England fans have adopted Oasis' 1995 classic 'Wonderwall' as their unofficial anthem for the FIFA World Cup, singing it after matches including the 4-2 victory over Croatia and the win against DR Congo in Atlanta. The tradition began during qualifiers and has been embraced by players and fans alike.
Origins of the Anthem
The song was included in a playlist submitted by the Football Association ahead of the tournament, alongside Neil Diamond's 'Sweet Caroline' and The Beatles' 'Hey Jude'. Fans and players have particularly latched onto 'Wonderwall', with Harry Kane calling the post-match singalong "one of my favourite ever moments in an England shirt."
Why Wonderwall?
Released on 30 October 1995 by Creation Records, 'Wonderwall' was the fourth single from Oasis' album '(What's the Story) Morning Glory?'. Despite narrowly missing the UK number one spot, the acoustically-driven ballad has endured for three decades. Noel Gallagher originally wrote the song about his then-girlfriend Meg Matthews but later said it was about "an imaginary friend who's gonna come and save you from yourself."
The term 'Wonderwall' was taken from the 1968 psychedelic film of the same name, for which George Harrison provided the soundtrack. The song's themes of hope and devotion make it a fitting rallying call for a team aiming to end 60 years of hurt.
Player Reactions
Harry Kane told the Lion's Den podcast: "We have that connection right now but just that moment, singing Wonderwall in the stadium. Everyone knew the words and that was a really special moment." Declan Rice echoed the sentiment, telling the BBC: "Being in Dallas, singing Wonderwall. There's nothing like that first time."
Cultural Impact
Liam Gallagher tweeted "Cmon England cmon Wonderwall" after the DR Congo match, while Noel Gallagher commented after the Croatia win: "Wonderwall belongs to the people." The song has been sung at all of England's World Cup fixtures so far, cementing its place as the squad's unofficial anthem.
