Playing in La Liga, half-hoping for English appreciation? (11)

I believe the answer is:

anglophilia

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'english appreciation?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.

'playing in la liga half-hoping' is the wordplay.
'playing' indicates an anagram.
'half' means to take half the letters.
'hoping' with half the letters taken is 'hop'.
'in'+'la'+'liga'+'hop'='inlaligahop'
'inlaligahop' is an anagram of 'ANGLOPHILIA'.

'for' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for anglophilia that I've seen is " admiration for England".)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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