Everyone can imagine what England players, fans and family were saying yesterday. ‘It should have been us, we should have won.’ This must have been their thought in Euro 2020 finals game. This would have been their first win since the beginning of the UEFA Euro Championship, but as Nigerians would say, their village people must have followed them to the pitch.
The streets of England were hot and angry yesterday as it was no surprise when the indigenes began attacking Italians and their properties. Italian restaurants were hanging flags of England as a sign of peace and to pacify the angry mob. The question on everyone’s lips even though England had all they needed to bring the cup home was, what really happened?
🗣️ "I knew we would be waking up this morning to headlines of racist abuse"@GNev2 slams the 'predictable' abuse sent online to #ENG players after #Euro2020 defeat
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 12, 2021
Losing to Italy in front of a partisan crowd at Wembley, their home ground was quite sad. However, subjecting Saka, Rashford and Sancho to racist abuse for missing their spot-kicks was sadder and unjustifiable.
Is Gareth Southgate, England’s manager’s refusal to make more substitutions to blame? Or the fact that he let the fate of England rest on the shoulders of 19-year old Bukayo Saka? Or maybe England just never stood a chance against Italy who is considered a strong team seeing that they had won the tournament before in 1968. That was a long time ago. This is a big win for them.
Whatever his tactics were, Southgate’s plan worked until the finals. This is after all the first time England is becoming runner-up of the UEFA European Championship tournament. Poor Saka, bawled into tears after losing the penalty kick. His teammates, Kalvin Philips and Luke Shaw had to comfort him.
Goal.com
Maybe Southgate should have reconsidered his choices for the penalty and used experienced players. Whatever the case, the tournament is over and Italy won. Italy 1 and England 1 (Penalties: 3-2). Gianluigi Donnarumma Italy’s goalkeeper was their true hero and saving grace in yesterday’s game after pushing aside Saka’s attempt and snuffing out England’s last chance.
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This was how the penalty went down and those who played it:
- Penalty 1: Italy; Domenico Berardi … SCORE!
- Penalty 2: England; Kane… SCORE!
- Penalty 3: Italy; Andrea Belotti… MISS!
- Penalty 4: England; Harry Maguire… SCORE!
- Penalty 5: Italy; Bonucci… SCORE!
- Penalty 6: England; Rashford… MISS!
- Penalty 7: Italy; Bernardeschi… SCORE!
- Penalty 8: England; Jadon Sancho… MISS!
- Penalty 9: Italy; Jorginho… MISS!
- Penalty 10: England; Bukayo Saka… MISS AND ITALY ARE CHAMPIONS!!!
Congratulations to Italy whose reputation has been restored after the Italian squad was humiliated five years ago when it failed to qualify for the World Cup. And congrats to England for making it this far for the first time in the tournament. It’s not the time to apportion blames but enjoy and relive the amazing memories of the game we all love and the highlights of exciting competition.
Who is looking forward to the Premier League?
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