• Flying Squid@lemmy.worldM
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    2 months ago

    Similar with the UK and Germany. The UK considers Germany their big rival. Germany considers the UK… a team.

    • Skua@kbin.earth
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      2 months ago

      The UK doesn’t compete in international football, the constituent countries of it do. Although of them, only England is even occasionally able to challenge Germany

        • Skua@kbin.earth
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          2 months ago

          I honestly can’t think of a way to rephrase “we invented international football” to fit the “no skins” original, so this acknowledgement of the reference will have to do instead

      • jimbolauski@lemm.ee
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        2 months ago

        I wonder if there’s ever been a push to combine like they do in rugby… every 4th world cup they do a UK team.

        • Skua@kbin.earth
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          2 months ago

          I suppose there’s the Olympic team? Although that doesn’t include the republic of Ireland, and Northern Irish people can choose which one to compete for

          I think part of the issue is that there’s far less parity between the countries in football compared to rugby. All four teams are always at or near the top level in rugby, whereas only England is typically good at football, so a Lions equivalent would basically just be the England team again

          • jimbolauski@lemm.ee
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            2 months ago

            Robertson may have been able crack the squad, Decland Rice has played for both so there is certainly some players that make the team.