Being an England Fan
The Three Lions keep hurting their supporters, so why do they return for more? Being an England fan can be tough.
Here we go again—another golden generation of English players, IT’S COMING HOME, It’s OUR time.
The English combination is probably the rarest, a mix of high expectations and deafening failure.
One of the most admired Leagues worldwide with football stars worth millions of pounds but when national duty calls, they either fall short under the pressure or it is just not a match.
The Stressful and Heartbreaking Journey of an England Fan
Being an England fan is stressful, heartbreaking, and teary. Beer cups are on the air, and hugs between strangers in the pub. It’s waking up thinking that Football is finally coming home but it ends up somewhere in Rome or Madrid. And you are standing there, thinking: “Why do I keep coming back for more”?
The explanation may lie in a dark part of the English subconsciousness and the 1966 syndrome. That evening of July 30th at Wembley was the crowning moment of the English game and the root of all evil. It was the turning point. A win against the odds is like a drug, and what probably keeps the Brits so hooked up to their national team.
It’s coming home or is it?
The Emotional Rollercoaster of Being an England Fan
“It’s coming home! Football’s coming home!” We all know the song, we all sang the lyrics. It might sound provocative or narcissistic to some, yet it is a song mainly focused on how disappointing it can be to support the Three Lions. The English team is being teased by other countries for not showing up and still believing that somehow they are going to make it.
It is not easy managing expectations. Football in England is close to religion, while according to Fifa, football as we know it today was born in England in 1863. At some point, it has to come back home, right?
Another EURO final, another drama
In 2020 Saka, Rashford, and Sancho missed the crucial penalties. In 2024, Gareth Southgate’s controversial tactics and choices might have cost England the title. Also, the fact that some of England’s brightest talents decided not to shine because they already had shined in domestic leagues and the Champions League.
Sometimes I wonder, whether the Harry Kane curse exists or England are simply too spursy to fulfil their destiny.
It’s more than winning
How do fans deal with defeat then? The answer is very simple. The Euro or the World Cup are the only occasions where the nation comes together. It’s not just about winning, it’s about connection and loyalty. It is the sense of belonging.
England is still numb after another unsuccessful final. Disappointment, despair, frustration, all feelings are valid, but in two years’ time pubs will be full again, and flags will be proudly waving. All united under the “Come on England!” tune.
PS. I am not English. I simply admire the English optimism
