During the World Cup, the “Anyone but England” campaign flared up. Scots, Welsh and Irish rejoiced as the older brother worked hard on the football field.

Many took to social media to support all teams other than England during the championship, as well as putting up posters reading “Anyone but England” in Glasgow and elsewhere.

Also bigger profiles, such as the First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeonhave joined the campaign.

But where did resistance to the British come from in the rest of the UK?

– It’s about the long-standing internal contradictions and rivalries in the British Isles, says Atle Libæk Wold, professor at the faculty of humanities at the University of Oslo.

He elaborated:

– This is closely related to England’s domination of its smaller neighbors in the formation of the British state. Other countries often feel overwhelmed. That’s why there’s no point in supporting England, says Wold.

– Inconsistent

In the past, various countries in the British Isles had wars and conflicts with each other. But now this contradiction has a way out in sporting events in the city, Wold believes.

Nevertheless, Great Britain fielded a combined team at the Olympics. And most people in England cheered when Andy Murray won the Wimbledon tennis tournament.

– In good British spirit, they weren’t very consistent. In some sports they represent Great Britain, in others other countries. But there are some rules of thumb that apply. In sports originating in the British Isles, such as football, rugby and cricket, each country usually fields its own team, explains Atle Libæk Wold.

At the Olympics, you don’t have a choice. There England had to field a joint team.

– Plus, it’s about how prestigious the tournament is. Football in the Olympics has a low status. There would be protests if England had to field a team at, say, a soccer World Cup, according to Wold.

– Sharper contrast

Espen Aas, NRK’s ​​UK and Ireland correspondent between 2013 and 2017, argued that Scotland was tired of Britain’s complacent attitude. And this may apply more widely to the Welsh side, who performed much better than England in the European Commission two years ago.

– But it’s also about politics. After Brexit two years ago, many Scots, Welsh and also Northern Irish felt that Britain was trumping what other countries were really against, Aas said.

He believes that the internal contradictions between the four countries of Great Britain have become much sharper.

– Scots and Welsh have become more busy being Scots and Welsh than being British, says Espen Aas.