England’s semi-final against Sweden in Euro 2022 offered a new experience for home fans. Millions of us who had spent our footballing lives watching agonising defeats, tearful exits and a collective failure to live up to indisputable individual talent now found ourselves staring at our TVs in a dissociative state. We were watching our side in the knockout stages of a major tournament, but where was the familiar anxiety, the impending dread?
When England’s men won their semi-final in the Euros 12 months ago, our bodies understood the drill. We went a goal down. We went to nerve-shredding extra time. And yes, we won, but not until we were drenched with sweat and misery. So what were these strange goosebumps doing on our forearms? Were we having – was this even possible – fun?
