It's fish chips and soccer for the diehard

Las Vegas' British soccer community convened at the Crown & Anchor pub on Monday fsor pints of Guinness, plates of fish and chips and a chance to cheer England on against World Cup opponent Romania.

Little did they know that a wild, emotional roller coaster ride lay in wait for them inside.

Long before kickoff, the bar's patrons were boisterously discussing their sport of choice. The United States' recent loss to Iran was one of the hottest topics, and to a man, the British faithful seemed sorry their American counterparts wouldn't be around in round two.

"Even though we're the British contingent, it was disappointing to see America lose yesterday," said John Kennedy, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, who has lived in Las Vegas for 18 years. "It's very important for America to become a power in the sport."

The locals also had their share of opinions about the British hooligans who marred last week's England-Tunisia game with violent behavior outside the stadium.

"It's embarrassing," said London native John Quinnear, referring to the hooligans from his country who brawled before England's game with Tunisia last week. "The real fans aren't like that. Those guys aren't even there for the soccer."

Once the game got under way, though, the crowd got down to serious business. The locals reacted loudly to their club's missed scoring opportunities, perceived blown calls by the referees and, on several occasions, split-second lapses in television reception.

"For the England game, we're all united," said Kevin Illes, a native of Swindon and a bartender at the establishment. "There's nothing like that in America."

"Everyone's your friend here if you like the team they're rooting for," said Gerald Wildman, a Canadian-American who has become a strong supporter of English soccer over the years. "The English know so much about the game. I love being around them."

In the 46th minute, Romania scored, and the place went dead silent. For the rest of the second half, emotions ran high as defeat appeared inevitable.

But just when all seemed lost, 18-year-old Michael Owen knotted things up late in the contest, sending the bar to its collective feet. After all, a tie would send England into the next round, rendering Friday's game with Colombia meaningless.

Loud tones replaced hush whispers as the Crown & Anchor's customers waited for time to expire. And then the unexpected happened. Romania's Dan Petrescu slipped a shot past a defender and keeper David Seaman with seconds remaining, sending the British fans home with sullen looks on their faces.

Yet all was not lost, and the battled-tested soccer aficionados knew it. "We'll advance. We just need a tie against Colombia," was the common sentiment as the locals headed for the door.

And that means another chance to reconvene at the only local pub that makes them feel like they're back in England.

"We all live so far from home," said Perry Bruno, who hails from London. "It's great to be with people in the same situation. You feel like you're in it together."

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