​Isn’t it strange how the same song can sound so awful sung by a lone dude with a guitar beside a campfire serenading a lady, and yet so magnificent sung by 40,000 people around a pitch serenading a soccer club? That, my friends, is the wonder of “Wonderwall.”Much like “Country Roads” ascended to become the unofficial theme of the United States Men’s National Team, this year’s World Cup has anointed the Oasis classic “Wonderwall” as the soundtrack to England’s magical run to the semis … and possibly beyond.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Wonderwall”’s soccer resurgence is a perfect marriage of music and moment, a ‘90s classic repurposed for a squad on a mission, in a sport that thrives on the deep bonds between players and supporters. As England — a nation always veering from euphoria to melancholy and back, a nation always living in the shadow of its own history — tries to win its first World Cup since 1966, why not use a song from 30 years ago as its rallying cry?You already know why “Wonderwall” is such a perfect song for a stadium singalong. It’s an easy, stately melody that proceeds at a pace ideal for singing. The first time you heard it, it sounded like something you’d been hearing all your life. No matter how many pints you’ve quaffed during the match, you can stumble your way in the direction of the right key during that “And aaaafter allll, you’re my wonderwaaaall…” chorus.Plus, like all great singalongs, it sounds better in a group, swaying with your arms around your mates. Sure, nobody quite knows what a “wonderwall” is, but who cares? The song evokes nostalgia, joy and camaraderie all at once. Those types of tunes don’t come along often.Neither do World Cups, and when England knocked off Croatia 4-2 in the first match of group stage, the song ambled forth from the speakers at Dallas Stadium. As if they’d all done this a thousand times before, the team gathered in front of its wondrous wall of supporters, and everyone sang along in perfectly imperfect harmony. (The Wall Street Journal notes that the moment almost didn’t happen; the Dallas stadium DJ was supposed to play “Sweet Caroline,” but called an audible and went with “Wonderwall.” And so a tradition was born.)AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“That was one of my favorite” — or “favourite” — “moments ever in an English shirt, and especially at a major tournament,” Harry Kane told England’s official podcast afterward. “I know it’s just the first game and we’re not getting carried away, but that emotional connection with the fans — we see how much it means to them and they see how much it means to us.”Since then, England have gone on an unbeaten run, with statement victories over Mexico and Norway. And “Wonderwall” has been there all along:The song has vaulted back to the top of the charts, with Spotify noting that the song saw a 50-percent spike in United Kingdom listeners f