Majority of readers call for anthem change
England's men's football team have been urged to replace 'God Save The King' with an alternative national anthem, following a poll of Express Sport readers. Out of over 4,000 votes, 55 per cent said they want the traditional pre-match song scrapped, while 45 per cent prefer to keep it.
The debate reignited after Scotland's rendition of 'Flower of Scotland' was widely praised during their 1-0 win over Haiti in the World Cup. England, unlike Scotland, do not have an official national anthem, and the football team has historically used 'God Save The King' (or 'God Save The Queen' during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II).
Jerusalem tops replacement options
Among those seeking a change, 44 per cent voted for Edward Elgar's 'Land of Hope and Glory', written in 1901 and used at the Commonwealth Games until 2010. Another 40 per cent chose William Blake and Hubert Parry's 'Jerusalem', while 15 per cent favoured 'I Vow To Thee My Country'. Many English people feel that 'Land of Hope and Glory' best represents the country and would provide a more stirring and patriotic anthem than one about the Royal Family.
In other sports, England's rugby team previously used 'Land of Hope and Glory', and the cricket team famously uses 'Jerusalem' at home Test matches. The football team, however, has stuck with 'God Save The King' for nearly 300 years.
Tuchel hopes for Oasis anthem
Meanwhile, England head coach Thomas Tuchel expressed hope that Oasis hit 'Wonderwall' could become a post-match anthem for the Three Lions. The 1998 Britpop tune was sung by fans and players inside AT&T Stadium after England's 4-2 win over Croatia in their World Cup opener. Tuchel said: "Hopefully, it becomes an anthem because that's exactly what a tournament like this is for. It's for the connection between fans and the team – they felt the energy, the team spirit. It was a beautiful moment and it meant a lot to all of us. Hopefully, we can recreate this in the next game."
The debate over England's national anthem continues to divide opinion, with fans and officials alike weighing in on whether tradition or a more rousing alternative should take precedence.
