I usually hate football – this is why I loved the World Cup so much

For the majority of my life, I have lived in ignorant bliss over football.

Despite my dad’s best efforts to entice me to be anything more than a passive Aston Villa supporter – he’s tried shirts, season tickets with fancy dinners and name-dropping that Prince William is a fan – the beautiful game generally bores me to tears.

Even previous World Cups have passed me by. Although I did once use an England match as an excuse to take a break from my homework, convincing myself maths could wait while the Three Lions roared. They didn’t and I fell asleep on the sofa.

Loving the World Cup

But the 2018 World Cup has had an effect on me I didn’t expect – I’m enjoying it, watching the games off my own back and seeking out the reaction the following day.

There is still a lot I don’t understand, such as why people seem to be incapable of watching football without incessantly wincing, groaning, half rising from their chairs before clasping their hands around their face, resuming their seat when the goal is missed, dejected. The offside rule is hazy and what the hell does “scrappy” playing mean?

“At a time when it seems our differences often define us and people take great pleasure in being contrary, the joy of everyone enjoying the same thing was immeasurable.”

But the national pride the World Cup has triggered I do very much understand. The crying kids, the smudged face paint and the sense that their whole lives depend on this game. Put simply, the emotion of the tournament has finally won me over.

I love the the shared outrage over childish diving (a term I learned just before the tournament started) and the jubilation when, against the odds, the ball gets in the net.

The emotions playing out on the pitch are gripping: indignation, tension, disappointment, pride, achievement and relief as the whistle blows.

Heartbreaking loss

And it was all going so well until England lost against Croatia in a 2-1 semi-final finish. It was heartbreaking and devastating. Regardless of whether the team played well – I’ve been told on good authority they could have been better – it feels like something greater than just the match was lost: the sense of unity we enjoyed for these few weeks.

Everyone including myself, a less than half-hearted football fan with less than half-baked knowledge, was behind these 23 men, their coach Gareth Southgate and his waistcoat.  

At a time when it seems our differences often define us and people take great pleasure in being contrary, the joy of everyone enjoying the same thing was immeasurable.

In the past there seems to have been only one way to support football and that was to be a die-hard fan. Anyone else was part of the I-couldn’t-care-less brigade. As a formerly loyal member of this club, I was at first hesitant to go to a pub to watch a World Cup match. I soon realised there were many more like myself – less a fan of the sport, more a fan of the spirit and the excitement.

It would be nice to see that spirit come home again before 2022.

Read more World Cup 2018 news:

How David Baddiel and Frank Skinner helped England fans cope with disappointment at Euro 96

Why are Croatia so good at football with only a population of 4 million? 

Selfless Raheem Sterling proves his worth to England despite semi-final defeat 

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