United Kingdom national football team
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There is currently no single United Kingdom national football team. Instead, the United Kingdom has four separate football teams, representing the different Home Nations of the UK: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales.
Teams representing the United Kingdom played a handful of friendly matches in the 1940s, '50s and '60s (as "Great Britain"), and took part in the Olympic Games until 1972. There is a proposal that a British national team be formed for the 2012 Olympics in London, and the possibility of a permanent United Kingdom national team is a perennial point of discussion.
Development
Football was codified in England, and there were representative international matches between England and Scotland as far back as 1872, before the sport spread to other parts of the world and became its most popular sport. The Home Nations' professional teams tended to play amongst themselves (England did not play opposition from outside the British Isles until 1908,[England international results]. Nygård, Jostein; RSSSF, 5 June 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-05. nor did Scotland until 1929),[Scotland international results]. Nygård, Jostein; RSSSF, 9 June 2006. Retrieved on 2006-07-05. and none of the four teams took part in a World Cup until 1950. This was partly because of insular attitudes of the home football associations, due to the Home Nations' perception of their superior ability until the Second World War.England, being by far the largest of the Home Nations, have been the only team to have any major success internationally, winning the 1966 World Cup; Scotland have never progressed beyond the group stage of any international tournament, despite competing in final tournaments of seven World Cups and two European Championships. Northern Ireland have not qualified for a finals tournament since 1986, and Wales since 1958. This is sometimes raised as an argument in favour of a single United Kingdom national team, citing the advantages of being able to call upon an extended pool of players. Based on statistical analysis of recent matches, it has been estimated that a United Kingdom national team would have had a one-third greater chance of winning the 2006 World Cup than England did at the tournament's outset (in the event, England lost in the quarter-finals).["The Auld Opponent"]. The Times. 15 June 2006. Retrieved on 2006-07-05. Opponents of the plan insist that the existing footballing identities of the fans of the Home Nations should not be sacrificed simply to stand a better chance of success.
Olympic team
Original team
In the past, there has been a United Kingdom team in the Olympic football tournament, although, as the UK competes under the name of 'Great Britain and Northern Ireland' at the Olympics, the football team is usually known as 'Great Britain' within this context.The United Kingdom, then competing under the name 'Great Britain and Ireland', won the gold medal in the first official football tournament at the 1908 Games, beating Sweden, the Netherlands, and Denmark.[Games of the IV Olympiad]. Aarhus, Lars; RSSSF, 15 October 1999. Retrieved on 2006-07-05. These teams were predominantly made up of players from the English national amateur team, and were organised by the English Football Association with the acquiesence of the other Home Nations' FAs.["Britain's Olympic past"]. Barber, David; The Football Association, 3 March 2004. Retrieved on 2006-07-05. The United Kingdom has not competed in the Olympic football tournament since 1972, when they were knocked out in the qualifying rounds by Bulgaria. The last occasion on which a Great Britain and Northern Ireland team reached the Olympic finals was the 1960 Games. After the Football Association scrapped the distinction between professional and amateur players in 1974, no more UK Olympic teams were entered.
2012 Olympics
Since then, Olympic rules have been relaxed to allow professionals to take part, but there has been no return of a UK team. However, the issue has recently been raised as a result of London's successful bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics, with a one-off Great Britain and Northern Ireland team being proposed for that tournament only.The proposal was supported enthusiastically by the English FA and the Irish FA (Northern Ireland's football governing body). However, the Scottish Football Association refused even to attend meetings at which the Home Nations were to discuss the possibility.["No Scots for GB Olympic football"]. BBC, 11 November 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-05. At those meetings, the Football Association of Wales stressed it was strongly against the proposal, and, on December 6 2005, it was announced that the FAW Council had voted to withdraw from negotiations.["Wales oppose GB Olympic football"]. BBC. 6 December 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-05. The FAs of England and Northern Ireland are likely to enter the team with or without the other two associations.
Despite the opposition of two of the Home Nations' FAs, public opinion is in favour of the creation of a team for the 2012 Olympics. A recent survey of Scottish football fans claims that two-thirds would support a unified team being entered for 2012.["Survey shows Scots back united Olympic team"]. Mackay, Duncan; The Guardian, 20 October 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-05.
Position of FIFA
The position of FIFA, football's international governing body, in the debate is seen as critical. The Scottish Football Association's opposition to the plans are rooted primarily in the fear that the Home Nations would lose their special status, which is established under FIFA's constitution.[FIFA Statutes] ( PDF). FIFA, 12 September 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-05. FIFA President Sepp Blatter has given assurances to the Home Nations' FAs that their status would not be affected by the FAs fielding a combined team in 2012, stating: Nonetheless, the SFA has made clear that its position has not changed, arguing that Blatter's personal opinion and permission may not matter once Blatter has left office, and that they wish not to jeopardise Scotland's position.Other Olympics
As no British team enters the UEFA Under-21 Championship, which functions as the European qualifying competition for the Olympics, it is thought that any team would be a one-off creation for the 2012 Olympics.["FA to Press Ahead with Olympic Team"]. Yahoo!, 2 September 2005. Retrieved on 2006-06-08. However, the British Olympic Association has refused to rule out the possibility of entry for the 2008 Games.["Britain looks to Beijing after Scotland's snub to 2012 Games"]. Goodbody, John; The Times, 12 November 2005. Retrieved on 2006-07-05.Friendly results
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