World Cup success offers cheer and hope to a divided England

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By Simon Evans ST PETERSBURG (Reuters) - Everyone loves a winner, but the English public's embrace of its national team goes beyond the routine pride in sporting success. For a country bitterly divided by the Brexit referendum as well as by age-old regional and class divides, the national team's journey to the World Cup semi-finals has been a welcome relief from political arguments and rancor. There is something about this young England team and their articulate manager Gareth Southgate that has created a genuine connection not felt for a generation.