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Sunder Katwala (sundersays)

@sundersays.bsky.social

36K followers 5K following 19K posts

Director of @britishfuture.bsky.social Author How to be a Patriot https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/how-to-be-a-patriot-why-love-of-country-can-end-our-very-british-culture-war-sunder-katwala?variant=40518936559694 Evertonian

harpercollins.co.uk

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 5d

I spoke to The Guardian's Steve Rose for this wide-ranging interview about identity issues: flags & patriotism, the far right & racism online + offline, control & compassion on asylum, and still looking for the common ground in polarised times
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/o...

Sunder Katwala on race, patriotism and flag-waving: ‘The far right is vocal and angry because it is shrinking’

The director of British Future has spent his career trying to find common ground when it comes to race and immigration. He describes his own experience of racism – and why he’s still hopeful for the U...

www.theguardian.com

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 3m

The Czechs have 2 games left vs the Faroe Islands and Gibraltar - so I think Northern Ireland would now be certain to get the 4th Nations League play-off slot (if they need it if they finish 3rd in the group) as long as the Faroe Islands don't beat the Czech Republic (5pm today)

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 6m

Northern Ireland now seem almost certain to make World Cup play-offs (via the Nations League) even if finish 3rd in group

4 slots
Wales/North Macedonia
Sweden+Romania will need Nations League slots
So Northern Ireland just need the Czechs to be second in their group
www.espn.co.uk/football/sto...

The race to the 2026 World Cup: Ghana, Madagascar battle to qualify

The race for the 2026 World Cup is drawing to a close. Here's how it's looking around the globe.

www.espn.co.uk

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13m

No. Have to be one of 14 group winners. (The top 6 look set to qualify directly, so looks like 4 from Wales, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Moldova, San Marino to get a Nations League slot to the play-offs if they need it
www.espn.co.uk/football/sto...

The race to the 2026 World Cup: Ghana, Madagascar battle to qualify

The race for the 2026 World Cup is drawing to a close. Here's how it's looking around the globe.

www.espn.co.uk

Reposted by Sunder Katwala (sundersays)

John Rentoul @rentouljohn.bsky.social · 30m

Love this: "mediocre" is the only one US and UK agree on; US rates "average" above average

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 2h

How good (or bad) are good (or bad) words? @yougov.co.uk includes comparing how Americans and British people hear these words
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1h

The Dutch v Finland probably counts as the big game of the day in Europe today.
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 2h

Some of the American respondents don't seem to understand how a 0-10 scale works!

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 2h

How good (or bad) are good (or bad) words? @yougov.co.uk includes comparing how Americans and British people hear these words
yougov.co.uk/society/arti...

10 14 37

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 3h

Examples of X defending and protecting unlawful racially aggravated abuse and harassment - about 95% of the time
bsky.app/profile/sund...

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · Sep 7

Some of Martin's 50-60 uses of the p word - including unlawful abuse of Humza Yousaf - this year

Lawless X will be like this until those responsible for keeping it lawful wake up and do their jobs.

Reports of p-word abuse
X defended the abuse: 15 (100%)
X sanctioned the abuse: 0 (0%)

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Reposted by Sunder Katwala (sundersays)

Ben Stanley @benstanley.eu · 12h

Glad that in Tuchel England seem to have a manager who understands that (a) you pick teams to win matches, not to play players, and (b) if you have a Rolls Royce, you don’t have to use it to get the shopping in.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 12h

Observer: England's Bellingham problem
observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

Can Tuchel really solve England’s Bellingham problem?

Maybe having a world-class player such as the Real Madrid icon available shouldn’t be a problem after all

observer.co.uk

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 12h

"Tuchel is selecting from the most talented group of English footballers ever"

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 12h

Observer: England's Bellingham problem
observer.co.uk/news/sport/a...

Can Tuchel really solve England’s Bellingham problem?

Maybe having a world-class player such as the Real Madrid icon available shouldn’t be a problem after all

observer.co.uk

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 12h

Are the headlines somewhat overhyping the Bellingham dilemma for Tuchel and England?

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 12h

It is a good opportunity for Thomas Tuchel for England to get to play the final three qualifying group games under very little pressure for results: any 3 points, or just a draw in Albania, to confirm qualification.

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 12h

The Serbia v Albania match tickets were not made available to the public but distributed through football club networks, to try to contain potential trouble
www.insideworldfootball.com/2025/10/07/f...

FSS cancels public ticket sale for Serbia-Albania meeting in Leskovac - Inside World Football

October 7 – The Football Association of Serbia (FSS) has announced that no tickets will be available for public sale for the upcoming football match between Serbia and Albania on October 11 at the Dub...

www.insideworldfootball.com

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 12h

There are video clips online of crowds flying flags & honking horns in Pristina, Kosovo, to celebrate Albania beating Serbia. (Kosovo go to Sweden on Monday)

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13h

Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri used the symbol to cekebrate scoring Switzerland against Serbia at the 2018 World Cup. The Swiss players & their families are from Kosovo
www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-e...

'Double eagle' celebration provokes Serbs

Both Switzerland's goals in the victory over Serbia were scored by ethnic Kosovan Albanians.

www.bbc.co.uk

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13h

dailysports.net/news/tension...

Tension in the air. Manaj provokes Serbian fans with double-headed eagle gesture after scoring | Dailysports

Serbia hosts Albania in a World Cup qualifying clash, with political tensions between the two nations still running high—and the football pitch was no exception.Late in the first half, the game took a

dailysports.net

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13h

The Albanian goalscorer got a yellow card for celebrating with an eagle hands gesture, representing the symbol on the Albanian flag. Fifa consider this a political gesture. Serbs consider it provocative. Their fans sang "Kill, kill the Albanians" in response, which is more than provocative

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13h

If England win in Latvia on Tuesday, they are through to the World Cup as group winners.

If England draw/ lose, could confirm qualify by beating Serbia at Wembley on 13 Nov

If lost both, a point in Albania would still be enough!

(2 draws v Latvia & Serbia + could qualify if just avoid heavy loss)

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13h

Big win for Albania in Serbia. If they win in Andorra, they will almost certainly make the play-offs. (Serbia would have to win at Wembley to stay in it).

England just need a draw in Albania to win the group (or a win either against Latvia or v Serbia to guarantee qualification earlier)

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13h

If they can beat them 8-0 they should do it!

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13h

I think all of these hypotheticals may not prove a nailbiter!

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13h

Serbia's supporters may get their FA into trouble with the chanting of Kill the Albanians, with Albania scoring in the last moments of the first half

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13h

Albania could only get 15 if they draw tonight, so 16 is beyond them

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13h

bsky.app/profile/sund...

Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 13h

A draw at Wembley against Serbia would be enough, or any 3 points from the other 2 games