North of the border

Writing in the Guardian, Professor Richard Holt of the International Centre for Sports History and Culture (now there's somewhere I'd like to study) at De Montfort University, explores a different perspective in sports reporting:

Compare the press reactions to Wembley 1966 and Sydney 2003. The Scotsman's leading headline of August 1 1966 ran: Lyceum to Change Play Policy. An Edinburgh theatre's choice of plays was clearly more important than anything else. There was no mention of England's victory anywhere on the front page and no picture until page 11, which showed "the West German football team hailed as the 'real world champions' on their return".

The Herald put this triumphal image of the West German team on the front page, confining England to a couple of columns and a photo on page four. "Team spirit gains England the Cup," ran the headline, reflecting the widespread Scottish view that England lacked creativity. "Flair" in football was Scottish.