Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship
SHELBURNE — A chorus of “come on England” chants rang through the Slide In Pub on Wednesday afternoon as a few dozen fans dressed in their white, blue and red jerseys prepared for England’s World Cup match against Argentina, the 2022 champions.
A mixture of nervous anticipation and excitement hung over fans, knowing that in 90 minutes the Three Lions’ — a nickname for the England national football team — World Cup fate would be decided.
“There are three known dates that people remember in England,” said Nicola Weaver, a Vermont resident and British immigrant. “1066, the Battle of Hastings, 1666, the Fire of London and 1966, the last time England won the World Cup.”
Slide In was familiar territory for England fans, who have made the Shelburne bar their go-to spot for the country’s World Cup run.
Opened in March by Joseph Fox as “Vermont first-ever soccer bar,” Slide In is equipped with 10 televisions with Vermont beers, including Switchback Ale and Fiddlehead IPA, on tap.
Fox, 29, grew up in North London rooting for Arsenal Football Club and wanting to own a restaurant. He immigrated to Vermont in 2017, playing soccer at Vermont State University-Johnson.
Once the match started, tensions quickly mounted — both on screen and in the pub — as England and Argentina added another chapter to a historic rivalry.
First competing in 1951, England and Argentina have faced off in six different World Cup matches dating back to 1962.
However, the rivalry didn’t truly kick off until the 1966 quarterfinal match, when England bested Argentina, 1-0. Alf Ramsey, the England team’s manager, referred to Argentine players as “animals” while Argentinians called the match “el robo del siglo” — the theft of the century — because of an alleged missed offside call.
Off the pitch, the drama rose to a geopolitical level in 1982 when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands, a British territory, in a 74-day “undeclared war.”
“There is a narrative inherent in every game, even if you know nothing about the sport,” said England fan and Vermonter, Krishan Mistry, as he sipped a beer at the pub. “You see Morocco versus France and how there are hundreds of years of history that fed into it.”
Four years later, in 1986, England and Argentina took part in one of the most controversial World Cup matches in history. In the 51st minute of the quarterfinal match, Argentine player Diego Maradona dribbled into the penalty box and attempted a pass to a teammate, but the pass was deflected.
Maradona, measuring only 5’5” tall, out-jumped the British goalkeeper and hand-balled it into the net. The notorious goal became known as the “Hand of God,” after Maradona said a higher power, not his own hand, had helped him score.
At Wednesday’s game, the opening 45 minutes lived up the weight of the rivalry, with each team exchanging possessions and testing the opponents’ defense.
As the match went into halftime 0-0, the fans were nervous for what was to come yet filled with hope after going toe-to-toe with the defending champions.
“I would say absolutely everything,” Jack Turvey, another Brit, said as he reflected on what it would mean for his home country to win the cup. “I try to remain calm, but I won’t be. It’s going to be very stressful.”
That stress turned to euphoria during the 55th minute of the match.
England player Morgan Rogers received a pass on the wing, sending supporters to their feet. Rogers crossed the ball into the penalty box, where teammate Anthony Gordon tapped it in.
Cheers erupted from the bar as fans shouted “come on England” and high fived. The score was now 1-0.
For the next 30 minutes, England and Argentina traded the ball back and forth with no change in score.
Things came to a halt for England in the 85th minute when Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández shot from outside of the box and scored on the right side of the net.
England fans put their faces in their palms as the threat of a comeback loomed. The game was tied.
Six minutes later, the fans’ worst nightmares came true when Argentine superstar Lionel Messi crossed the ball to forward Lautaro Martínez, who headed it into the back of the net. On TV and at the pub, the roar of the crowd was silenced as fans realized it was yet another heartbreak World Cup exit for England.
A few claps rang out for the Argentines, but the sound didn’t compare to the heavy gasp of the British fans. As soon as the match ended, the fans slumped out of the bar, their disappointment palpable.
For Fox, the watch parties underscored how Vermont has come to embrace soccer, particularly with the rise of the Vermont Green, whose men’s team is headed to the playoffs on Friday. The women’s team will play in the finals on Saturday.
Fox said professional sports leagues in the U.S. tend to crown themselves as world champions, even though other countries are not involved. But in soccer, every country has a stake in the World Cup.
“This is something completely different for people. Everyone knows it’s a big sport in the world,” he said. “I think a lot of Americans sort of forget that, but I think Vermont has taken a really good grasp on it.”