Watching England in England

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of watching Arsenal vs Manchester United at a pub called The Grosvenor. It's a nice chill out spot that's a short walk from my house where they show live sports.

As a football fan supporting an English football team, it is inevitable that you would hear about how pubs are a part of the football experience. So, when it was confirmed that we were coming here, I put it in my plans that I would come watch a game at one.

Today, I got the pleasure of not only watching a football match in a pub but to actually watch England take on Ukraine on this very hot day. It is a day that is at hot as it gets in Nigeria and the humidity isn't helping matters.

Anyway, I'm sat at the bar beside a friendly gentleman who I presume is English based on his accent and his response to Zinchenko's opener for Ukraine. When that goal went in, I wore a wry smile internally because, well, I'm an Arsenal fans and our player scored.

As much as I'd have liked to pump my fist in the air for Zinchenko's goal, I refrained from doing it because I'm really not emotionally invested in the game. All I really cared about was the fact that a couple of Arsenal players were on the pitch and I get to watch them.

I also didn't feel the need to celebrate because it's just not the emotionally intelligent thing to do in the circumstance. It really doesn't make any sense to celebrate when others were sad.

When England scored, I celebrated through Walker, I cheered with everyone. It felt like the right thing to do and for the rest of the match, I'll be an England supporter .

In any case, it is surreal to actually be in the country of football and watch with other fans that have been much closer to the action than I've been.