From penalty shootout failures to the ignominy of defeat to Iceland five years ago, England’s national team has largely been a source of agony for the country’s football fans for decades. This time around, though, something feels different: a spirit of togetherness in the squad, the confirmation of manager Gareth Southgate as a national treasure, and a group of players who have stuck to their principles and won the affection of sections of the public who, rightly or wrongly, have long viewed the game as a playground for millionaires.
Max Rushden, presenter of the Guardian’s Football Weekly podcast, has suffered with the England team for as long as he can remember – and still, somehow, maintains a spirit of optimism in every tournament. Before Wednesday night’s semi-final against Denmark, he tells Anushka Asthana why this team really might have it in them to go all the way – and asks what it would mean, for football fans and the nation, if they could beat the odds to bring home the first major trophy since 1966.
Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock
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