The England players sing the national anthem prior to the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Round of 16 match between England and Germany. Photo / Getty Images.
The England players sing the national anthem prior to the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Round of 16 match between England and Germany. Photo / Getty Images.
OPINION:
Football is coming home. Again.
England is doing well at a major tournament – for the second time in three years – and New Zealand is lapping it up. They are the talk of the town among football followers here, and general sports fans, as we thrill in theexploits of Harry Kane's team.
It's a curious thing.
Kiwis generally have a pathological dislike for the England rugby team, with the 'toffs', Twickenham and all that Swing Low, Sweet Chariot nonsense and don't have much time for their cricketers, except maybe if they are facing Australia.
It helps that they are not regular rivals, unlike in rugby, cricket or many other sports. The All Whites have only played England twice, in 1991, during their tour here.
Contrast that with rugby, and several epic clashes in the last decade (and before), culminating in the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi final.
An England tour and a test at Lords is a rite of passage for many Kiwi cricketers, while there have been some big Cricket World Cup clashes, most recently that final two years ago.
But the competition can't explain everything.
Even when New Zealand haven't been involved, we have generally revelled in England's defeats or struggles, in rugby, cricket and other sports.
So what is different about football?
Kiwis gave up most ties to the 'mother country' decades ago. Decimal currency was introduced in 1964 and 'God Defend New Zealand' became our national anthem in 1977. The Queen is our monarch, but the economic relationship hasn't been the same since 1973, when Britain joined the E.E.C.
But every two years, at a major football tournament, Kiwis adopt England again.
Obviously, there is a common language and culture, and colonial ties that will never be broken.
Harry Kane of England celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 2-0 during the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Round of 16 match. Photo / Getty Images.
Many generations have grown up on English football. The FA Cup final was a household staple in the 1970s and 1980s, along with the Big League Soccer highlights on a Sunday. Clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, and Arsenal have deep resonance here, even to the casual sports fan.
But there seems to be something more. As a friend pointed out, maybe it is the emotion, the meaning, the deep desire that sweeps across England whenever a major tournament is held.
Winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup sparked massive celebrations, as have various Ashes' successes, particularly in 1981 and 2005. But a football triumph would mean so much more, the celebrations would be off the charts and it's hard not to get caught up in it, even from afar.
Perhaps Kiwis admire the patriotism and passion simply because it's beyond us to sing, to celebrate, to completely live the occasion like English supporters do.
Though they invented the game, England are usually underdogs at major tournaments and have endured some devastating failures. Their win over Germany on Wednesday (NZT) was just their second knock out victory in European Championship history.
In 1996 my O.E. coincided with Euro '96, hosted by England. It was a wonderful experience, as the whole nation got carried along, helped by a theme song that is still sung today.
But I've never witnessed such crushing disappointment about a sporting result – not even in the successive All Black failures between 1991 and 2007 – as on the night that England were eliminated via a penalty shoot out.
It had happened in 1990, and history repeated in 1998 and 2006. There was another loss to Germany in 2010 and the 2014 World Cup was a crushing disappointment, while Iceland knocked England out of the last European Championships in 2016.
But with each new iteration, with each new England team, hope springs eternal and the brilliant songs, chants and support are revisited again.
It's intoxicating. It's invigorating. And it's come home again.
