England: Divided by Brexit, united by Fifa World Cup 2018 success

Everyone loves a winner, but the English public’s embrace of its national team goes beyond the routine pride in sporting success.

For a country bitterly divided by the Brexit referendum as well as by age-old regional and class divides, the national team’s journey to the World Cup semi-finals has been a welcome relief from political arguments and rancour.

But it is not merely a case of a temporary burst of patriotic fervour papering over the cracks in society.

There is something about this young England team and their articulate manager Gareth Southgate that has created a genuine connection not felt for a generation.

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