The Swedish thing

Anglo-Scottish relations were not helped enormously by the Scottish Daily Record last week which ran a story, under the heading "Scotland Expects: Polish Braveheartskis Out To Make Their Point That Will Leave England In The Cold", willing the players of Sweden to take their foot off the pedal against Poland and allow them the point needed to eliminate England from Euro 2000. "Let us just hope that Henrik Larsson and Johan Mjallby remember they play in Scotland," said the author.

Mind you, the article probably didn't do much for Swedish-Scottish relations either. "If the Swedes didn't lend a helping hand when Adolf Hitler was rampaging through Europe then perhaps it's expecting too much to think they'll be even remotely inclined to ensure that English hooligans are given a reason to do likewise next summer." Weep.