What it's like to watch England at the World Cup in Qatar

Here's what it was like being inside the stadium.

The act of watching England in the flesh is something I’d dreamt of for the entirety of my life, so I had certainly anticipated an experience that would live up to expectation.

And my word, did it.

I’m usually relatively competent in transcribing my thoughts, but on this occasion I concede that I’m struggling exceptionally.

A simply breathtaking phenomena and a special, special night, with both performance and result instilling a level of confidence that I can’t say I’ve felt in abundance before.

Over 60,000 fans aggregated from across the globe, mostly sharing common support for England, but I do think it’s only right to take my hat off and commend the Senegalese fans.

For more than two hours they danced and sung in unison, and regardless of each instance the ball hit the back of their net, continued indefinitely - something the Southend faithful would be proud of!

I’ll have to take you all the way back to 2010.

Qatar had just obtained an absolute majority to host the 2022 World Cup, and I vividly remember sitting at dinner and my Dad telling me that we’d fulfil his lifelong dream of attending a World Cup, and that this one served as the perfect opportunity.

He hoped and forecasted that I’d be in my second year of university, and thus a chance to visit before my formative working career commenced.

An eight-year-old me dreamt, and 12 years later, that very proposal at dinner came into fruition.

So, here we are in Qatar, and there’s not a person in the world I’d rather be here with.

I quite honestly couldn’t speak any higher of Qatar and my experience so far here.

I struggle to recall ever feeling safer in a new location, the people are fantastically friendly and welcoming, and the supporting infrastructure in place is second to none.

I think I’d also share a unanimous opinion in suggesting the football on show here has been of the highest calibre.

In all sincerity, I was slightly apprehensive before coming here merely consequent to negative media influence.

I foresaw a relatively humdrum destination and a subsequently lacklustre World Cup, but Qatar has far exceeded expectation.

Let the media paint what ever picture it’d like to. Qatar is awesome.

England’s biggest test of the World Cup so far comes on Saturday against none other than our oldest rivals on the global stage.

Ever since 1066, the French have been one thing, fantastically annoying.

Fast-forward to 2022, and not much has changed in a whimsical sense.

It is now not Napoleon thrusting through the English defence lines that poses a substantial threat to us, but instead the daunting attack of Mbappe, Giroud, and Dembele.

The 100 Years War is arguably the most well-known battle between England and France, but on Saturday, I propose that changes.

100 years become 90 minutes as the efficacious English face the fallaciously formidable French, and once more every little thing in life becomes trivial whilst the English quarter of the kingdom unite.

I admittedly use fallaciously with a hint of optimism, but I do think it’s more than warranted - there’s every reason why we should be backing the Three Lions to triumph this weekend.

Hopefully these playful figures postulate some optimism of your own:

It’s initially worth noting that England boast a superior H2H record vs France (P31 W17 D5 L9). Historically dominant.

France are the current World Cup holders.

You have to go back 60 years to find the last nation to win consecutive World Cup competitions (Brazil, 1958 & 1962), whilst no reigning champion has made it past the quarter final since 1994 (Brazil once more). The end of the road.

Jude Bellingham’s assist on Monday night makes him the youngest England player to assist in a World Cup game since 1966. Could someone remind me what happened in that year’s competition? Inevitable.

It is with deep regret that I announce I’ll be returning to Malaysia for university commitments ahead of this weekend’s semi-final, so I unfortunately will not be in attendance as I was on Monday.

Cheering on at 3am from Kuala Lumpur will have to suffice.

I’ll conclude briefly here. They may be famous last words, but I don’t fear the French, and neither should you.

Dare I say it, but history beckons. Come. On. England.

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