So if you've been following the news at all lately, you may have noticed that the World Cup has been going on for the past couple of weeks. It's funny to me how the World Cup is such a big deal in every country except the US. In every country except the United States, the majority of all the best athletes play soccer but here, the best athletes predominately play football, basketball, or baseball. It didn't help that the US team failed to qualify for this year's World Cup, therefore generating less interest than usual. So if you're even remotely interested in soccer, like I am, you might have found yourself "jumping on the bandwagon" for a particular team. Even though I played soccer until college, I always had a difficult time watching it on tv since it isn't as exciting as other sports like football or basketball. Going into the World Cup, I figured I would watch a few matches here and there but not be overly interested. But, little did I know that I would end up following a team to the very end and even switching my work shifts so I could watch them play.
The first World Cup game I watched from start to finish was early in the group stage, England vs Tunisia. I figured I would cheer for England because I desperately (and I mean this in a big way) want to travel there. It's number one on my bucket list and has been since I was 12. There was something about the way the England players carried themselves and weren't incredibly whiny like a lot of soccer players you watch on tv are. I had really never watched the England team play before, but they had an underdog mentality that reminded me of the (Super Bowl winning) Eagles team from this year. They made it look effortless and easy and I was entertained by their every move. After just watching one of their games, I knew I was hooked and had realized how much I missed playing soccer. So when the next game against Panama came around, I immediately switched my work shift just so I could watch them play. As they progressed through the group stage and into the knockout stage, I became more and more invested with the team. They were all incredibly humble and determined to make a new name for themselves since England's previous World Cup campaigns have been less than successful. Throughout the knockout stage, my brother and I would sit on our couch watching the games and jumping up and down whenever they scored. It also helped that the entire team is incredibly easy on the eyes. My dad even ordered me two shirts online (thanks dad!) in order to hype me up for the games. 1, a shirt with the world cup logo on it and 2, a red t-shirt that says "Harry 9" in the Harry Potter font because my favorite player (Harry Kane) happens to wear number 9. I'm obsessed with this shirt and will definitely wear it even after the World Cup.
After handling Colombia and Sweden in the first two knockout stages, the team advanced to the semi-final game against a talented Croatian team. England was barely expected to make it out of the group stage, let alone make it to the semi-finals. As the game began and Trippier (an England player) scored a goal within the first 5 minutes, I began to let myself think of them actually advancing to the finals. I also kept waiting for Harry Kane, my favorite player, and the captain, to score and seal the deal for the Three Lions. But England's early fire didn't last long. Croatia began to dominate the game scoring a tying goal in the second half and forcing the game into extra time. I began to feel nervous but oddly calm that my newfound favorite team would be able to hold them off and score again. And for a couple minutes I still felt that way but once Croatia scored halfway through the second extra time period, I began to feel hopeless. And then the ref blew the whistle a few minutes later and sealed England's fate to the third-place game. I cried genuine tears (which I really don't do often) and ached for the team that had made me fall in love with soccer again. I logged onto Twitter a little while later to see all of the reactions from across the pond, around the world, and especially from the players. Harry Kane's tweet made me shed a tear a little and even Kensington Palace, on behalf of Prince William, tweeted how proud they were of the team that truly shocked the world.
Looking back on these past 3, soccer filled weeks I can honestly say that I'm grateful for this team that brought me back to the sport that I loved. Watching England increased my desire to travel to the UK which is something I hope to do as soon as I possibly can. It allowed me to appreciate the game so much and gave me new athletes to follow. The majority of England's players are on Premier League teams and I'm excited to start watching those games once the season kicks off in the fall. But most of all, I'm grateful for this England team for showing me what true resilience is. They were counted out by almost everyone and made it to the semi-finals when most people expected them to be knocked out in the group stage. I'm hoping that whenever I'm feeling counted out or uncomfortable in my own skin, I'll remember this England World Cup team and how they proved everyone wrong. So thank you England for giving me a couple new favorite athletes and making me realize how much I still love soccer. I'll be cheering you on in every game and it will eventually be coming home for the first time since 1966, hopefully sometime in the near future.
