Football is ingrained in our culture, and nothing brings communities in the UK together like the World Cup. Despite the Three Lions not having lifted the trophy since 1966, the nation comes together every four years, united by the hope that this could finally be England’s moment once again.
Some call us mad while others label it delusion, but it’s the hope that makes supporting England during a World Cup so special. The cycle of hope, drama and eventual heartbreak is what makes that support so special. Our passionate club rivalries are cast aside for a month as we channel all of our energy into backing and believing in the national team. Nothing else matters for those four weeks.
When Andy Burnham, who is set to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister later this month, told Andrew Marr that Thomas Tuchel’s men have “got a bit of improvement to do before we can start seriously dreaming of it coming home” on LBC, it was a slap in the face of the English public. I’m not even sure Sir Keir Starmer would stoop this low.
After being asked whether he would agree to a bank holiday if Harry Kane lifts the World Cup in New Jersey on July 19, Burnham replied: “We struggled, let’s say. And full respect to the Democratic Republic of Congo, but I think we might be getting ahead of ourselves.
“There’s a very big game coming up on Sunday. We do have to live in hope. I think, you know, it might be a bit premature to be speculating.”
The Everton fan added: “It would be a fantastic moment, wouldn’t it, and we can hope and pray that.
“I’m an Evertonian, I do not ever back anything when it comes to football, I don’t do it with England either. I think they’ve got a bit of improvement to do before we can start seriously dreaming of it coming home.”
Now fans are eyeing up a mouth-watering tie with Mexico at the ominous Azteca Stadium – a footballing cathedral where the host nation has lost just twice in their history. Despite the odds seemingly stacked against England, fans will, and deserve to, continue to dream that they can make it through to the quarter-final stage of the competition.
From there, who knows what will happen? We would be just two games away from a second-ever World Cup final and then, within touching distance of destiny. And England fans deserve to be buoyed by that dream for the next fortnight.
During that time, the mood of work offices will be boosted, pubs will be brimming with St George’s flags and white shirts, and songs such as “Three Lions” will be blared out across the country. That’s what a World Cup is all about.
The one thing the fans don’t need is a politician dampening their spirits after such a high. The tournament comes around once every four years, so why not try and enjoy it with unwavering optimism?