So England are out.

Even if you’ve only had the most cursory glance at the football over the past few weeks you’re sure to have heard about England’s defeat to Germany.

Now, most football fans I know out there have either given up or started supporting their next favourite nation. But the real question is, if you’re not half English and half something else, who is there to support as a full-blooded Englishman?

Well, if you can take the pain Germany is the natural choice, as we share quite a bit of our gene pool with them, since we’re all from the same Anglo-Saxon descent. But I have a feeling anyone watching that savage defeat isn’t quite ready to switch support from Rooney to Klose, though they both get red  cards (how could anyone ever forget Rooney’s temper?) and score goals (well, not yet for Rooney, but there’s always next world cup!)

We certainly can’t support their opposition, the Brazilians, out of anything more than a love of their skill, and ability to move the ball. The same, unfortunately is true for the Argentina team, the Netherlands and Uruguay. Paraguay have yet to prove themselves, but as brits we have no link to them.

That leaves us with Spain and Ghana. Spain are the old enemy, whom we constantly fought in the 16th and 17th century, and even later, thanks to Queen Liz, and Sir Francis Drake.

So Ghana is the only team we have left. Ghana might seem like a strange choice because they’re an African team, not even from Europe, and they’re members of La Francophonie, so they can’t have anything to do with us, can they?

Well, yes, actually. From the 16th and 17th century England has had colonies in Ghana, and it was even a protectorate of the crown between 1874 and 1957.

Michael Essien

Many of their players play in the premiership, including their vice-captain and keeper, Richard Kingson, who plays for Wigan Athletic. John Pansil, a defender, plays for Fulham, and Kevin-Prince Boateng, who has impressed so far at this tournament, plays his club football at Portsmouth. Essien, our Chelsea superstar, belongs in the squad, but has been kept out by injury. If you’re an avid Chelsea fan, you might be contented with a player from the Ghanaian tribute team, Bechem Chelsea, whose kit are inspired by Chelsea, and for whom Lee Addy, a 19 year old, capped 14 times for Ghana, plays.

Anyone supporting Ghana, it seems, will be in good company, as the hopes of the entire African Continent are now pinned on them. Good luck Ghana!