Gary Lineker’s brilliant takedown of Boris Johnson after he tries to get into Britain’s good books

Gary Lineker and Boris Johnson
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Gary Lineker brilliantly took down Boris Johnson on 12 July, after the former foreign secretary tried to get into Britain’s good books.

Spoiler: Johnson’s attempt didn’t work.

“Bore off Boris”

Johnson resigned from his ministerial position on 9 July. The Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP stepped down in protest against Theresa May’s plan for Brexit. Many hailed his exodus as a good thing, given Johnson’s history of making deeply offensive comments. And because the MP performed atrociously as foreign secretary.

So many people hoped they’d seen the back of Boris. But he was soon to disappoint them. Because following England’s loss to Croatia in the World Cup semi-finals, Johnson sent out the following tweet:

Lineker, however, was having none of it. He followed Johnson’s tweet with one of his own:

Lineker criticised Johnson for “jumping on the football bandwagon” only when it suits him. And it, of course, suits Johnson to do so right now. Because he needs as much “glory” as possible in light of the deeply unheroic “welcome” he’s currently attracting.

But the football legend wasn’t the only person to take issue with Johnson’s tweet.

“No, no, no”

Many people replied to the ex-foreign secretary. Some pointed out that Johnson had a funny way of showing the alleged pride he feels for his country while in office:

https://twitter.com/imajkemp/status/1017186458447343618

Others raised the fact that Johnson’s apparent care for the England team members doesn’t seem to extend to all those who call England their home:

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a British-Iranian charity worker. Iran has detained Zaghari-Ratcliffe since 2016, accusing her of plotting against the state. Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s family say Johnson’s record in attempting to secure her release “was one of failure”.

Polar opposites

Perhaps most sharply, however, some people highlighted the differences between the team and Johnson:

No wonder then that so many people have a problem with Johnson ‘basking in the reflected glory’ of the England team’s efforts. Because his actions in office are not reflective of the grit, passion and supportive team work England has shown at all.

So, as Lineker says, really, “bore off Boris”.

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Featured image via Joe_co_uk – YouTube and FCO – Wikimedia

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