There are clubs and countries that expect to earn success.
Then there are those that seem to believe football owes it to them.
England and Rangers have become the perfect examples.
Different badges.
Different competitions.
The same superiority complex.
Before a ball is kicked, the media hype is relentless. England are crowned potential world champions every tournament. Rangers are talked up as though Scottish football is simply waiting for them to return to the top.
The evidence rarely seems to matter.
The narrative never changes.
Then comes the commentary.
Watch Alan Shearer whenever England play and it can often feel less like analysis and more like fan commentary with a microphone. Harry Kane goes to ground and Shearer is immediately appealing for penalties, questioning officials and dissecting every replay from England’s perspective. Instead of providing balanced analysis, too often he appears determined to build the case for England regardless of the outcome.
In Scotland, Kris Boyd has developed a similarly polarising style.
Whenever Rangers are on the wrong end of a decision, the outrage is immediate. Every incident becomes a talking point. Every debate is prolonged. Every controversial call demands another replay.
Yet when Celtic find themselves on the receiving end of equally contentious decisions, many supporters feel the tone changes dramatically. Suddenly the message becomes one of accepting the referee’s decision, trusting the officials or simply moving on.
It’s that inconsistency that frustrates people.
Not strong opinions.
Selective ones.
Supporters don’t expect pundits to hide who they supported as players.
They do expect them to apply the same standards to everyone.
Too often, that simply doesn’t happen.
The similarities between England and Rangers go far beyond commentary.
Both seem permanently convinced that history entitles them to future success.
England still carry themselves like football’s natural rulers despite decades of disappointment on the biggest stage.
Rangers are still portrayed in some quarters as Scottish football’s natural dominant force despite Celtic having set the standard for much of the last decade.
The arrogance can be breathtaking.
The entitlement even more so.
Every tournament.
Every season.
The same predictions.
The same confidence.
The same declarations that this will finally be their year.
Then reality arrives.
Football has never cared about reputation.
It doesn’t reward media hype.
It doesn’t hand out trophies because pundits have talked a team into greatness.
It rewards the best team.
The best prepared team.
The team that performs when the pressure is greatest.
Perhaps that’s why the comparisons between England and Rangers continue to resonate with so many Celtic supporters.
The hype.
The self-belief.
The endless excuses when expectations aren’t met.
Different shirts.
The same superiority complex.
And until that mentality changes, the gap between perception and reality will continue to be one of football’s most fascinating spectacles.
