WHEN England lost in the European Championship final to Spain, I was pleased as Spain were the much better team and it also meant the end of Gareth Southgate’s managership and his awful football.

At least he sang the National Anthem.

Lee Carsley is the interim manager and I admit the football under his stewardship is much better but he does not sing the National Anthem.

I admit I am old school.

I am prejudiced to anyone not singing their anthem, whether our anthem or any other country.

I love it when players sing their hearts out during their anthem.

Some of our ethnic minority players are more enthusiastic than our non-ethnic players.

I also admit our anthem is nowhere as good as, say, the French or the Welsh, and Flower of Scotland is my favourite.

I can remember the days when the anthem was played at the end of the pictures and half the audience would leave beforehand, but I never did.

Lee Carsley, are you not proud of your country?

It is more noticeable because you are the manager and born in England, Birmingham, where I was born.

If you are appointed as full-time manager, and however successful you become, I will always look forward to your departure.

Thomas Ball, Barnard Castle.