The English Liberation (nd current)

How it used to be in ancient Rome, during the slaughter with people and animals in the huge Colosseum, is explained to thousands and thousands of tourists several times a day. With the bloodthirsty memories of bread and games, reconciling signals of international understanding, such as after the European Championship quarter-finals between England and the Ukraine (4-0) from the Italian capital, are particularly beguiling. Thousands of Britons living outside the UK were in tears after the magical night at the Stadio Olimpico. With their tickets purchased at short notice, they experienced their best football performance to date among the total of 11,880 spectators on the only detour of the »Three Lions« to mainland Europe. In the end, the stadium control also gave in to the emotions, and the hymn “Football’s Coming Home”, about England’s football pain, boomed from the loudspeakers. Then the players went on the lap of honor and received the ovations for the next mission.

The show in Rome made the breast even wider before the finals in London. “We don’t want to stop here. There’s still a big game to come and we want to win the semi-finals this time, ”promised defense chief Harry Maguire. “A perfect evening,” said Captain Harry Kane. His compatriots streamed into the open bars on the Roman night, hoisted their flags and rubbed their eyes in disbelief: How can it be that their heroes suddenly even do a “bella figura”? Presumably they would have played the overwhelmed opponent at a historical site in gladiator costumes.

For the first time since 1996 England is back in a European Championship semi-finals. And this time, it is not fearful Germany that is waiting – these demons have been defeated – but Denmark. Before the game on Wednesday evening in London, Kane warned that he and his colleagues would not have managed to defeat the Danes in the Nations League last year. Not even a gate succeeded in the two games (0: 0, 0: 1). Ergo: “It will be the next difficult game.” But 60,000 enthusiastic supporters will roar hoarsely to finally heal the wounds from the lost semi-final against the Germans a quarter of a century ago.

The current team looks almost inviolable. Just as Italian carabinieri with fences at the Fontana di Trevi during the day prevented people from jostling too close to the edge to throw a coin into the water of the world-famous fountain, the English defensive association locked its own gate in the evening. Jordan Pickford celebrated every block of his front men with clenched fists. The English goalkeeper is still without conceding a goal in the tournament.

It’s right both in the back and in front, also because national coach Gareth Southgate cut the tight shackles after the tactical tricks against Germany. His team saw the change to a 4-2-3-1 system as an exemption. With the outstanding Irrwisch Raheem Sterling, Jadon Sancho in the starting line-up for the first time and Mason Mount, an offensive row of three of the often requested fine feet in Kane’s broad back came into play. The striker benefited from Sterling’s brainstorms twice, (4th and 50th). Otherwise, Southgate’s model students called for the first time at this European Championship, which was the tried and tested stylistic device for reaching the semifinals at the 2018 World Cup: standards. Maguire after a free kick from Luke Shaw (46.) and Jordan Henderson from a corner from Mount (63.) headed the ball with verve over the line.

Henderson’s hit belonged in a higher context. Because the midfielder, who is highly valued at Liverpool FC, needed 62 international matches to score in the national shirt for the first time. And because he fits into the role of the noble reservist without complaint. The former national player and current BBC expert Rio Ferdinand conveyed the “greatest compliment” from a safe distance. He has never seen such a well-put together England team that works so well under pressure.

Renewer Southgate not only put an end to jealousy, but also aroused a hunger for success that reminds many fans of the German tournament virtues. In the analysis, the coach remained cool: “The team is growing with challenges like this and is riding a wave.” Most of the time, the rhetoric of the respectable hardworker who can now remedy the blemish of his penalty missed in 1996 at the coaching bench serves the purpose Don’t let euphoria wash over your ensemble. In this regard, too, the tournament bubble should remain tight. The virus of arrogance, which is often the greatest danger in football, is unlikely to spread that quickly in his team. The British Corona variant is unfortunately on the advance in Europe much faster.