Giggs tells fans not to follow his lead on Brit anthem

BRITAIN’s Welsh captain Ryan Giggs hopes fans do not boo the British national anthem when the team play their decisive group match against Uruguay in Wales tomorrow.

The anthem could get an icy response in Cardiff because of the Football Association of Wales’ opposition to the idea of a British team, which it shares with the Scots and Northern Irish who fear the concept may erode their independence within Fifa, world soccer’s governing body.

Many Welsh, Irish and Scottish fans feel the same way. The four parts of the UK, including England, compete as individual teams in non-Olympic international soccer.

Any snub of the song before the match in Wales would embarrass Britain’s Olympic organisers who put Queen Elizabeth at the heart of Friday’s opening cere- mony with a virtuoso role as a “Bond girl” alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig.

Some Welsh players, including Giggs, did not sing “God Save The Queen” before Sunday’s game or against Senegal in their opening match on Thursday.

Cardiff-born Giggs, who scored the opening goal in Britain’s 3-1 win over the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, hopes Welsh fans do not boo the song even though, in a somewhat convoluted explanation, he said he did not sing it for personal reasons.

“It’s a personal thing. The British anthem is the same for a Welshman, Scotsman or an Englishman,” he said.

“It’s difficult but it’s not an issue for us. It might be for other people but, once the game starts, we’re all pulling in the same direction and I think that’s the main thing.

“I hope it won’t get booed and I hope the fans will get behind us as in our first two games.”

I’m still disappointed not to play in a World Cup, a Euro or a major tournament and now this is something I’m relishing

Giggs, who on Sunday became the oldest player to score in Olympic soccer, was one of five Welsh players in the starting lineup as Britain took a significant step towards the quarterfinals.

They will secure their place in the last eight as long as they avoid defeat against Uruguay, who surprisingly lost 2-0 to Senegal in the first match of Sunday’s doubleheader at Wembley.

“It will mean a lot to all of the Welsh lads to play in our stadium, our own backyard, so it will be a great occasion,” Giggs said.

The Welshman broke an 88- year-old record by scoring at the age of 38 years and 243 days on Sunday. He also became the oldest man to play in the tournament.

After his goal, the United Arab Emirates equalised before substitute Scott Sinclair scored with his first touch and fellow sub Daniel Sturridge made it 3-1 to Britain with a superb chip.

Giggs continued: “It was a very important win, especially after the Senegal result and the pressure was on. I’m still disappointed not to play in a World Cup, a Euro or a major tournament and now this is something I’m relishing.”

Manager Stuart Pearce added: “I’ve been absolutely delighted with the support we’ve had, certainly in numbers, at Manchester and at Wembley. I think that will continue again in Cardiff.”

A crowd of 72 000 saw Britain’s opener against Senegal while 85 000 were at Wembley on Sunday. A turnout of 74 000 is expected in Cardiff.

Meanwhile, the idea of women playing soccer at the Olympics would have been unthinkable the last time the event was staged in London in 1948, but today a record crowd of 70 000 is expected for Britain’s match against Brazil at Wembley Stadium.

Having won their opening group matches, both teams have qualified for the quarterfinals and Britain’s coach Hope Powell could hardly contain her excitement at the prospect of facing the gold medal favourites.

Powell, 45, who has coached England for 13 years, has long hoped for the day when women’s soccer could grab the limelight and prove, in Britain at least, that it is, as she says, “a real sport that deserves to be recognised”. Her time has finally come. Britain opened the Olympics when they beat New Zealand 1-0 last week, and qualified for the last eight with a 3-0 win over Cameroon. The Brazilian team includes Marta, the five-time world player of the year. Reuters