It appears that Britain is once more returning to sporting greatness with golden moments in Athens, historic happenings on the cricket pitch and Champions League success beckoning with Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool represented in the competition proper. Before we get carried away in our jingoistic flag-waving and xenophobic chants, however, I would like to point out a few sobering facts that will hopefully contribute to a more objective enjoyment of most peoples’ favourite past time.
English players are finding it increasingly difficult to get into the squad of any major club, never mind the starting line-up, our Champions League contenders are coached by a Portuguese, a Frenchman, a Spaniard and a Scot. Duncan Fletcher, a Zimbabwean, manages this winter’s cricket tour party, attempting to make history by winning eight Tests on the trot; a German licked our Olympic rowers into shape and the great hope of British swimming is a pugnacious Australian – am I being too obvious?
