Tuchel may scorn politics, but his England team cannot escape their symbolism | Jonathan Liew

As toxic nationalism spills over into our shared spaces, the England shirt is freighted with meaning for better or worseThe crosses of St George are flying all around me. Fair to say the opening line of Three Lions ’98 hits a little differently in 2025. The crosses of St George are being daubed on an Islamic centre in Basildon. The crosses of St George are being used to deface a Chinese takeaway in York. The crosses of St George are draped over men shouting at a three-star hotel from a mini-roundabout. The crosses of St George are retailing for about £2.36 on Temu, depending on whether you want them car-window sized, or big enough to write the words “GET OFF MY LAND” in the white spaces.Keir Starmer has declared that he is “a supporter of flags”. Alas, at the time of writing the prime minister’s position on other items of tactile fabric remains unclear. What does he think about blankets? Does he endorse or condemn the dishcloth? Not to be outdone, the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, disclosed that she has St George’s bunting on display at home. “I would put them up anywhere,” she confirmed, which – anatomically speaking – is not an image any of us needed right now. Continue reading...

Comments

Football news

Chelsea brutally leave summer signing out of Champions League squad

Metro

Chelsea summer signing is awkwardly left OUT of Enzo Maresca's Champions League squad just days after revealing he moved for the 'opportunity to play' in Europe's top competition

about 4 hours ago

Dailymail

Revealed: The clubs with the biggest net losses in the transfer window as SIX Premier League sides and Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr make the top 10 - but who raised the most?

about 4 hours ago

Dailymail

Thelwell set to host peace talks between Rangers manager Martin and unsettled star Raskin after international break

about 4 hours ago

Dailymail

Revealed: The £30m signing who has been surprisingly left out of Tottenham's Champions League squad as Spurs exclude SIX stars

about 4 hours ago

Dailymail

Fit-again Hickey sets World Cup target after ending two years of injury hell at Brentford

about 4 hours ago

Dailymail

Premier League cult hero is sacked by National League club just months after being appointed manager following woeful start to the new season

about 4 hours ago

Dailymail

Lucas Paqueta in talks to SUE the FA - as bombshell document exposes 'surprising, concerning and contradictory flaws' in spot-fixing trial

about 4 hours ago

Phil Jones tells Man Utd wonderkid to ‘be ready’ for first-team role this season

Metro

Inside story of Newcastle's most traumatic transfer window ever: Futile targets, a bad back that nearly blew star signing, jaw-dropping full story of how close Yoane Wissa move came to deadline-day disaster and the huge question Saudi owners MUST answer

about 6 hours ago

Dailymail

World's largest illegal sports streaming platform 'is shut down' by authorities - with 'two arrests made' after website network chalked up over 1.6BILLION visits over the past year

about 6 hours ago

Dailymail

Man United's £86m flop Antony claims he REJECTED approach from Champions League giant before completing emotional move to Real Betis on deadline day

about 6 hours ago

Premier League star switches international allegiance after years of being snubbed by England

Dailymail

Comments

Similar News

England star Morgan Rogers disagrees with Thomas Tuchel over Jude Bellingham

England star shares true feelings on Thomas Tuchel after turning down request

Thomas Tuchel has a clear England vision - but one major change is needed at World Cup 2026

Former Premier League star 'gets first England call-up in SIX years' - as Thomas Tuchel adds to his squad after Adam Wharton injury

David Moyes' verdict on Jack Grealish gives England boss Thomas Tuchel food for thought

Thomas Tuchel springs England call-up surprise with 'midfielder earning his first EVER national team selection' in squad to be announced today

Thomas Tuchel apologises to Jude Bellingham after claiming his own mum was 'REPULSED' by Real Madrid star's behaviour

Ben White gives verdict on his England future under Thomas Tuchel after defender's self-imposed exile saw him refuse to play for Gareth Southgate

Revealed: Why Thomas Tuchel has turned to Elliot Anderson as his surprise squad pick - and what it will mean for Declan Rice in Three Lions' midfield

Trent Alexander-Arnold almost provides sensational assist for Real Madrid team-mate Kylian Mbappe - a day after snub from Thomas Tuchel's England squad

England squad announcement: Thomas Tuchel explains reason for axeing Trent Alexander-Arnold - and there's a warning for Kobbie Mainoo too as Marcus Rashford is recalled

Thomas Tuchel finally has chance to fine-tune England after Senegal boos

Thomas Tuchel has plenty to mull over before naming England squad for qualifiers

Gareth Southgate issues update on his future in football over a year after England exit - as he sends World Cup vow to Thomas Tuchel

Football news

Chelsea brutally leave summer signing out of Champions League squad

Aberdeen Conference League squad locked in as four summer signings fail to make the cut

Rangers Europa League squad confirmed as major Nicolas Raskin call made

Celtic Europa League squad confirmed as four summer signings omitted

Chelsea name Champions League squad as new signing cruelly left out by Enzo Maresca

Marc Guehi's behaviour in England training says it all after Liverpool transfer collapse

