I haven't missed it though, although I should say I 'boycotted' the World Cup because I didn't want to be involved with it on a personal level rather than as some kind of sacrificial act. Whatever incidental power (almost nothing, tbf) it has is because I'm not going to show up on the viewing figures or have been counted watching any of the adverts etc. and how good or bad the football is really doesn't really change that.
I've missed loads of great football over the years, I'm sure I'll miss a lot more (especially stuff that doesn't involve Angel Di Maria scoring/winning ). If anything it's been a useful experience. It was leaked today, on the day of the final, that one of the Glazers met with the Saudi/Qatari governments about a sale of Man Utd and I've spent the last month and a half slowly becoming more and more certain that if that does happen I could just walk away from it all and it wouldn't leave some big blank hole in my life that I'd struggle to fill.
I've realised my love for football isn't totally unconditional, and I'm slowly starting to think that's healthy.