After one of England’s most epic, greatest-ever World Cup performances, against Mexico City, they did it again. Wonderwall. Don’t you just love those spine-tingling scenes after every game with the players arm in arm, facing the fans and belting out the Oasis hit?
Wasn’t it fantastic to see the brilliant Kelly Cates and her BBC panel deciding to stay quiet and allow the singing to do the talking? What a joy to have an anthem for a new generation of England fans.
A soundtrack for their dizzy, delirious, post-match bonding sessions instead of the news reports of riots and disorder from the past.
It’s so easy to be drawn in to that chorus as the camera pans down the line of the squad to capture Declan Rice, England captain Harry Kane and Real Madrid superstar Jude Bellingham, beaming with post-match euphoria?
And what a moment as it switches to a wide shot of the travelling England faithful, soaked in the relief of victory, in full cry. They’ve been scenes so quintessentially modern British. A giant singsong. A transatlantic street party, led by Gen Z.
Still standing, battered and bruised. Still smiling. Still in the World Cup. Forget all the talk about altitude in Mexico City. England’s outstanding attitude has provided the antidote to the painful elements of our football past.
And, more broadly, those joyful, post-match serenades have been a glimpse into what our domestic world really does look like away from the cesspit of social media. Without the dark forces, using algorithm-generated rage-bait, working to divide us.
Wonderwall and the scenes accompanying it have been a picture of peace in an avalanche of reasons why the world is burning.
A haven of serenity allowing us to put to one side some of the news agenda’s burning questions right now: might this finally be it for Nigel Farage?
Will doctors and nurses be paid to do TikToks now that the NHS has joined the social media platform? How will Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy monitor society’s culture now that she has decided to leave the X social media platform where said culture is being established?
Where do we watch Love Island, now that Sky has bought ITV? Does the veteran actor Jeremy Irons smile to himself as he does his ironing? Does the plan to switch off Freeview for the 13million people who rely on it make this Labour government the most tone-deaf of all time?
Back at the World Cup, will Fifa have any credibility left after overturning a red card for US striker Folarin Balogun, reportedly following pressure from President Trump?
And is the England head coach Thomas Tuchel regretting his decision to take two injury-prone right-backs and an international rookie instead of Real Madrid superstar Trent Alexander-Arnold? He should be.
That said, those who were there in those Mexican stands will never be able to fully describe the bonus of having their flight, accommodation and ticket money rewarded by that unique face time with the players.
It connected with pubs, clubs, fan parks and homes across this country. Having worked on the football pages of this paper, covering England at major tournaments, we’ve been so envious over the years of the relationship between other nations and their fans.
Even at this World Cup, Norway ’s players have had their famous post-match kettle drum celebrations. The Tartan Army’s electrifying rendition of Flower Of Scotland has also been a highlight. As have the fans of the defending world champions Argentina, bowing in unison to the legendary Lionel Messi.
And yet all of those countries, if not more, will have been equally as impressed by the ties that are still binding England.
