Dump Rooney if he won't sing the National Anthem

By KELVIN MACKENZIE

PUBLISHED: 22:35 GMT, 1 June 2012 | UPDATED: 09:10 GMT, 4 June 2012

With all the bunting and Union Jacks cheering up our High Streets, and the universal outpouring of affection towards the Queen, I wonder if I might address the one section of society that doesn’t appear to want to join in.

Step forward the overpaid and occasionally violent half-wits in our England football team. I have become increasingly irritated at their unwillingness to sing the National Anthem before matches.

Why is this? Are they incapable of learning it? I recognise their brains are in their feet, but look at the Welsh or Irish sides when they turn out. Full of pride in their country. 

The English football team seem increasingly reluctant to sing the national anthem before matches

And what do we get? Wayne Rooney mumbling into his syrup (syrup of figs — wigs) or simply not moving his lips at all. Could I suggest to the new England manager, Roy Hodgson, that before the 90,000 sell-out friendly against Belgium at Wembley tonight he insists the entire team sing their hearts out and if they refuse, he tells them he will drop them from the Euros.

He should take the cue from the manager of Serbia’s national team, who did just that after one of his squad failed to sing the national anthem before their team’s recent friendly match against Spain. 

The player was told he needed to ‘change his attitude’ and to notify the manager when he had.

Ultimatum: England manager Roy Hodgson should insist that if players don't sing the National Anthem then they will be out of the Euro 2012 squad

How is it that the 90,000 very hard-up England fans are more patriotic in voice than the XI being paid to entertain them?