Don't play as one the world cups ?

Why there is a team for England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland etc.

You would have a better team and more chance to win if you played with one stronger UK team.

And an even better team if we joined up with Brazil. However that's a different nation. What you see with the UK is the difference between a country and a nation. Unfortunately we do not have a nation state like most countries.

The perennial question.

See the recent St George flag thread for the answer ... it's all about nationhood.

As for Ireland, best not to make your suggestion within earshot of those from the south of the Emerald Isle.

Nationalities aside, Not worth the extra taxes to get ride of the other home nations just to get Ryan Giggs, and he with the exception of Robbie Keane, is the only real world class player the others can muster.

It's been discussed for the Olympics in 2012 as a one off, but the non-English football associations are having none of it. They think it would set a precedent. Forgetting the arguments of who they would add to the England first XI, the other home nations just don't want to do it.

Usually the UK participate as one team on the Olympics, am I wrong ?

Because they are different countries - and recognised by FIFA ,,,

(with the exception of Wales ... but let's not start all that again ...)

As Great Britain; not UK. You're almost right.

Comment from BBC live match coverage-

Lonely and embarrassing right now, I'm guessing.

Why can't the Swiss cantons participate?
They might be more independent than countries in the UK

And it is not the same thing, GB = UK isn't it ?

UK = The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. GB = England + Scotland + Wales.

Now. British Isles anybody?

It's a different country - just not a kingdom.

But you knew that ...

don't know...

They all do look the same to me.....

as the chinese

Go on, thrill me ... explain that logic?

Sort of racist, but we'll get past that.

England: centre of everything, historically rich but unstable.

Scotland: lots of loverly crude oil and Whiskey, historically poorer but stable.

Wales: a wasteland now, historically a wasteland.

Northern Ireland: looks like a part of Eire, sounds like a part of Eire..., historically a part of Eire.

I was just wondering. In football everything is possible. Like Israel being in Europe.