Giggs asks Welsh not to boo British anthem
Reuters - Monday 30 July 2012, 10:51
Britain's Welsh captain Ryan
Giggs hopes fans do not boo the British national anthem when the
team play their decisive group match against Uruguay in Wales on
Wednesday.
The anthem could get an icy response in Cardiff because of
the Football Association of Wales' opposition to the idea of a
British team, which it shares with the Scots and Northern Irish
who fear the concept may erode their independence within FIFA,
world football's governing body.
Many Welsh, Irish and Scottish fans feel the same way. The
four parts of the United Kingdom, including England, compete as
individual teams in non-Olympic international football.
Any snub of the song before the match in Wales would
embarrass Britain's Olympic organisers who put Queen Elizabeth
at the heart of Friday's opening ceremony with a virtuoso role
as a "Bond girl" alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig.
Some Welsh players, including Giggs, did not sing "God Save
The Queen" before Sunday's game or against Senegal in their
opening match on Thursday.
Cardiff-born Giggs, who scored the opening goal in Britain's
3-1 win over the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, hopes Welsh
fans don't boo the song even though, in a somewhat convoluted
explanation, he said he did not to sing it for personal reasons.
"It's a personal thing. The British anthem is the same for a
Welshman, Scotsman or an Englishman," he said.
"It's difficult but it's not an issue for us. It might be
for other people but, once the game starts, we're all pulling in
the same direction and I think that's the main thing.
"I hope it won't get booed and I hope the fans will get
behind us as they have in our first two games."
RECORD BREAKER
Giggs, who on Sunday became the oldest player to score in
Olympic football, was one of five Welsh players in the starting
line up as Britain took a significant step towards the quarter
finals.
They will secure their place in the last eight as long as
they avoid defeat against Uruguay, who surprisingly lost 2-0 to
Senegal in the first match of Sunday's double-header at Wembley.
"It will mean a lot to all of the Welsh lads to play in our
own stadium, our own back yard, so it will be a great occasion,"
Giggs said.
The Welshman broke an 88-year-old record by scoring at the
age of 38 years and 243 days on Sunday. He also became the
oldest man to play in the tournament.
After his goal, the United Arab Emirates equalised before
substitute Scott Sinclair scored with his first touch and fellow
sub Daniel Sturridge made it 3-1 to Britain with a superb chip.
Giggs continued: "It was a very important win, especially
after the Senegal result and the pressure was on.
"I'm still disappointed not to play in a World Cup, a Euros
or a major tournament and now this is something I'm relishing.'
Manager Stuart Pearce added: "I've been absolutely delighted
with the support we've had, certainly in numbers, at Manchester
and at Wembley. I think that will continue again in Cardiff.
"I was told this is somewhere in the region of the biggest
attendance of an Olympic football match there's ever been. That
sends a message out straight away.
"We have to put a performance on that makes the crowds want
to come time and time again if we can."
A crowd of 72,000 saw Britain's opener against Senegal while
85,000 were at Wembley on Sunday. A turnout of 74,000 is
expected in Cardiff for the do-or-die game.