An article by Telegraph has offered English fans some advice on how they can emulate the Welsh fans in a World Cup. The piece, written by Welshman Chris Bennion, was published ahead of Wales game against England on Wednesday in the group stage of the tournament in Qatar.
Although the newspaper's TV editor did not "entirely [rule] out Wales's chances of beating England' in the highly anticipated match, he did acknowledge that the "dream [could] be over" for the men in red. As a result, he offered ways in which England fans could learn from the "joyous" and "courteous" Welsh fans of the tournament.
The writer noted five key things to learn, which was for the fans to enjoy themselves, be good tourists, connect with their culture, have an anthem they could "belt out" and find their own Michael Sheen. During the article, the writer praised the Red Wall as "one joyous, bubbling, close-harmony-singing wave of joy, drinking in every moment as they go". He then went on to suggest to English fans to "enjoy being at the greatest football tournament there is".
He also said that "Wales fans leave an impression wherever they go" and took Côr Aelwyd Dyffryn Clwyd singing Calon Lân on the Doha Metro as a prime example. A clip of the performance made its rounds on social media and garnered positive responses all over the world. Chris Bennion described the performance as a "moment so out of step with British football fandom it seems like a hallucination".
Chris Bennion then went on to talk about the Welsh language, which "once seen as something that divided people in Wales - is back in fashion". While the whole world got to see Cymru football team and their fans sing Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau, "something which put the wind up USA fans on social media", Chris said that England fans seemed "a little embarrassed by the dire dirge that is God Save the King".
The final thing the writer suggested that England fans emulated was to find their own Michael Sheen. In recent months, the Port Talbot-born actor has motivated Rob Page's men and a whole nation ahead of the tournament with his powerful speeches. Chris Bennion asked: "Can England find their Sheen?" and suggested they should not go with the character of Smithy in BBC's sitcom Gavin & Stacey.
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