Whether “football’s coming home” is as unpredictable as ever. In England, the anticipation builds as the men’s national soccer team inches closer to glory this weekend, evoking a mix of hope and anxiety.
A Tale of Heartbreak and Resilience
Three years ago, amid the grip of the coronavirus pandemic and the aftermath of Brexit, England faced a devastating loss to Italy on penalty kicks in the final of the European championships in London. Despite the heartbreak, the team’s journey through the Covid-delayed tournament uplifted a nation in dire need of inspiration.
The unofficial anthem, “Three Lions,” echoed in pubs and living rooms across the country, reigniting the dream, however improbable, that after decades of tournament setbacks and months of lockdowns, “football’s coming home.”
A Different Homecoming
As England gears up to face Spain in the final in Berlin on Sunday, there’s a palpable sense of transformation, both on and off the field. The recent landslide victory of the Labour Party over the Conservatives, leading to the appointment of a self-professed soccer enthusiast, Keir Starmer, as prime minister, evokes a tantalizing historical parallel.
Not since England’s triumph in the 1966 World Cup, following the Labour Party’s electoral success, has the nation experienced such a convergence of political and sporting significance. The 58 years that have elapsed since that historic moment have been marked by a series of missed opportunities and shattered dreams, as aptly captured in the poignant lyrics of the anthem, “England’s gonna throw it away, gonna blow it way.”
