Quote: Keith Swiftcorn "Don't worry about it. The problem is this 'England' malarkey. As others have pointed out, we should play as GB. That's our international RL heritage and it simplifies matters concerning national identity. I don't care who is selected to play for England. It matters not a jot to me as I consider myself British.'"
I agree, with the caveat that nationality and national identity is a little more complex for many people than what it says on your passport, and I don't think considering yourself English (which I do as a first level) necessarily precludes you from considering yourself British or UK - the terms often being used interchangeably - at the next level (which I also do). It is also perfectly possible to further see yourself as European (which I don't except at the most genetically anthropological level). It is also possible to genuinely identify yourself with two countries (dual nationality - I have a couple of good friends who are married to people of different nationalities who are raising children of dual nationality who will legitimately feel a connection to two countries - one English/German, one Russian/Armenian, even more complicatedly born in the UK) or to identify yourself with a nationality not available on a passport (Catalan, Basque and Roma spring to mind first here, there are plenty more).
This is why forming concrete "fact" opinions on eligibility for sports teams is so difficult. Increasingly, in Europe at least, it is one of the few areas of life where the distinctions between nations still have any consequence for someone's practical (rather than emotional) existence.
But, in summary, I agree, we should play as GB. Or GB and Ireland if people prefer. GB&I makes a little less sense geographically, but has some precedent.