Since 2022, the British anthem has been called “God Save the King” again – and will be played for the first time at a European Championship on Sunday at the Euro 2024. At least with the English striker, fans do not have to adjust.
Anyone who only follows the English national football team on TV during the European Championships might have briefly wondered on Sunday evening whether they had misheard. The national anthem before the game did not include the decades-old “God Save the Queen” but “God Save the King”. What is old hat for royal experts since King Charles took over the reins in 2022 was actually a first for a European football championship: for the first time, the changed anthem was heard at a European continental tournament, namely in the match between England and Serbia.
The UEFA Euro has existed since 1960, even though the tournament format at that time had very little to do with today’s competition. King Charles’ mother, Elizabeth II, was already Queen of the United Kingdom at that time, which is why “God Save the Queen” was always played in the following tournaments – right up to the present day. At a football World Cup, however, both versions have been heard, and the big sister of the European Championship has been around since 1930.
Euro 2024: Harry Kane is now England’s record player at tournaments
While fans of English football have to say goodbye to one rule, they can at least be sure of another: Harry Kane is still playing for England. And for the 23rd time at a World or European Championship, something no Englishman has achieved before him. With the match against Serbia, he took over Ashley Cole’s record and has only missed one tournament match since the 2016 European Championship (at the 2018 World Cup against Belgium).
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The Bayern Munich striker is sometimes called “King Kane” – he was king before Charles was. Is that why people think of him more when they hear the anthem? In sporting terms, he didn’t offer any arguments for this honor in the 1-0 win against Serbia. In the first half, he only touched the ball once and in the entire game only had one clear goal-scoring opportunity, which was well saved by Serbian goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic. Jude Bellingham scored the winning goal for England.
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To be crowned a nobleman, Kane would need at least one sporting trophy – and that is, as we know, a topic in itself for the striker who still has no title. He is not the only Englishman to set a record on Sunday. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is now the English keeper with the most appearances at major tournaments (20 games), and he is not far off Kane’s record. The throne remains a hot topic on the island.
Source: Stern
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