Two-thirds of ‘Big Six’ supporters value their club’s success more than England’s fortunes
Despite the outcry over the attempts of England’s so-called ‘big six’ clubs to form a breakaway European Super League earlier this year, a survey has shown that there has been no abdication of support from the teams’ respective fans.
The study, conducted by bookmaker Paddy Power, found that two-thirds of the big six’s English supporters placing greater emphasis on their club’s success than the fortunes of the England national team.
The results are not particularly surprising given the nature of supporting one of England’s biggest clubs, where trophies abound and teams are usually challenging in the upper reaches of the Premier League table.
However, it’s perhaps surprising that there is not a greater affinity for their country among English football fans given the success of Gareth Southgate’s men in reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018.
That run had the nation in an England football frenzy, but three years on the elation of that summer has been forgotten, and the club game has come to rule the roost once again.
The survey did not project only doom and gloom for the England team, as over half of the respondents believe that Southgate will deliver a major international title during his time as manager.
That could happen at summer’s European Championships, with England tipped as favourites in the Euros betting odds. Southgate has picked a total of 17 players from the big six in his provisional 33-man squad, and he’ll be hoping that a deep run in the tournament will see the balance will swing back in England’s favour.
