EM 2021: These English fans would not have deserved the title either

opinion

Actually everything was arranged for the first success of the “Three Lions” in a very, very long time: Who, if not this team, would have what it takes to become European champions? Alone the storm from Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling. In addition, the defense – they only allowed two goals up to the 120th minute of the final. Arch-rivals Germany were easily dealt with 2-0 and the tournament tree was kind to the team. Six out of seven games took place in front of a home crowd, the high point being the final at Wembley, a football dream that has become a stadium. But then Southgate’s boys failed in the, well, penalty shoot-out. So everything as always. Only the pity is limited this time, because if someone didn’t deserve the title, it’s the English fans.

Land of hooligans and fair play

Although the country is home to hooligans and world war rhetoric, it is also home to fair play and goose bumps chants. But rarely have the supporters of the national team behaved more unsavory than in the past four weeks of the European Championship. The sad climax came after the final chord, when the unlucky penalty kicks Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, all of them dark-skinned, were insulted and insulted in the social networks – by their own “fans”. The football association spoke of “disgusting behavior” and even Prime Minister Boris Johnson felt compelled to comment on the racist online excesses with “ashamed of yourselves”.

The abuse by the fans began before the tournament. When the players got on their knees during the test matches – as a sign against racism – they were booed by their own supporters. Coach Southgate said after a game against Romania: “First and foremost, we are all very disappointed. To boo your own team is a very strange reaction.” His words went unheard. Likewise when he later asked the supporters not to boo during the opponents’ anthems, as had happened before the games against Germany and Denmark.

And they laughed at a crying girl

It got particularly ugly when in the round of 16 a little, crying girl with the German tricolor was seen on the stadium monitors and the English fans began to cheer and laugh. The picture of the inconsolable child made the rounds on social media – where it was commented even more maliciously and disgustingly by the islanders. Terms like “Nazi” or “hooker” were mentioned. These derailments were too much for at least one British man; he started a fundraiser for the girl. Around 40,000 euros were raised, which ultimately went to Unicef.

Encouraged by the aggressive and hurray-patriotic headlines of the usual garish British press, even the gentleman Gareth Southgate once got his tone wrong and justified the hostile atmosphere at Wembley with events from World War II: “People tried to invade us too , and we had the courage to fight back. You can’t hide the fact that part of the energy in the stadium against Germany came from, “said Southgate.

Goalkeeper blinded with laser pointer

But even such fouls were topped. In the semifinals, the Danish goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was blinded by a laser pointer when he took a penalty. The Leicester City professional saved the shot at first, but star striker Kane was able to convert in the margin. The British government intervened again, with State Secretary Susan Williams calling the incident “horrific” in parliament and announcing a police investigation. Uefa, in turn, imposed a rather mild fine of 30,000 euros on the English association.

As well as the English national team may play now and as well as they will play at the World Cup in a year and a half – away from the field, the fans, and unfortunately a little bit of the “Three Lions” themselves, will have just about everyone in a few weeks Playful sympathies.