Rob Boulton: Supporting England is a Passion Lost For Many Manchester United Fans

The summer of 1998 won’t be remembered fondly by supporters of Manchester United, with a fine Arsenal side proving just too strong in the league and our young English midfield prodigy flicking out a leg at the world cup to send the nation into meltdown.

The few days that David Beckham experienced in France during that fateful summer probably summed up the highs and lows of football perfectly.

A hugely gifted young midfield player, Beckham had established himself as a regular in Manchester United’s midfield across the previous two seasons – and went to France with a point to prove on the biggest international stage.

A majestic curling free kick against Colombia on June 26th sealed a very impressive 2-0 win, and helped send England through to the knockout stages.

The nation dared to dream as a hungry side made up of a number of young players started to look like a real threat in the tournament, however, just four days after being lauded as a superstar in the making, Beckham’s world collapsed.

His flick of the leg after a heavy challenge from behind by Diego Simeone was petulant, but the Argentine’s subsequent reaction and the red card which followed did more than just cost him and England the chance of victory on that warm June evening.

England were out, the dream was over – but the vitriolic abuse awaiting him as the team touched down on home soil was on a level never seen before or since.

Death threats, bullets posted through his door, effigys hung on the streets and a media who rounded on him, and made him the scapegoat for England’s failure, were what he and his family were suddenly subjected to.

Beckham recounts only being spoken to in the dressing room by his United team-mates, and eventually Tony Adams who had some consoling words – but he admits to collapsing into his father’s arms that night as emotions took over.

Whilst the nation rounded on him, his club and, in particular, his manager Sir Alex Ferguson made it very clear he would be fully supported – and an already fierce siege mentality around the club was only strengthened as a result.

In that 1998/99 season Beckham was subjected to constant abuse everywhere he went with club and country, with anti-United songs being sung at Wembley – and other United players targeted for their association with Beckham.

Old Trafford supporters responded by not only offering Beckham constant vocal support, but also by using anti-England songs to goad opposition fans, who failed to see the irony in the situation and responded with twisted rage.

It is to his immense credit he found the mental strength to not only cope with the abuse directed at him, but to re-focus and produce consistently outstanding performances – culminating in the treble the following May.

For United supporters, however, there was now a clear split in terms of club v country loyalties, with many so disgusted at the actions of the England support they couldn’t enjoy international matches any longer and switched off from it altogether.

Some couldn’t let go and continued to support the nation of their birth as well as the club they loved, but with the abuse intensifying and raised again in 2000 when Phil Neville gave away a crucial penalty against Romania to help send England out of Euro 2000, enough was enough for many.

Beckham repaired a lot of his damage with the winning penalty against Argentina in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, however Neville was deeply affected by the abuse he suffered and struggled to regain his confidence.

As England prepare to journey to France once more to compete in the European Championships this summer, hopes are once again raised by the prospect of a vibrant young team emerging from the shadows of Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and co.

For many United supporters, though, the scars of the last major tournament played across the channel still run deep, and their interest will be merely to ensure no United players suffer injury or to scout a potential new signing.

Beckham and Neville are long since retired – but a passion that once burned strongly for England has simply never been rekindled since those dark days 18 years ago.