<div class="css-129jqss en4o1560"><section class="css-u7urgs e12sbwn90"><div class="css-b4a1pi e1u9wqfn0"><span class="css-x8vgju e6e0kfy0"><a href="/britain/" data-analytics="sidebar:section"><span>Britain</span></a></span><span class="css-rjcumh e1vi1cqp0"> | Bagehot </span></div><h1 class="css-1p83fk8 e1r8fcie0">A weekend with Gareth Southgate and friends</h1><h2 class="css-1ms10sa eg03uz0">England football fans abroad: soft boys playing at being hard men</h2></section></div><div class="css-vpmedt en4o1560"><section class="css-1ugvd2u e18wk22u0"></section></div><div class="css-129jqss en4o1560"><div class="css-mlzim5 ebbih0g0"><div class="css-f1to7x e1oehc1h0"><div class="css-jwv1ak eupm5sl0"><div class="css-w0h03k eygoqsu0"><div><time datetime="2024-07-03T17:12:03.235Z" class="css-1c8ktq7 e4cw3vv0"> Jul 3rd 2024</time><time datetime="" class="css-1fchjri e4cw3vv0"> (<span>updated</span> 7m ago)</time></div><div><div class="css-1902i5q eygoqsu0"></div></div></div></div></div><section data-body-id="cp2" class="css-k2wbwk e13topc91"><div class="css-1x0aq03 e13topc92"><p data-component="paragraph" class="css-1f0x4sl e1tt35bk0"><span data-caps="initial">O</span><small>n the 302</small> tram to Gelsenkirchen, a grim industrial city near the Rhine, a group of England fans are hammering the ceiling and chanting: “He comes from Barnsley/He plays in blue and white/He hates the Germans/He thinks they’re fucking shite/He’s breaking ankles, everywhere he goes/His name is Johnny, Johnny fucking Stones.” Then the tram pulls up to a stop named after Willy Brandt, a former West German chancellor. Singing about the English centre-back stops and a discussion of German historical trivia begins. “Shame his secretary was a spy,” says one of the chanters, displaying a surprisingly detailed knowledge of 1970s cold-war history.</p><p data-component="paragraph" class="css-1f0x4sl e1tt35bk0">England’s men’s football team is the faultline where high and low culture meet. Gareth Southgate, the England manager, has become an avatar for progressive patriotism. A recent play about his tenure, <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/06/21/dear-england-examines-the-country-through-its-football-manager">“Dear England”</a>, was nominated for a slew of awards. At the European championships in Germany, the other side of this fissure is on display. Englishmen take the opportunity to revel in offensive chants while they get completed wasted. Some do it with a wink, others do it with a snarl. But almost everyone joins in.</p></div></section><div class="css-xwbqzz e1t0la761"><h3 class="css-tu4cp8 e1t0la760">Explore more</h3><nav aria-labelledby="article-tags"><a class="ds-emphasised-link ds-emphasised-link--secondary" href="/topics/britain" data-analytics="tags:britain"><span>Britain</span></a><a class="ds-emphasised-link ds-emphasised-link--secondary" href="/topics/bagehot" data-analytics="tags:bagehot"><span>Bagehot</span></a></nav></div><div class="css-1cmx12d em0l2j50"><div class="css-19gx9y0 eupm5sl0"><div class="css-15sn8g1 eygoqsu0"><div><div class="css-9mn5vp eygoqsu0"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

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England football fans abroad: soft boys playing at being hard men{ai:summary}<p>England football fans in Gelsenkirchen mix chants with historical trivia. High and low culture collide as Gareth Southgate embodies progressive patriotism. Some revel in offensive chants with a wink, others with a snarl. Everyone joins in. #culture</p>