This Side of the Pond

To support England’s national soccer team has always been a harrowing commitment to stress, dashed hopes and heartbreak, over and over again…but not any more. On Sunday, we came a single kick from winning the UEFA European Championship (better known as the Euros) for the very first time.

We lost, it’s true, but I’d like to explain why that isn’t really the point. To do that, I must rewind to the old days, when we were notorious for having all the talent in the world and failing to live up to it.

You may remember I mentioned this championship a few weeks ago, at which point I said...