England v USA 12Th June 2010

It's not actually a "national anthem" in the true sense of the word is it. It doesn't extoll the virtues of the nation it extolls the virtues of the monarch. Two other football teams of the United kingdom choose not to have it as their anthem anyway.......................the Scots use "Flower of Scotland" and the Welsh, "Land Of My Fathers". The anthem of England is "Land Of Hope & Glory" and just as we play under the flag of England we should sing the anthem of England, to play "God Save The Queen" is as outdated and ridiculous as playing under the Union Flag.

We are England, as simple as that!

Ok, the germans moved it around well and looked a half decent side.........but the aussies were shocking, old and slow at the back and lightweight, half-hearted and slow in midfield, they seem to have gone backwards since the last world cup at an alarming rate.

After the stress of last night, tonight was one of those pleasant games to watch as a neutral, when its equally satisfying to see either side humped

They go in for all that because they know their countries are largely irrelevant nobodies. The English should be above such nonsense.

I'm rather fond of the national anthem actually. And hearing it played for England is sure to irritate the gawping Welsh and Scots as they rage in impotent failure.

I just wish they'd dub it in whatever language the opposition players and fans speak – they’d probably still be laughing after the game had kicked off.

I agree Dave. I love to see players singing the national anthem with pride and passion. The Welsh and New Zealand Rugby teams do this with enormous passion and pride which must help them to launch themselves into a great start to the game.

Well, that was a very uninspiring performance from the English team. Here in Holland we feel that our defense is the weakest part of the team but Carragher...

Lennon was causing some problems, would be better if you had two wingers who could take on the opposition. Milner poor and SWP hadn't got a clue out there. Gerrard and Lampard near invisible although a good finish from the skipper! Rooney, who? And Heskey works hard but can't finish.

Isn't it better to play Rooney as the lone striker with Gerrard and/or Lampard playing off him? 4-5-1, two wingers with pace, Lampard and Gerrard central with a defensive midfielder behind them.

Joe Hart for a start? The guy's been brilliant this season.

Oh and Torquay United got a mention on Dutch National television, the commentator saw some TUFC flags before the game!

Had I ever been good enough to play for England I certainly wouldn't have sung along to the National Anthem, and I certainly don't sing along to it whenever it is played at sporting events I attend.

While it includes the line: "Rebellious Scots to crush" I feel I would be showing disrespect to my Scottish grandparents by singing anything that alludes to the Scottish as enemies of my country. Even if they are!

If the Queen were to publicly reject the sixth verse and pass some law that removed it from the National Anthem, then I would probably feel differently.

I've always felt that a national anthem should be something that extols the virtues and qualities of that nation, not insults or abuses other nations. Which is why I would prefer Elgar's Land of Hope And Glory, with it's pointer to ours being a free land. Even though the tune is a bit "ploddy".

"Jerusalem" is more tuneful and flowing, but being forced to listen to it being belted out at various England Test matches over the past few years has put me right off it.