Part of the fans could not digest the defeat and exceeded the limit with their comments on social networks
It is usually very unusual, not to say extremely rare, for a European Championship to be decided on penalties. It had only happened once and it was in 1976 with the victory of Czechoslovakia over West Germany that that mythical Panenka penalty took place. Yesterday Italy and England played the second penalty shoot-out in the history of the continental tournament finals and the curse turned, once again, against the host.
Italy won and part of the English fans, already out of their minds for hours, charged those who missed the penalties: three young blacks who suffered racist insults on social media.
Before that, it should be remembered that England took the lead in the second minute of the match with the fastest goal in the history of the Euro Cup finals. Luke Shaw beat Donnaruma – who was later to be the hero of the match – in the first English arrival.
Wembley, with more than 60,000 spectators, and thousands of other fans without a ticket sneaking in illegally, was a party. The English brushed the cup until Bonucci put the tie in the 67th minute. Italy, it is always Italy. The game was going to extra time and as expected, to penalties.
Southgate performed in the 119th minute one of those maneuvers that can expose you or bring glory to a few minutes. He entered Rashford and Sancho only to shoot penalties. Two kids, 23 and 21, with experience at the club level, but with the pressure of an entire country on their boots.
What could happen happened: both missed penalties. Cold, without heating and with the pressure of his audience. The batch was taken by the one who knows how to play it, as usual. Italy, showed it against Spain, goes to penalties very sure of himself as if luck did not exist.
England took the lead thanks to Belotti’s failure but history quickly left England with a bad taste in the mouth. Rashford and Sancho, consecutively, failed in their first intervention in the game. Italy took the lead. Jorginho had the title in his boots, but luck wanted to be even more capricious and gave the English an extra life.
All or nothing in the boots of a 19-year-old boy with a very promising future. Bukayo Saka was chosen for the fifth pitch, and Donnaruma stopped. Italy champion of Europe.
Racist insults
The criticism was immediate and many fans paid for their frustrations with the youngsters who had missed penalties. The official account of the English team on Twitter quickly condemned the events:
“We are displeased that some members of our team, who have given their all for the jersey this summer, have been subjected to discriminatory abuse.”
We’re disgusted that some of our squad – who have given everything for the shirt this summer – have been subjected to discriminatory abuse online after tonight’s game.
We stand with our players ❤️ https://t.co/1Ce48XRHEl
England (@England) July 12, 2021
The English coach did not escape criticism either. At a press conference he acknowledged that it was he who decided the order and the penalty taker. “It is my responsibility. I told them that we win and lose together, “he said. He did not convince former player Roy Keane, and now ITV commentator, who misses the personalities of the team’s veterans.
“If you’re Grealish or Stearling, you can’t let a 19-year-old throw in front of you.” Jack Grealish himself answered Keane by defending himself and throwing a cloak on his coach: “I said I wanted to throw one … The coach’s decision last night was the right one, as were many others he has made throughout the tournament!”
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