all this 'home nation' business all about? I'm not English so why why would I support them over any other country? Besides, they play boring football! Come on Trinidad and Tobago!
Mark, Bargoed

I doubt the validity of this survey, but I find it's results abhorrent. I will never support England, and hope that they get knocked-out of the World Cup as soon as possible. Any Welsh person who says they support England should be ashamed of themselves.
Rhys Owen, Caerffili, Wales

I wish people would start to realise that England and Wales are separate nations when it comes to sporting events. I will not support England during the World Cup because I am Welsh and not English ! Simple as that, no xenophobia intended.

It is totally irrelevant that England is part of Britain. Does that mean English fans will support France if they play Brazil because they are their European neighbours ? As if !
Gareth Brace, London, Welsh Excile

Why support another nation? Were any of the 83% respondents Welsh football supporters? I don't understand the term 'home nations'. I'm Welsh, not British. Anyone with an inkling of Welsh history could never bring themselves to support England. The incessant media drivel that surrounds the English football team continues. Another propaganda attempt to preserve 'Britishness'. Brazil for me this summer.
Iwan, Caerdydd

How many of these Welsh England fans would I see on a wet December night at Ninian Park? We should have no time or respect for these glory hunters who lecture real football fans on who we should support in the World Cup. As a real football fan I will enjoy the World Cup without having to turn it into a ridiculous test of Britshness and will keep on watching long after England get knocked out.
M Davies, Cardiff

Can't wait for us to have team GB!I'm a football fan and will support England all the way. I can say I would feel the same about Wales and Scotland. Theres no walls between the borders, were still all on the same island!
Marie, North Wales

I am a proud Welshman and also a fanatic Wales football fan (even though there's usually very little to be fanatical about). I can't understand why people want to see England lose all the time - frankly it's childish and pathetic. Obviously I want them to get stuffed and go home crying when playing Wales, even though it's never going to happen, but I want to see all British teams do well when playing foreign opposition. And conversely none of my English friends want to see Wales lose, in fact most would love to see them qualify for something. They think our bigotry is small-minded and laughable.
Daz, Cardiff, Wales

I can never understand how Welsh or Scottish people want England to lose. I'm part English, Welsh and half Scottish and I always want the British team to win. I'm glad this survey reflects my view
Adam, UK