Interesting contrast in the articles chosen to support this piece on England fans and the piece on the so-called "Tartan Army". The Scottish headline was "Tartan Army get a heroes' goodbye in Boston as world's best fans arrive in Miami", and among other things, the article celebrated apocryphal tales of the Scottish fans drinking all the alcohol (they didn't). The article selected (out of all the possible articles that could be found on England football fans) was a begrudging "The awkward truth about England fans at the World Cup". The Scottish article uses martial language in a positive way (referring to the Scottish fans as "heroes"), the article on English fans uses the slightly threatening "booze-fuelled invasion of up to 15,000 England fan...". Both English and Scottish football have had a history of crowd violence. This past season was marred by the disgraceful behaviour at Celtic Park and Trongate, following the match against Hearts, leading to two officers being hospitalised, and damage across the city. I don't remember anything like this in England this past season. I've been to matches at Parkhead, and heard the sectarian language from both sides (Orange b**t**ds, Fenian c**ts), and no one does anything about it. I lived in Glasgow for many years, and in Belfast. When the Scottish go on tour, they are all cheeky chappies in ginger wigs and stupid kilts, but knocking 10 bells out of each other at an Old Firm match. I don't think they will find Miami as friendly as Boston.
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