ON TREND: FOOTBALL'S COMING HOME

Approximately 3 weeks ago, most of England wondered how early our beloved football team would be coming home. Now, with less than a week until the final, most of England is wondering whether more than just 23 footballers may be on its way 'home'. With just a semi-final against Croatia in the way, our boys are so so close to a grand final. As a persistent heatwave beats England from pillar to post, we didn't need any excuses to party in the sun, but the Three Lions have provided one anyway. Whatever happens on Wednesday, we can be proud of the team. A World Cup semi-final... Football is definitely 'On Trend' right now.

What started as a joke has become a national 'slogan'. The chorus from The Lightening Seed's (Ft. David Baddiel & Frank Skinner) 1996 banger, 'Three Lions' has been sung up and down the country, posted on Twitter endlessly, used anywhere and everywhere. Football fever has taken over the entire country and we finally have a team we are proud of.

Everyone who's anyone is supporting the Three Lions and plenty of musicians have got behind the team too. Liam Gallagher recently tweeted his support in rather bizarre fashion, inevitably having a pop at his brother in the process:

"Very sad when you can't support your country cos your mrs won't let ya hashtag soft lad hashtag under the thumb ITS COMING HOME as you were LG x" (via Twitter)

Meanwhile, following his goalkeeping heroics in Saturday's quarter-final against Sweden, punk band Shame changed their Twitter picture to an image of Jordan Pickford, whilst Wolf Alice also changed their name on Twitter to 'Jordan Pickford the band'. Finally, the aforementioned Wolf Alice have plastered the increasingly iconic phrase, 'It's Coming Home', onto their speakers for festival season.

Meanwhile many music venues across the country have been converted into football zones. Newcastle's O2 Academy has shown every single England game so far whilst Manchester's Albert Hall is set to screen Wednesday's semi-final.

Whether it's a World Cup or European Championship, England usually suffers heartache or embarrassment. The country places too much pressure on a team that inevitably caves under it. This year has been different however. We have a coach who speaks well and has forged an identity. We have a team that is together, full of spirit and who don't take themselves too seriously (see Kyle Walker & Harry Maguire's recent tweets for examples). There's a fan-base that has simply enjoyed the tournament with zero expectations for the most part. All of this has added up to a World Cup semi-final and a postivity across the country that hasn't been felt in a long time. 

In a weeks time England may have another star above the three lions, football may have come home. Either way, one thing's for certain, football fever has returned home.