Be yourself we’re told
Two sides to the coin
Trend setter
Public perception
Patriotism fuelling fires
To conclude this piece, it is fair to say that James Mclean is a man of strong held ideals just as Kaepernick and Matic alike. However, these players stand by their beliefs in the face of overwhelming negativity and adversity. Relaying back upon my first point, the opinion of someone that believes in something so strongly that they are willing to differentiate themselves from the crowd has to be admired. Whether it be something that the masses agree with or not, they show passion and identity in their disregard for themselves based on said belief. James McClean is not a brilliantly talented footballer but this issue was never about football to begin with. James McClean is Iconic because of what he stands for, just as the others players documented do, he stands up for what he believes in, Good, Bad or Indifferent, He characterises everything that national identity is about.
4th Year Recreation and Sport Management Student.