Disillusioned. Disappointed. Dissatisfied. Disastrous. It can mean only one thing. Yep, another England World Cup exit.
I'm not really sure why we all put ourselves through it. One glimmer of hope against Italy and the belief, the if only, the optimism returns. "If only they can get 3 points we may go on a run to the semis, you never know!"
In this World Cup expectations have been lower. It's been more low key. Not in the media and advertisers of course, but in public there have been less flags, less morons and less hysteria.
BUT, when it comes to match day all of that which has gone before goes out of the window and you still hope. Despite all the evidence of the shit that has gone before you forget and the optimism grows. It's like being in a dysfunctional relationship. You know it doesn't work, you know it makes you unhappy, but you hold on just for those few times when it is good, no matter how many times you are left hurting and disappointed you go back for more, and more, and more again.
The same things keep happening but you forget with time and think it will be different this time. The definition of insanity - doing the same things again and expecting different results. That means the whole country is insane when it comes to Football. We are like alcoholics promising to give up the booze only to return to it a little while later. England Football at The World Cup is like drinking. Extreme hope, bouts of joy, but ultimately general misery and disappointment.
England disappoint time and again. It is the country's national sport but one we have become second rate at. That's a tricky one because England has the wealthiest league, the most watched and the wealthiest Football Association in the world. So why are England so shit? And more to the point why do we get so wrapped up in it?
Trouble is England aren't very good. When you go abroad and watch the football and see about how many people are playing the game, England are mid-table when it comes to participation. That puts it into perspective really. We don't matter too much on a world stage, yet because we live here, because we are fed the bullshit by newspapers, rolling news channels most of us in this country seem to think England matter. In truth we don't on a World stage.
Cue the usual national disappointment. The negativity. The 'told you so'. The press rinsing the players and manager. The endless pundits on TV telling them where they went wrong (even though they did exactly the same 10 years before) The headline news, the TV shots of people in pubs cheering when they score and groaning when they lose.
It's insanity on a National level. Incredible really and I'm as guilty as the next person. I know I'm Welsh but being brought up in England I support them at World Cups. I so want them to do well. When the national teams do well it does make the population happier. Remember Italia 90, Euro 96, The Olympics London 2012. When athletes and sportspeople do well it cuts through the shit and provides you with the tingle, with the raw emotion, with pride. We connect with sportspeople more than any other. Not with public figures, royalty, pop stars, actors, writers, musicians. When national teams do well it provides joy and energy to the nation.
That's why I suppose when England football do shit it just re-enforces the national pessimism. We love to moan and complain (well I do) - but remember 2012? After a few days when Team GB started winning Gold medals the country got the buzz. It became wrong to be negative, pessimistic or critical. You were rinsed on social media if you dared be negative. It was extra-ordinary. A complete national role reversal.
The country is as far away from that tonight, normal service has been resumed. Hope crushed.
I was going to watch it in a pub, just to see as a sober man if I was missing out on anything. I chose not to and watched it home in my pants. I'm glad I did, 500 people all moaning about how shit England are whilst heavily drinking Tequila to kill the pain is not my idea of fun anymore. If I learnt one thing tonight it wasn't that England are indeed not very good, it's that I'm really not missing out on anything with drinking. Trouble is, I'll wake up in the morning and remember the whole game tonight. That's one bonus about a blackout, the entire previous evening is erased from reality. On second thoughts what time does the Crown shut......
Enjoy your insanity Nation it's here to stay. See you in Russia 2018
Together We Are Stronger
Nicholas E Evans
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