It’s coming home. Did you know it’s coming home? It being, of course, football, and home being its destination: England. Whatever the Croatia result, the England team have far outperformed all reasonable expectation in this year’s World Cup, and triggered something quite unprecedented in the internet age: a universal sense of positivity.
Despite social media being a global beast, it is typically dominated by an influx of US influences: cultural, political and sporting. This year’s World Cup, the most thrilling since France ‘98, has firmly wrestled the sporting focus away from America (not least because they’re dire at football) and birthed a treasure trove of memes.
Memes, for the uninitiated, typically juxtapose images and text for comedic effect, but also extend to videos, phrases, even ideals. The Three Lions memes, borrowing from the Lightning Seeds’ Euro ‘96 hit single of the same name, have spread thick and fast across social media over the past few weeks, showcasing the best of quick-witted British humour.
Me right now #ItsComingHome #westillbelieve
pic.twitter.com/aoJoXCbXi2
— Ali Williams (@aliwilliamsgolf) July 3, 2018
Who wouldn’t want to watch a clip of Del Boy playing the ubiquitous track down the phone to housewives’ favourite Gareth Southgate? Or David Brent dancing to it? Or admire photoshopped pictures of Southgate holding a trophy cabinet box outside an Ikea? Or peruse the #GarethSouthgateWould Twitter hashtag, showcasing the manager’s sweet and generous nature (sample tweet: “Gareth Southgate would probably politely ask football if it wanted to come home first, then contact its parents and ask if it was okay.”)
This England side are uniting the nation in a way no politician could
The memes have been inventive, astute and yes, funny, but this is about more than just making people laugh. The internet, and Twitter in particular, is usually such a cesspit of vitriol and negativity that Three Lions has offered us not only respite from the daily gloom, but a fleeting example of how life can be in Britain if most of us are pulling the same way.
Promise me you'll remember one thing…. #ItsComingHome #ENGSWE #ENG pic.twitter.com/YWdsqH4XyT
— David Brent (@DavidBrentMovie) July 5, 2018
Brexit, toxic masculinity, the implosion of the serving government, the ever-increasing pressure on the NHS – there are so many reasons life in the UK can be miserable at times. These memes are digital snapshots of unity and hope – of course, filtered through comedy because absolute sincerity is still A Bit Embarrassing. It’s also been nice to walk past flats decorated with St George’s Crosses and not fear you’ve stumbled upon an EDL convention. We all know football is only a game. But for one glorious month, it’s been so much more.
More on England v Croatia:
World Cup 2018: The funniest jokes, memes and tweets so far
England v Croatia – tactical preview: Three areas where the game will be won or lost
England v Croatia: How will Three Lions line-up? An in-depth analysis
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