At the end of this week football’s World Cup 2014 gets under way in Brazil. Amidst their preparations the England team have been told by their manager to sing the national anthem at the start of each game.

Some commentators have said the manager is wrong and it should be a matter of choice for the individual player.

Maybe it should, and I’m all for freedom of choice but, I really cannot understand why any proud sportsman selected to play for his country, particularly at the highest level, would not want to bellow out his national anthem until his lungs are fit to burst.

It certainly doesn’t appear to be a problem for most other nations.