In Focus – UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 Finalists

Considered to the birthplace of the modern game, football in England is a national institution. With hundreds of professional and semi professional men’s and women’s teams across the country, you are never far from a football ground.

Football culture in England is a major part of society. Some cities have many teams within it’s boundaries, some less than a mile from each other. This can cause rivalries, even between families! The image of football hooliganism in England was prominent in the 1990’s, this has subsided in recent years. Football has now returned to a form of family entertainment in England. It is now common to see families and young children attending matches.

Due to the popularity of the sport in the UK and the calibre of teams, players from across the world come to England. Nations such as Korea, Brazil, Argentina and Venezuela are all represented in the Premier League. This inclusion of players from multiple nations makes English football teams some of the most diverse in the world. In turn, this attracts fans from across the world to come to England to watch their favourite team play.

This range of nationalities in the top flight football league is also reflected in the country’s population. With other 300 different languages spoken across the UK, it is one of the most diverse countries in Europe. Native English speakers however tend to have a limited knowledge of other languages. It is important then to have a basic grasp of English when visiting the country. At Cactus we offer a range of English language courses for every level. Perfect for your next visit to the UK.

As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, millions of people visit the UK every year. This year has seen an influx of visitors due to the Women’s Euro 2022 tournament being hosted in the country. With popular cities such as London, Manchester and Liverpool, the cultural side of England spreads far from just football. Visitors to the UK can expect to see Historical sites dating back as far as the Romans, a vibrant performing arts scene and beautiful countryside.

The capital city, London, is compact and easy to navigate thanks to the TfL Underground and Bus network. With famous landmarks within a stones throw of each other, it is no wonder that London is such a popular destination. The combination of monuments, museums, restaurants and theatres make it the ideal location to visit or study in.

One of the most dominant forces in international football, Germany have 17 tournament wins across the men’s and women’s game. Their footballing prowess is undeniable and will be a tough challenge for England in the Women’s Euro 2022 final.

Considered to be the most popular sport in the country, football started life in Germany in 1874. The first match was initiated by two schoolteachers who had obtained a round ‘football’ during a visit to England. Since then the sport has spread across the country with over 31,000 clubs being members of the DFB (German Football Association).

Thanks to the country’s status as ‘The Powerhouse of Europe’, the popularity of German football teams has grown across the world. This has increased the desire of many international players to transfer to these teams from across the world.

A notable feature of many German football teams is their cultural relevance, most dating back to the clubs origins. Bayern Munich are a prime example of this. As a club they represent Bavarian identity and are one of the most popular teams in the country. The irony of this is that outside of Bavaria, this state is generally considered a different country by most Germans.

Outside of football, there is so much to discover in Germany. Covering over 137,000 square miles, this sprawling central European country can offer delights for any visitor.