They’re not Brazil they’re Norn Iron

A SURVEY by the Guardian newspaper has found that the North of Ireland soccer team (jokingly called ‘Northern Ireland’ by its supporters) is the second most successful international side in the history of the World Cup.

And there’s more. Scotland is the fourth most successful, and the Republic of Ireland the 10th.

You probably thought it was the likes of Brazil, Germany or maybe Holland. But no, we can show a clean pair of heels to them. If, of course, you take population into account.

That’s what the Guardian did. And accordingly Norn Iron, with its 1.8million people, is the smallest ‘country’ ever to reach the quarter finals.

This puts them in second place just behind leaders Uruguay.

The South American state, with a population of 3.3million, has won the World Cup twice, and this year reached the semi-finals.

Scotland, with a population of 5million, have qualified for the World Cup on seven occasions putting them in fourth place just behind Sweden, while Ireland’s showing at the 1990 finals puts them in 10th place, well ahead of England who came in at number 17.

Good news, of course, but I’m bereft that the World Cup is finished. In fact, I miss the sound of the vuvuzelas so much I’ve tied a beehive to my head.