29 JUNE 2002, Page 33

My Viking heroes

From Mr Claus von Bulow Sir: Tania Kindersley's analysis ('Why chicks love Becks', 22 June) of her sex's conversion into football fans was eloquent to the point of ecstasy. As the cameras zoom in on adulatory spectators, oldies like myself find the screen images disturbingly reminiscent of Leni Riefensthal's footage of the Nuremberg rally. Maybe one of those crazy Japanese cults has been spiking the beer, or has Mr Murdoch been infiltrating subliminal images through space?

As I am a Dane, born and bred, it may be thought that I am suffering from loser's envy. In fact. I came to England as a grateful wartime refugee and was therefore in a state of schizophrenia during my country's recent encounter with Beckham's boys. I still think of an England which was the only hope for freedom in 1940, and I blubbed hopelessly during the Queen Mother's funeral. But I rooted for my Vikings for two reasons: they all clearly sang their national anthem, whereas only about four on the English team even bothered to simulate lip movement; and it is my little Danes who have bravely voted against the euro.

Claus von Bulow

London SW7