THE country is bitterly divided, there’s a General Election between the two least popular leaders in history and a senior Royal is discussing his faulty sweat glands on national TV.
But deep in the Balkans, there is a nation which loves us dearly.
The display of St George’s Crosses during the anthem was an amazing spectacleCredit: AP:Associated Press
This was a day when half-and-half scarves were certainly allowedCredit: EPA
And as a result, this visit to Kosovo was an England away trip quite unlike any other.
No hooliganism, booing of national anthems or overzealous local policing here.
Just apple trees, honey bees and snow-white turtle doves in an extraordinary, unadulterated love-in.
Kosovans are eternally grateful to Britain for the role Tony Blair’s government played in sending in Nato troops to their war-torn land, forcing out the Serbs and leading to independence.
And how they showed it here — including with the generosity of some of their defending, as England signed off their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign with an emphatic, if flattering, win.
It sometimes sounds like a meaningless old chestnut to claim that sport brings people together — but there was no mistaking its power for good in Pristina.
The PA announcer at the Stadium Fadil Vokrri opened up with: “There are no words to describe this magnificent night. Welcome to Kosovo, England.
“We are always grateful for your support in our most difficult days when the UK joined allies to liberate Kosovo. Now here we are together 20 years later.”
And after home supporters waved flags of St George, then gleefully chanted the visiting players’ names when the teams were announced, he added: “God bless you, England.”
You can often return from an England away trip feeling thoroughly ashamed of your nationality thanks to the frequent anti-social and abusive behaviour from some of the pond life who follow them.
Yet the Kosovans left you shining with pride — as well as overwhelmed with offers of free beer.
As Gareth Southgate said: “It was an amazing reception. For everyone in Kosovo this was a special night, more than just a football match, and it was a privilege to be part of it.”
There had been banners reading ‘Welcome and Respect’, featuring the poppy, throughout the city.
And others bearing the words ‘Welcome Brothers’ with photos of Raheem Sterling, Danny Rose and Harry Kane.
The Sun’s back page on Saturday, featuring the word ‘Kosovo’ with a love heart, has become a social media phenomenon over here, too.
It almost felt a shame that a fairly meaningless game of football should break out and interrupt all the fondness.
There were supposedly 800,000 applications for tickets to this 13,500-capacity stadium — and it was absolutely rocking as Sheffield Wednesday’s walk-in wardrobe of a striker Atdhe Nuhiu tested Nick Pope with an early header.
Sunday’s game was Kosovo’s biggest since becoming a member of FIFACredit: PA:Press Association
The NATO efforts to end the late 1990s conflict were not forgottenCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But Harry Winks certainly enjoyed the Kosovan hospitality in the 32nd minute when he collected Alex Oxlade- Chamberlain’s angled pass and was waved through by a static Ibrahim Dresevic to net his first England goal.
England’s passing was often sloppy for an hour, though.
Valon Berisha and Amir Rrahmani squandered good chances for an equaliser early in the second half but Marcus Rashford’s arrival in place of Callum Hudson-Odoi livened up Southgate’s side.
Kane hit the post shortly before he stroked home at the far post when Fidan Aliti miscued a Sterling cross.
The third goal was England’s best, Sterling sending through Rashford to stroke home first-time, before Mason Mount added his first England goal after Kane had robbed Dresevic.
This has been a curious campaign in all for England.
They have scored a startling 37 goals in eight matches, including 12 for the gluttonous Kane.
Yet some of their defending has been shoddy and defeat in the Czech Republic brought their worst performance in years.
This team seems to get younger by the game — and is perhaps too inexperienced to win next summer’s tournament.
But they can certainly be thrilling to watch and, as Southgate stated, no one will relish facing them.
Some of those younger players fluffed their lines here. Trent Alexander-Arnold was unusually poor, while Hudson-Odoi’s darting runs had no end product.
Others, including Winks, Rashford and Ben Chilwell, are looking like proper international footballers now.
As for Kosovo — such a young footballing nation, who shone in attack during their 5-3 defeat at Southampton in September — they now visit neighbours North Macedonia in the first of two play-off rounds for a stab at next summer’s finals.
Should they make it to Euro 2020, the Kosovans will certainly be very welcome.
Gareth Southgate speaks about England performance after beating Kosovo 0-4 in Euro 2020 qualifier
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
