It is less about traditional notions of blood and soil, and more a yearning for togetherness
the Netherlands in the semi-final of the European soccer championship last month, British sportscasters hailed it as a “historic” victory that would “change all our lives.” Sports commentators are known for hyperbole, that is their job, but these pronouncements seemed ridiculous. Smaller countries like the Netherlands often view these competitions as rare opportunities to shine on the world stage, but does the United Kingdom really need such validation? Evidently, it does.
For those of us taught to view nationalistic fervour as unseemly, feeling the pull of flag-waving emotions can be somewhat embarrassing. Yet their power cannot be denied. As a Dutchman, I, too, rejoiced when the Netherlands beat West Germany in 1988. Tribalism, in sports and beyond, can reflect religious, ideological, ethnic, regional, or national affinities. This is most evident in team sports like soccer. The longstanding rivalry between the Scottish football clubs Celtic and Rangers is rooted in their respective Catholic and Protestant affiliations. Liverpool and Manchester fans hate clubs from London. Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur are associated by their rivals with Jews , which provokes some very nasty language.
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