C’mon England fans! Where are your flags?
England are preparing to kick-off their first match in Russia on Monday – but World Cup fever has not reached everywhere in the Black Country.
If the number of flags adorning windows, lamp posts and cars is anything to go by, excitement is not at the level of previous tournaments.
In one street in Brierley Hill, there is not an England flag in sight – a complete contrast to 12 years ago when residents went all out to show their support for their team and lined the road with flags.
Expectations of England’s chances are lower than they have been for many years following limp exits at the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016 and the lack of flags in Bankwell Street suggests there is not as much interest this time around.
It is a far cry from the summer of 2006 when an England side containing star names such as Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard were tipped to do well.
A quarter final defeat to Portugal followed – on penalties, of course – and there has been little to shout about at major tournaments since.
One resident, who did not want to be named, is certainly not getting caught up in the hype. He said football was not his sport.
“I don’t really watch football, I prefer rugby instead,” he said.
Another woman was similarly unenthused. She said: “We have been here six months and I don’t watch football.”
Paige Beech, aged 23, a worker at Russells Hall Hospital, who has lived in the street for just over a year, said: “I know that if others started putting flags up I would too. Of course, we’ll win the games, we’re England.
“At the last World Cup we did up an old Nissan Micra. It’s not the same now.”
Brierley Hill councillor Judy Foster believes the disappointment of recent tournaments may mean expectations have been reined in this time around.
She said: “Maybe people have resigned themselves to our chances of winning being less than in recent years. But we should stay loyal; we should not be fair-weather fans.
“We live in hope of England repeating the success of 1966 and that we will be great again.
“Obviously we have been left very disappointed in recent years but we have got some fantastic players and I’m certainly behind our team. Never say never.”
She added: “I wish those fans who are going to Russia a safe journey. It is really important our team has supporters from home cheering them on.”
