It’s not coming home this time either

Every four years, whenever the grandest tournament in football begins, you hear chatter from people who think their team is going to win the World Cup. Of course, only one of them does, but that does not stop people from doing the same in the next tournament. And that’s okay, even highly encouraged, because it is part of the fun.

Every team has their own version of arguments, dreams and chants. For many, it’s a mission hexa or defending the trophy successfully back-to-back. For some, it’s about bringing it home. After more than half a century.

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It’s coming home

“It’s coming home” makes up the chorus of the 1996 song “Three Lions,” by The Lightning Seeds, which is basically the unofficial theme song for the England football team. The song is supposed to be part self-mocking, part rousing; classic British humour at that. But it has become much more than that. Fans now chant it, and it has gained much momentum since the 2018 World Cup. Since then, you always hear “this time it will surely come home”. But sadly, it has not.

The long wait and the issues

Unfortunately, the outcomes have not been as enthusiastic as the fans, and for the last sixty years, it has not been home. Maybe it will this time? Who knows?

But that looks less likely these days. Sure, England secured a win against Croatia, but they were held back by Ghana. With a game in hand, they qualified for the knockout stage, but in the group stage, they got a second chance. The knockout stage is not so forgiving. It’s one mistake, and you are out.

On paper, England has a great team and features stars like Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, who can flip a match singlehandedly and are some of the best players in the world, but at times, they look unconvincing. Which can happen to anyone, but that is not the issue. The issue is that when your star player is having a bad workday, can the rest of the team step up?

Promising as they are, they look like a team that will make mistakes, which will be punished terribly in a tournament like this. This year, they don’t look like the team that will take it home.

Perhaps not this time

Besides the team, there is the little issue of attitude that matters, especially in big tournaments. Many people across the world, including football pundits, see the “it’s coming home” chant as something arrogant. Personally, I see nothing wrong with it and think it’s the fans’ endearing way of showing their enthusiasm, but regardless, it is considered arrogant by many.

On the other hand, you can see shades of arrogance in the team and the fans sometimes. And unfortunately, it’s not limited to that. Part of that arrogance comes from the Premier League and its fans, which is considered the best league in the world. And the Premier League ego comes with the team as well as the fans. Such an attitude can be harmful for big teams.

The fans need to keep in mind that this is not the EPL, these are not EPL teams, and they are not the best team here, but they are fighting for the title of being “the best team in the world”. Besides, there are clear differences in quality when you compare England with other big names, so it will not be an easy ride.

All things considered, football is probably not coming home this year either, but it has been some great banter to keep the atmosphere. How about the same thing, four years later in 2030?