10 Reasons The Home Internationals Need To Return

3. Bragging Rights

Let's face it, we all like to see our rivals lose. Speaking as an Englishman there is very little in life that I find more amusing than seeing the other British teams fail to qualify for a competition whilst England set off for another round of glorious failure, a failure that I am sure fans of the other three enjoy just as much. Unless you are one of those evolved people that supports all the other British teams as long as they are not playing your own, then like me watching them lose will bring you nearly as much joy as your team winning. Whether it's Scotland declaring themselves world champions 1967, David Healy's scoring for Northern Ireland in 2005 or Gazza's wonder goal at Euro 96 we like to have the bragging rights, to lord our victories over our rivals. While some might decry this mentality as a sad deficiency of football, I am a firm believer that there is nothing wrong with this, it is one of the great draws of sport. Those of us who are supporters of British teams haven't had a lot to celebrate in recent years, but if we can't be the best in the world or even Europe at least with the Home Nations one team could make the claim of being the best in the United Kingdom. It is important to remember just how important a derby is to the fans; every season as fans of our club sides we look forward to that game with our greatest rivals, the chance to shut up the enemey and hold the bragging rights until the next game comes around. Bringing back the Home Internationals would replicate this with the national teams, leading to a strong and consistent competition between the home nations and giving the fans something to look forward to when international breaks arrive.