Jon Clarke (Publisher & Editor)
IT’S coming home, that’s 100% certain. But to which home?
The one where I’m born and bred, or the one where I’ve lived – and loved – for two decades?
Of course it’s no conundrum for me who to support in the Euro final this Sunday: I’m a Brit through and through, having watched England at Wembley a dozen times and even followed them abroad.
But for my kids; both born here in Spain, but with two English parents it’s not quite so easy.
Let me explain. Both Maia and Alfie emerged into this world from the maternity ward at Ronda hospital, then spent the first three quarters of their lives living in the Malaga mountains.
The village school they attended was 99.9% Spanish and they were the only foreign kids in their classes.
They picked up the lingo, the culture and the habits, if not the look, and with blue eyes and blonde hair they were marked out as ‘guiris’ from day one and occasionally teased (although not bullied) for it.
It made them feel like outsiders and gave them a sense of fair play and equality and I’m proud of the teenagers they’ve become.
But – and this is a big but – their friends are Spanish (well a few more international ones now they are at school in Marbella and university in the UK) and they, like me, love Spain.
We all love their culture, their sense of fun, the amazing geography and weather, their food and, above all, their football!
It’s the most exciting style in the world, as proven by the way Spaniards Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta and Villa manager Unai Emery play the game in the English Premier League.
Fast moving, high press football, it’s a joy to watch and has revolutionised the style of the English game and helped our national team at the same time.
Spain, meanwhile, were amazing as a team for nearly a decade when they won two Euros and one World Cup all in a row just over a decade ago.
We bought into it living here, loved the way they played and proudly adopted Spain as our team. Well most of the time, except when against England.
So this is where we now sit, on the dawn of England’s first ever final abroad… With a team including some of the most exciting global players of a generation. World beaters in Walker and Stones, Rice and Saka.
Not to mention the best player in the Premier League, Phil Foden, the top scorer in Germany, Harry Kane, and the best player in Spain in Jude Bellingham.
We don’t just have the best players. In our last game we swept the Dutch away for much of the match (if our goal output didn’t make the play). Mostly with style and panache and, at long last after a turgid tournament.
Spain, meanwhile, currently play the best football in the world with some of the most exciting young players. The likes of Yamal at 16, Nico Williams and Dani Olmo, among the most exciting young players in Europe. And then Rodri, my favourite midfielder in the UK, making them tick.
It will be an amazing game and it’s obvious who I’ll support. But what of my kids?
Well Alfie’s support for England is dyed in the wool. Various trips around Europe watching Spurs has ensured that.
We obviously never win but he’s learned how to accept defeat, how to handle disappointment and manage his expectations. Just like our national team over the last decade.
But with England he saw the passion and fanaticism of the fans at the Euros semi against Ukraine in Italy four years ago.
The sheer delight of an England win in a big game alongside his family and the Olive Press sales dynamo Charlie Bamber, was something he has never forgotten. He wears his England shirt with pride.
Maia meanwhile is split. Totally split. Aside from her Spanish pals she now has a Spanish boyfriend. One she predictably found at university back home in the UK.
She will likely watch the game with her pals in San Pedro or Marbella port, on a big screen. But she won’t paint her face, I hope.
She says she’s divided but likely will support Spain. Point out her British passport and she’ll reply: ‘I’m going to apply for a Spanish one soon’. Remind her of the dozens of games when she’s supported England with her family, the horrible loss in Italy, the penalty shoot out at Wembley two years ago, and she’ll shrug and tell me she’s a fan, it’s her ‘second team’ and she ‘loves England’ but her heart is in Spain.
It’s a tough one, but like Boris Johnson’s approach to Brexit, I know she could go ‘either way’ tomorrow.
And really, let’s face it, it’s win-win for her and many long term expats in Spain.
If we lose, we’ll quickly get over it, revelling in the joy of living in the sunshine where Europe’s best football team plays.
And either way, without Gareth Southgate, we’ll be back – and stronger – at the world cup in two years time!
It is a sport (?) , it is not a world shattering event . Why is it treated like the “ second coming “ . The world ( at large ) will continue and the world will continue to spin through space whatever the outcome .
At best it will be an exciting sporting event . At worst it will be an excuse for zenafobic rampages from the mindless , moronic people whose “ team loses , which is the only reason that I hope England wins , although I hope Spain , who have shown to be the better side dofar win !! – an Englishman who lives in Spain and considered himself a European
And I also consider myself European, for sure.
Bring on #Rexit (reverse Brexit)