England are in a World Cup semi-final. I can’t believe I’m saying typing that. Only once in my lifetime have I been able to say we’ve got to the semi-final of any major tournament – in 1996 when I was 2 – and when I said it then it probably sounded similar to how I said it after arguably too many drinks on Saturday night.
Supporting England at this World Cup has been a joy. Watching the team in a pub full of friends and strangers all hoping for the same result is a magical feeling. To share the euphoria of England’s first penalty shootout win at a World Cup with everybody singing and drinking was incredible. The power to unify massive groups of people for 90 minutes is rare and it is special.
It is safe to assume that the people in the pub with me when England played Colombia would not agree with me on Brexit, on feminism, on local and global politics, on Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, on whether Coldplay are any good and on how they like their steak cooked, or even if they think eating steak is ok in the first place. But for 90 minutes none of that mattered because England were playing at the World Cup, and we all really, really wanted them to win.
When Eric Dier’s penalty went in and England won, beer and cider went up the walls and on the ceiling and on the floor and on everybody, questionable 7 minute chants about German Bombers being shot down reverberated throughout the room and grown men gathered in what can only be described as a giant, multi man royal rumble of a hug to celebrate a historic moment.
These moments are, of course, better celebrated with others. Being in a pub for the football is like being in the audience for a comedy show. You can completely immerse yourself in the atmosphere, share the amplified emotions with your peers and be free to experience the moment to the fullest.
Whatever happens on Wednesday, this World Cup has been excellent. To see people so unified in what they want is a reminder that there is something out there that unites us all, whether it’s a love of football or a love of Scrubs, and these things are worth celebrating, even if we only do it once every 4 years.
Scholey Scribbles 