England's quest for a second World Cup win, or final appearance, will stretch beyond the 60-year mark after a 2-1 semi-final defeat to Argentina. For one fan, genuine hope lasted just two minutes and 55 seconds, but it was a life-affirming experience.
The Nature of Hope in Sport
In her book Hope in the Dark, author Rebecca Solnit examines whether hope is possible amid human suffering, quoting Bulgarian writer Maria Popova: "Critical thinking without hope is cynicism, but hope without critical thinking is naivety." Football fans, however, often cling to the phrase "it's the hope that kills you." The origins of that saying are disputed, with attributions ranging from William Shakespeare to Peter Ustinov. Ted Lasso countered: "It's the lack of hope that comes and gets you." Jackson Lamb from Slow Horses offered: "It's not the hope that kills you. It's knowing it's the hope that kills you – that kills you."
Hope as a pure emotion is incapacitating. It doesn't exist at the start of a game, playing second fiddle to fear: fear during the buildup, the 10-second countdown, and as the ball rolls back to Jordan Pickford. Hearts beat at twice the normal rate.
The Match Unfolds
As the game settled, base-level angst gave way to pockets of rage as Giuliano Simeone harried and hacked. Well-timed tackles by Argentinians were deemed evil; fouls by English players were justified. Half-time brought pessimism: the longer it went, the more likely Argentina would win, with their "muscle memory" and "wily bastards" approach.
Then came the goal: a perfect cross and finish, an outpouring of joy and relief. The first real moment of hope, combined with the thought, "At least they need two now." The only other ecstatic moment was Djed Spence's tackle, celebrated like Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci. "The greatest England tackle since Eric Dier on Sergio Ramos," one fan shouted.
The retreat began before the hydration break. With 10 men at the Azteca it made sense, but as time ticked on, hope crept in. In the 82nd minute, Nico O'Reilly blocked a pass and chased it down. "That's saved eight seconds," a fan shouted. A minute later, Lionel Messi lofted a cross harmlessly out of play. That was the moment of belief.
The Crushing Blow
At 84 minutes and 24 seconds, Enzo Fernández shot from distance; Pickford tipped it over. At 84 minutes and 55 seconds, Fernández had too much time on the edge of the box, shot, and scored. The hope lasted exactly two minutes and 55 seconds. It didn't kill the fan; it was thrilling, terrifying, and life-affirming.
As the author concludes, hope can be a catalyst for social change, and it can help fans imagine lifting the European Championship trophy in 2028, even if only for a fleeting moment.
