They gathered beneath giant screens in London, packed out bars in Brussels, filled the Old Town in Dubrovnik and the Vieux Port in Marseille. They painted their faces and wrapped flags round their shoulders. They bought plastic glasses of beer to throw in celebration, or down in sorrow. They crossed their fingers, and they held their breath.
From early Tuesday morning until late Wednesday night, Belgium and France, England and Croatia came almost to a standstill, nervously anticipating the World Cup semifinals. Commuters donned national team jerseys to go to work. Shops closed, and bars opened, early.