The Burning Question At UEFA Euro 2016: Can England Wake Up From 50 Years Of Slumber?

A bus to Oxford from Heathrow is generally non-eventful. People don’t talk much and most, exhausted after a really long journey, fancy catching up on an hours sleep before getting off at their preferred destination. Not so yesterday – Euro 2016 has begun.

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Will Wayne Rooney retain his place in the side against Russia now that Jose Mourinho has thrown his weight behind the Manchester United talisman or will Chris Smalling be able to hold off the threat from the opponents – it is Euro all over in England. This country just loves its football. While some still love talking about Jamie Vardy’s possible transfer from Leicester City to Arsenal, much of the talk is about England and if the perennial under achievers in world football can finally do something worthwhile in a competition that matters to fans here in London.

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How London Is In Euro Mode

All over London, the football flavour is evident. At the University Club in Oxford, students, who generally come to the club for breakfast before heading out to school, are in a tad early. One of the local schools is doing a special event encouraging the children to identify the flags of all the participating countries which are displayed in abundance all over the city and in every supermarket or retail store. Most sports goods stores are running sales and cut outs of favourite stars are all over, drawing the youth to cheering for their favourite team. Interestingly, and as always, it is the St Georges Cross that is seen hung everywhere and not the British flag, something that is now an acceptable fact of life in England. Unlike in the Olympics where it is the United Kingdom that is on show, at the Euros it is England that will take centerstage.

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Everyone's Well Stocked Up

Every pub of repute has something special to offer for the month long footballing extravaganza. Special beers and drinks from each of the participating nations are on offer at special prices and on the days a particular team is playing, there are special happy hours and offers on drinks from that particular country. "It takes a lot of preparation to select the beers that the fans love and then order each of them from the respective countries and finally ensure we are well stocked before the tournament starts. Business, it is expected will be very good all of June and if the weather is good, it will be a fantastic month of football," says the bartender at the White Horse pub in London.

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But, can England do it? Before every tournament since the unexpected win in the 1966 World Cup, the country has braced itself for another miracle and for 50 years now they have been left disappointed at the end of it all. Despite having formidable teams on occasions, the 2002 World Cup is an example, England has fallen when it has mattered the most. The Gerrard, Terry, Beckham, Lampard generation have failed to live up to expectations at the international stage and now it is up to coach Roy Hodgson’s present crop to try and make amends. Rooney, perhaps playing his final major tournament as England captain (will be tough for him to retain his place in 2018 in Russia if he fails yet again), it is perhaps the most important tournament of his life. While there is euphoria around his testimonial match at Old Trafford on 5 August, it will be doubly exciting if he manages to lead England to a title in France.

“There are some really good teams in the fray but you can never write England off”, says an ardent fan as he finishes his second beer at the Kings Arms in Oxford. “I think it will be France, Spain or Germany”, quips another before adding “I will buy you a couple of beers if England can actually do it!”

The country is just waiting to erupt. Every move of the team will be cheered and celebrated as long as England are able to go past the line. Russia is the first hurdle and as many are saying, well begun will indeed be half done.