It was a tough week for
England.
First, the UK voted to
leave the European Union, a decision that has left many people scratching their
heads as the British economy tanks and the pound continues to nosedive into free fall. “But we’ve taken our country back!” say the
supporters of Brexit jubilantly. At least the ones without buyer’s remorse. It’s not clear what “taking our
country back” means since the UK would be no more sovereign as non-member state
than it is presently as member of the EU. And the promise made by supporters of Brexit, that
the money going to the EU can instead go to national healthcare has been exposed as a lie. Some have suggested that breaking away from the EU will
mean that the UK can better control its border though just how or why is unclear. The UK is not part of the Schengen Area,
meaning the British government (not the EU) already has full control over the UK’s
borders. Many have explained the vote as
nothing less than the triumph of nativist, xenophobic, nationalist hysteria spread about by
ambitious demagogues. Imagine that. Bewildered Americans should not be too smug.
Then
things got even worse. England’s 2-1
loss to Iceland in the Round of 16 of the Euros is one of the biggest upsets in European soccer history. It's true that England has in recent years been a bit delusional about their soccer ambitions. And yes, anyone who watched the qualifying campaign and Group matches would have noticed that Iceland is
for real and that England’s play has been a bit shaky. Still, for a traditional
powerhouse like England to lose to a tiny island nation with a population half
the size of Vermont is stunning. (Supposedly, 10% of all Icelanders are in France watching the tournament.) England hasn’t endured this kind of humiliation by Scandinavians since Torkfell the Tall sacked Canterbury in 1012.
Many Americans know
Iceland only as the place where Game
of Thrones films the scenes north of the Wall. (It's the primitive land of endless winter, where the White Walkers dwell, threatening to breach the Wall with an army of the dead. The
scenery is beautiful and tourism in Iceland is booming.) But the Brits have tussled with Iceland before. Beginning
in the 1950s the UK and Iceland clashed over fishing rights in a series of
confrontations known as the Cod Wars. It may have been the closest two NATO
nations have ever come to a shooting war. The NATO-negotiated settlement largely favored Iceland. England’s
fishing industry has been in decline ever since.
And Iceland isn’t
finished. On Sunday, Iceland plays
France in the Quarterfinals in the Stade de France, just north of Paris. The stadium is less than two miles from the medieval Basilica of Saint Denis where France buried its kings for centuries. France is the host country of Euro 2016 and Les Blues, having come from behind to beat Ireland 2-1, will like their chances against Iceland. They
should be wary. The French were also
overconfident in the year 845 A.D. when Viking ships ran up the Seine and sacked Paris.
Take nothing for
granted.
______________________________________________
