The Euro 2020 tournament is one of the few international championships which has shown the England national side in a positive light. Gareth Southgate and his players might come away disappointed on Sunday night but there have been a string of high points that will give them encouragement for the upcoming World Cup.
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford
Image credit: Getty Images
Alexander Netherton
BY
ALEXANDER NETHERTON
PUBLISHED 12/07/2021 AT 04:49 GMT+6
England suffered another miserable disappointment, but it is a rare thing that they can still come away from an international tournament with their pride intact. We look at their biggest moments.
GARETH SOUTHGATE DEFENDS TAKING THE KNEE
Before the tournament, Southgate and his England squad discussed whether they wished to continue taking the knee or not. The way the manager reported it to the press, there was little debate and plenty of unity as the decision was made: they would continue to take the knee.
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There should have been little surprise. The players and Southgate have been eloquent throughout the coronavirus pandemic about the oppression they are choosing to protest, and many of them have been supportive of similar causes before the blight of Covid-19. Given the hackles raised by the demonstrations, it would be little surprise if they continue to fight for what matters to them. It is not just Marcus Rashford or Raheem Sterling that speaks up - it is almost every player.
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Before the tournament kicked off, one MP claimed he would not be watching because he objected to the gesture. Last year, some fans decided they would boo the spectacle. They looked silly before the team reached the final, and they look just as foolish now. While it is far from the most important reason to have done so, it is easy to credit that Southgate’s decision to back his manager has only strengthened the bond and loyalty within the side, and helped build the resilience they had to draw upon after conceding their first goal of the tournament against Denmark.
Sterling takes the kneeSterling takes the knee
Sterling takes the knee
Image credit: Getty Images
RAHEEM STERLING STARTS DESPITE POOR FORM
Another crucial decision was made before the tournament. One that has shown to be crucial to - in this universe at least, because there is at least one alternate reality where he has scored 63 own goals - getting England through to the final.
Sterling had endured more than enjoyed last season. Under Pep Guardiola he had lost his place as a first-choice forward at Manchester City, and he had been linked as a part-exchange offer for Harry Kane. Being rejected by the best manager in the world is one thing, but being put forward to play for Spurs is quite another.
Despite that, and despite the appeal of Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish and Bukayo Saka, Southgate elected to retain his trust in Sterling as a partner for Kane, in a reverse Guardiola move. The 26-year-old has continued to improve throughout the tournament, forcing the penalty to send them through on in the semi final.
TUNNEL CHAT GIVES SOUTHGATE A CHANCE
After England’s disappointing struggle against Scotland, Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell made perhaps their most important contribution to the group stages - they went into the tunnel and had an electric moment of repartee with fellow Chelsea player Billy Gilmour. When the Scot later returned a positive coronavirus test, they were chuffed.
That forced Southgate to re-evaluate his options, and both Saka and Grealish were given a chance in the next game, against the Czech Republic. A win, and much more excitement, appeared to have convinced the manager that he could focus a little more on worrying the opposition and relying less on set pieces to break down a side. Without that suspension, Southgate could have continued to sleepwalk into conservatism.
Saka and Grealish started in unexpected circumstancesSaka and Grealish started in unexpected circumstances
Saka and Grealish started in unexpected circumstances
Image credit: Getty Images
MULLER’S MISS
Thomas Muller might not actually appear to be much good at football, but the sheer weight of assists and goals proves that he is simply awkwardly and deceptively brilliant. The ageing Bayern Munich raumdeuter (is that still a word?) was part of the Germany side that fell to England in the knockout stages.
With England 1-0 up, and 81 minutes on the clock, England were not exactly holding on by the skin of their gnashers, but they were ripe for a setback. It looked inevitable when Muller was through on goal and only had to slip the ball past Jordan Pickford, but he sent his effort wide. England were relieved, Germany broken, and they then doubled their advantage before the end of the game.