After a tough year for London — and a tough 55 years for fans of England’s men’s soccer team — the city’s Wembley Stadium is roaring again, and the fans are singing an American song. Tens of thousands of British spectators have seized the chance to cheer (and jeer) their long-suffering team in person at the Euro 2020 soccer tournament, which kicked off last month after a yearlong coronavirus delay. As England fought to qualify for the final, spectators at Wembley sang “Sweet Caroline,” a Neil Diamond hit that came out in 1969 — three years after the team’s last major tournament championship, the 1966 World Cup. “It’s kind of become like a good-luck charm in this tournament,” said Tony Perry, who has been the D.J. for the matches at Wembley.

Source: New York Times July 11, 2021 13:06 UTC