A NORTH Belfast publican is offering free shots to anyone turning up in a Denmark jersey for tonight's Euro semi-final clash.
By his own admission Gerard Fitzpatrick has joined the #AnyoneButEngland bandwagon - for reasons unrelated to soccer.
The latest flag to fly outside his eponymous bar on Great Georges Street is that of Denmark who Gareth Southgate's men take on later at Wembley Stadium.
Like other bars in republican parts of the city, including the Rock Bar on Falls Road, before that it has been Germany and Scotland among other opponents of the England national football team during the Euros this summer.
"It's England. We're Irish. They occupied our country," Mr Fitzpatrick said. "(I'm) 100 per cent anybody but England.
"They're going home with nothing. I'm not a football fan, but the punters in the bar are all talking about it and it's a great atmosphere when they play. If they win the tournament the punters in the bar will not be happy."
And he's willing to put the bar's money where its allegiance is.
"Anyone wearing a Denmark jersey gets a free shot."
However U105 broadcaster Frank Mitchell and former GAA player takes a different view of things.
An enthusiastic Northern Ireland supporter he said: "There's nothing gives me greater joy than when Northern Ireland beat England, but I'm 100 per cent behind England winning. I'd like them to win it."
He has he says "cheered every goal" they have scored in this competition.
"Scotland and Wales are now out of it and I have had so much admiration for Gareth Southgate. I have been ipmressed by him as a footballer and as a bloke. He is so focused. I's like to seem them win it for him."
Mr Mitchell said he has also been swayed to support the team and been "greatly impressed by Raheem Sterling", a player with his favourite premier league side Manchester City - to which end he is keen to see his team-mate Phil Foden have more match time.
His daughter's imminent marriage to an Englishman has softened his feelings about a team whose media "can be annoying sometimes - they never stop talking about 1966".
"I'm always keen to see them toppled by Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Republic or anyone else playing locally. I support Northern Ireland first and then the Republic if they are playing.
"I did have a bit of a smirk last time when Iceland beet them in the last competition (2016 Euros).
"But then in this campaign now they are so focused, so prepared, so well led by Gareth Southgate that they deserve to be the winners."
