England broke our hearts but it was always about more than football

England broke our hearts but it was always about more than footballImage source, George WrightImage caption, With my brother Laurie after the semi-final loss to ArgentinaByGeorge WrightBBC NewsPublished40 minutes agoI watched the curtains fall on England's World Cup chances in a pub near Trafalgar Square with my wife, brother and friends. After Anthony Gordon's opener, the tension rose and the chatter ground to a halt as England sat back and Argentina pushed for an equaliser.Once Enzo Fernandez broke us down in the 85th minute, it seemed inevitable that Argentina would win and our dreams of bellowing out Wonderwall to celebrate an historic victory wouldn't come to pass.It's not a new experience to me as an England fan - anticipation, joy, frustration and ultimately, dejection.But the chaotic pub scenes, WhatsApp chats and conversations with friends across the world have reminded me that supporting England in the World Cup connects me with people in ways few other events do.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Jude Bellingham's second goal against Mexico sent the pub I watched the match in into a frenzyEngland in major tournaments have defined many summers in my lifetime. One of my earliest memories was making my four-year-old brother stand still in the back garden while I tried to flick the ball over his head and volley it into the net, just as Gazza had done against Scotland the day before in Euro 96.Excitement was low within my social circles ahead of this World Cup - partly because of anger over sky-high ticket prices that priced out so many fans.But all apathy disappeared as we beat Croatia 4-2 in the first game. Watching Harry Kane welling up as fans serenaded the team with a rendition of Wonderwall compounded the excitement."THIS IS OUR YEAR," I wrote on one WhatsApp chat with three friends who all live in different countries, only half joking."One foot in the final," one responded, almost certainly joking.Feeli...