Rio Ferdinand says two signings would have saved Man Utd from post-Sir Alex Ferguson woes

'Childish' Bruno Fernandes is not fit to captain Man Utd, says Liverpool legend

Man Utd wonderkid, 17, told to prepare for first-team role after 'bullying' opposition

England U17s match is suspended for FIFTY minutes amid claims the Young Lions were racially abused by opponents

West Ham star Lucas Paqueta in talks to sue the Football Association

Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman sets new record after debut for England U19s

Injured Arsenal star left out of Champions League squad by Mikel Arteta

Jude Bellingham’s ‘will to win’ is example to England team-mates – Morgan Rogers

Liverpool axe forward from Champions League squad weeks after scoring dramatic winner

Why Federico Chiesa was left out of Liverpool’s Champions League squad

Mohamed Salah hits back at post ‘disrespecting’ former Liverpool teammates

Dermot Desmond breaks Celtic cover amid summer transfer fallout as supremo spotted with global superstar

Liverpool: Rio Ngumhoa preferred to Federico Chiesa as Arne Slot names Champions League squad

Chelsea: Alejandro Garnacho shirt number revealed following £40m move from Manchester United

Chelsea: Alejandro Garnacho included but one summer signing misses out on Champions League squad

England star Morgan Rogers disagrees with Thomas Tuchel over Jude Bellingham

Federico Chiesa forced out of Liverpool's Champions League squad as Rio Ngumoha makes cut

Michael Owen takes aim at Harry Kane for 'nuts' career decision - 'I don't see it'

Tottenham name Champions League squad as £30m summer signing among six players left out

Marc Guehi's feelings on Liverpool transfer speak volumes as Barcelona and Real Madrid emerge

Former Premier League star hit by truck while helping horror road crash victims

Chelsea summer signing is awkwardly left OUT of Enzo Maresca's Champions League squad just days after revealing he moved for the 'opportunity to play' in Europe's top competition

Revealed: The clubs with the biggest net losses in the transfer window as SIX Premier League sides and Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr make the top 10 - but who raised the most?

Thelwell set to host peace talks between Rangers manager Martin and unsettled star Raskin after international break

Revealed: The £30m signing who has been surprisingly left out of Tottenham's Champions League squad as Spurs exclude SIX stars

Fit-again Hickey sets World Cup target after ending two years of injury hell at Brentford

Premier League cult hero is sacked by National League club just months after being appointed manager following woeful start to the new season

Lucas Paqueta in talks to SUE the FA - as bombshell document exposes 'surprising, concerning and contradictory flaws' in spot-fixing trial

Phil Jones tells Man Utd wonderkid to ‘be ready’ for first-team role this season

Argentina boss sends message to Emiliano Martinez after failed Man Utd transfer

Craig Bellamy confident Wales can cope with lengthy list of absentees

FA will not appeal against decision to clear Lucas Paqueta of spot-fixing

Arsenal: Max Dowman included in Champions League squad as Gabriel Jesus omitted

Tottenham: Thomas Frank sends clear message as six stars miss out on Champions League squad

Michael Owen: Premier League legend issues Manchester United verdict and makes Harry Kane claim

Green Brigade and 101 Celtic fan groups send seven point open letter to board with scathing warning

The Chelsea injury hammer blow that cost Celtic Kasper Dolberg transfer during incredible deadline day chain reaction

Celtic and Rangers part of Premiership fixture shake-up to accommodate Europa League ties as TV picks confirmed

Ryan Reynolds suffers Wrexham headache after record-breaking summer transfer window

Michael Owen sides with Trent Alexander-Arnold over Liverpool fans who 'never get it'

How Man Utd offloaded most of their £173m Bomb Squad to give Ruben Amorim what he wanted

Inside story of Newcastle's most traumatic transfer window ever: Futile targets, a bad back that nearly blew star signing, jaw-dropping full story of how close Yoane Wissa move came to deadline-day disaster and the huge question Saudi owners MUST answer

World's largest illegal sports streaming platform 'is shut down' by authorities - with 'two arrests made' after website network chalked up over 1.6BILLION visits over the past year

Man United's £86m flop Antony claims he REJECTED approach from Champions League giant before completing emotional move to Real Betis on deadline day

Premier League star switches international allegiance after years of being snubbed by England

Fermin Lopez breaks silence over £34m Chelsea transfer bid

Tottenham’s Djed Spence on his England call-up: ‘I have a mental note of people who doubted me’

Mohamed Salah slams fan ‘disrespect’ towards ex-Liverpool forwards Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez

Mohamed Salah blasts ‘disrespectful’ Liverpool fan account over Alexander Isak post

Troy Deeney ‘underwhelmed’ by Chelsea’s deadline-day deal

FA will not appeal against decision to clear Lucas Paqueta of spot-fixing

Sweden manager provides Alexander Isak fitness update after record Liverpool move

WSL and WSL2 to introduce minimum salaries from this season

Emile Heskey says he’s been ‘blown away’ by one Premier League summer signing