As a lot of England supporters have pinpointed the change in atmosphere on various forums, I don't feel so bad weighing in. Since last Tuesday, where before there had been an element of modesty to the manager, players, supporters and even media, the hubris, sense of entitlement and quite unique nationalism that we are used to from previous tournaments have returned. Previous to Saturday, it had been only in the form of ignoring that there were still three matches and the re-emergence of "It's coming home" (previously only heard ironically as far as I could see). I was playing a punk rock all dayer in the beer garden of a pub in Gloucester and we went onstage straight after the final whistle of the match and feared the worst. As it goes, all the England supporters who piled into the garden were actually really well-behaved with only a smattering of "ICH". However, things got worse when I saw someone with a "Keep St George in my heart" t-shirt (albeit, perhaps not related to the football) and then went into Gloucester where the topless hordes were adding the "Let's 'ave it!" to ICH. Obviously, then I saw the videos of cars, buses and bus-stops being wrecked in post-match celebration. It is hard to believe that any other country would experience the same.
I, of course, contrast it with the experience two years ago in France when Wales supporters were over there. I am not saying that Wales supporters are angels, of course, but the whole feel of the tournament felt different in a major way. Firstly, after a lifetime of failing to qualify, we were just over the moon to be there and the positive attitude reflected to be that. Our celebrations increased incrementally with every victorious step - the first goal, the first win, the goal against England (in retrospect, I am glad we lost that otherwise people's heads would have exploded), topping the group and then the progression including, of course, the win against Belgium. Crucially, however, we didn't feel any sense of entitlement at being there, we just felt that everything starting from just our presence was a bonus and to be celebrated as such - even a pretty dour win over Northern Ireland. At no point, even when we got to the semi-finals, did we think that we were going to get to the final, let alone win it. It was a ludicrous notion that we banished from our mind as soon as it snuck in. Obviously, with Ramsey gone, we had pretty much decided that it was the end of the road anyway so were prepared but had had our fun*. Once we returned, of course, the team were treated as heroes and it is still something we celebrate today and, even during the unsuccessful qualifiers for this World Cup, we were fairly sanguine about the fact that that may have been our one shot. It's a hell of a contrast with the presence situation.
*I may be wrong about this for the people over in France as my trip ended in Paris against NI but that is how it felt over here.
I, of course, contrast it with the experience two years ago in France when Wales supporters were over there. I am not saying that Wales supporters are angels, of course, but the whole feel of the tournament felt different in a major way. Firstly, after a lifetime of failing to qualify, we were just over the moon to be there and the positive attitude reflected to be that. Our celebrations increased incrementally with every victorious step - the first goal, the first win, the goal against England (in retrospect, I am glad we lost that otherwise people's heads would have exploded), topping the group and then the progression including, of course, the win against Belgium. Crucially, however, we didn't feel any sense of entitlement at being there, we just felt that everything starting from just our presence was a bonus and to be celebrated as such - even a pretty dour win over Northern Ireland. At no point, even when we got to the semi-finals, did we think that we were going to get to the final, let alone win it. It was a ludicrous notion that we banished from our mind as soon as it snuck in. Obviously, with Ramsey gone, we had pretty much decided that it was the end of the road anyway so were prepared but had had our fun*. Once we returned, of course, the team were treated as heroes and it is still something we celebrate today and, even during the unsuccessful qualifiers for this World Cup, we were fairly sanguine about the fact that that may have been our one shot. It's a hell of a contrast with the presence situation.
*I may be wrong about this for the people over in France as my trip ended in Paris against NI but that is how it felt over here.
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