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In all honesty, trying to write this and find the words to summarise Sunday’s final I don’t think I will do it justice. I don’t think anyone could do, but I will try my best here.
Coming into the final social media was flooded with photos and videos of the nation together in the knowledge that their team was in the final of the European Championships. A nation together in unity ahead of the biggest game that the Three Lions will have played so far in the majority of their lifetimes.
Whilst as ever, there were videos and images showing chaotic scenes in the capital, the general mood across the country were hope and pride of their national side once again in a feeling that in all honesty, hasn’t been surrounding England in recent major tournaments so to feel it now feels incredible regardless of the result.
In fan parks across the nation from Baddiel and Skinner to Atomic Kittens, the England fans as ever were vocal in their support, as they have been throughout the tournament. Many had made trips for the special occasion to Manchester, Liverpool, London.
Just two minutes in, the nation was sent into jubilation. England’s attacking wingbacks at the forefront as they often have been this tournament, with Luke Shaw again taking part in the goals, this time the scorer though.
A delightful ball from Kieran Trippier followed by an even better finish, just replicated the start that England had against Ukraine, playing to their tempo, marching to their drum. This is what fans wanted to see against an Italian side that massively relies on their ability to do this themselves.
The issues that followed though were that too soon England almost dropped off from that tempo, the press that ensued from the start of the game slowly started to derail and Italy started gaining control of the game, the one thing that both England fans and players didn’t want to see.
The following 60 minutes were torrid, it took until the 67th minute for the Azzurri to finally level, an incredible save from Pickford just inches away from tipping it round his post rebounded to veteran defender Leonardo Bonucci who tapped it home from three yards out.
Southgate responded by reverting his side to the 4-2-3-1 that was successful in the games it was used in this tournament, arguably it was only utilised against the sides that England were considered strong favourites for, but the system switch seemed to confuse the Italians for the remaining 15 of the 90 but was found out by Mancini and the Italians.
Mancini’s side from the get-go of the game aimed to disrupt the tempo of Southgate’s squad and looked to do so through fouls and it worked. The most notable of the two were the Chiellini and Jorginho issues.
In the dying seconds of the game, Chiellini tugged on Saka’s shirt, and almost choked the England youngster as a result. Chiellini was booked but debates have gone on since if he should have been sent off. Debates can be made in favour of both in all honesty, I can see both sides of the argument, but it is too far out to be deemed a clear goal-scoring opportunity in my honest opinion.
The Jorginho issue is one that looks 10 times worse than it did in actual time, however, the action still is arguably deserving of the red. A stomp onto the calf of Jack Grealish punished with a yellow card but again one that could and definitely should be argued of further punishment.
Without a doubt, the second-half and extra-time performances from the Three Lions weren’t at the same level that over the tournament we have somewhat become accustomed to, nonetheless, it wasn’t a fault of the English. Mancini and his side have a clear tempo that they aim to play and disrupt the oppositions which they did expertly on Sunday night.
The penalties that followed left everyone in Europe on the edge of their seats. Gigi Donnarumma and Jordan Pickford, undoubtedly the stars of the shootout. Rounding off an overall deserved victory for the Azzurri was Bukayo Saka’s miss. What followed though showed how much is left to be done in terms of social media, not only in football but in general.
Racial abuse poured onto social media whether it be tweets or comments on Instagram posts, aimed at Saka, Sancho and Rashford. In a tournament where so many came together in love for the same players, some have tried to spoil it. Some even going to lengths to destroy a mural of Rashford, originally created for his work in getting school meals. Those three men are likely to be stars of the England squad for plenty of years to come and are being viciously abused for having the courage to take a penalty in a European Championship Final.
However, support also followed, the aforementioned mural has since been covered in messages of support, love and kindness to Rashford. Messages have outpoured in support of those abused. Showing this nation won’t back down to the racist abuse some try to throw at our stars.
They didn’t purposely miss their penalties; it just wasn’t meant to be on the day, and they were kept out by the eventual player of the tournament. A feat that isn’t undeserved for his heroics in the shootout.
What is clear is that these lads and the rest of the squad once again have the backing of the nation. A nation that is proud, a nation that is confident, a nation with the hope that an international trophy will come home. With the year-on-year improvement we currently are seeing, it could come home sooner than we may have believed prior to this tournament.
This team were hungry, passionate and excellent this tournament, and if you add a desire to go one step further next tournament and you have a squad that can and will win an international tournament in the next few years.
I’ll leave it on this final note. This side is special. This side is the Three Lions. This side is our Three Lions and they will be back, better and stronger than ever.
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