​England are two games away from ending 60 “years of hurt”.The first hurdle is an epic World Cup semi-final against Argentina.But for real hurt, as anyone north of the border will tell you, try supporting Scotland.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe men’s team at least managed to join the party in the United States this year, albeit briefly.As the Tartan Army reminisces about those heady June days in Boston and Miami, a debate is emerging:Should Scots back their near neighbours, or support anyone but England?The Scottish town that started supporting Norway 86 years agoFrom Boston to Miami: How the Tartan Army lit up the World CupTartan Army has ‘brought new life’ to America’s smallest stateScotland versus England is the original international football rivalry, dating back to 1872.Both countries lay claim to being the inventors of the sport and in the early days the fixture was dominated by the Scots, who popularised the passing game.By 1966, England were World Cup champions. Scotland, meanwhile, have never made it past the first round.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThis year, qualifying for their first World Cup since 1998, Scotland’s men’s team were again unable to break that curse.As England progress, possibly to a final, some Scottish football fans are making tricky decisions about where their loyalties lie.Hamish Husband says the Tartan Army became “more popular than Taylor Swift in the US [BBC]Tartan Army organiser Hamish Husband, who was partly brought up in England and supports Carlisle United, does not watch England games.”I feel too guilty about wanting them to lose,” he tells BBC Scotland News.As for a second World Cup title for England, Hamish asks rhetorically: “How could we live with it?”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementIt’s not about the players, the manager, or the fans, he explains.”England is our big brother, and sometimes you don’t want your big brother to do well, do you?” Husband says.Foremost in his thoughts is the media reaction to any English World Cup victory.He says: “The Dutch don’t watch German national games with German commentators, but we watch England games with English commentators talking about ‘our nation’, ‘our country’.”That does rile us.”Perhaps it should surprise no-one that a country whose national anthem reminisces about sending an invading English army homeward “tae think again” does not stand four-square behind the “Auld Enemy”.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut that, of course, is just a soundbite. Scots’ feelings are more complex.According to a YouGov poll before the World Cup started, almost one in three (31%) Scots said they wanted England to do badly. Just 3% of English people said they hoped Scotland did poorly.However, about one in 10 Scots – and a similar proportion of English people – said they would support their neighbours.That correlates with the almost one in 10 people living in Scotland (506,207) that were born in England, according to the 2022 census.Family ties