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Football

10th Feb 2019

West Ham fans brought back down to earth by one simple fact after mocking Wilfried Zaha

West Ham fans took it upon them to mock Wilfried Zaha's choice to play for the country of his birth on Saturday, but they were promptly put in their place

Reuben Pinder

That’s them told

Crystal Palace and West Ham had to share the spoils on Saturday afternoon, as the two London sides played out a tense 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.

The Hammers took the lead in the first half through a Mark Noble penalty after Vicente Guaita rushed off his goal line to clatter into Michail Antonio.

But the score was levelled by Wilfried Zaha, who always seems to be there when Palace need him most, stepped up to squeeze in a shot from a tight angle, which was enough to ensure Palace came away with a point.

For the second consecutive year, the visiting West Ham fans decided to mock Palace’s star player, chanting ‘too shit for England’, alluding to his choice to play for his country of birth, Côte d’Ivoire, having picked up two England caps in non-competitive matches.

Zaha made the decision to represent Côte d’Ivoire having waited long enough for a competitive call-up, hence the ‘too shit for England’ line. But dual nationality is a complex, personal thing and mocking somebody’s choice of national team is a bit… weird. Was Ryan Giggs ‘too shit for England’?

Anyway, the West Ham fans who indulged in that chant were promptly put in their place by a certain George Hardy on Twitter.

Hardy pointed out the very simple fact that West Ham’s talisman, the man who embodies their club like no-one else, the heart and soul of the institution, has never once been called up to play for England’s senior team.

Oh, but let me guess. Noble is too good for England?