England rather ingloriously left the World Cup without even getting out of their group (finishing with no wins and only one point.) Perhaps because of this, and to my benefit, England merchandise has been discounted throughout the web. Although USA is my primary team and France my secondary (followed by Japan), I have little connection with England that would cause me to have any kind of emotional connection with the team. First, I’m not a fan of its past colonialist ways, and who’s a fan of the monarchy? Still, I have let bygones be (and my own government is not exactly good and pure.) Secondly, when I last visited London I met a host of rude people, one after another, from staffers working the Tube to wait staff in restaurants. (Contrast this with the friendly Parisians I met in France and the polite and amiable people I met in Japan.) Anyway, I do have a fascination with British culture, including music, actresses, and literature. And of all the kits in the World Cup, the English designs are by far the best in my opinion. France’s clothing design is sharp as well, in sleek dark blue and white, but the Gallic Rooster is not as appealing as England’s regal three lions. The kit designs as well are eye-catching, from the bold red of the away kit to the crisp, understated elegant all white of the home kit. So after England was ousted I took the opportunity to pick up an English kit (white) for nearly half off. I contemplated getting the matching shorts as well, which features a smaller matching three lions crest on the leg. Perhaps, whether permitting, I shall be an English footballer for Halloween this fall.