By losing in the final of the Euro on penalties against Italy on Sunday (1-1, 2 tab to 3), England did not end its curse in the major meetings that runs since his only international title, at the 1966 World Cup.
Everything had started so well. After a Euro played almost at home when all the opponents had to travel through the Old Continent, England had started their final perfectly against Italy by opening the scoring quickly, through Luke Shaw. But the Three Lions failed to maintain their advantage and their excitement cost them the Italian equalizer of Leonardo Bonucci. Worse still, it is with the lottery of shots on goal that the English finally gave up their arms against Squadra Azzurra (1-1, 2 tab to 3), to the astonishment of the thousands of supporters intoxicated by the atmosphere. electric final.
An outcome mirroring what French fans experienced in 2016, during "their" Euro that Portugal won in overtime at the Stade de France against the Blues (1-0 ap).
But for England, this type of disillusion has become a custom over the competitions, certified by the lyrics of the humorous song "Football is coming home".
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Gareth Southgate, cursed with the Three Lions
At least one man returns to center in three big England disappointments: Gareth Southgate. Despite the work accomplished since 2016, the England coach appears as the cursed man of the Three Lions. At the 2018 World Cup, he failed to qualify his team for the final by losing in overtime against Croatia (1-2 ap). Three years later, England broke their glass ceiling dating back more than a century during their home victory at the 1966 World Cup, by advancing to the final of Euro 2020 disputed in 2021.
But at home once again, Gareth Southgate lost his bet in the penalty shootout in the final. His choice to shoot three incoming young players - Marcus Rashford (23), Jadon Sancho (21), Bukayo Saka (19) - proved unsuccessful as they all failed their attempt, precipitating defeat from England. A story that repeats itself for the unfortunate Southgate, already responsible for the elimination of his own as a field player at Euro 1996, still at Wembley, after missing his decisive shot against Germany.
22% - England have won only 22% (2/9) of their penalty shoot-out sessions in major tournaments (World Cup / EURO), the lowest percentage among European teams having played at least 3 sessions .
Cruel.
# ENG # EURO2020pic.twitter.com / 1bBLoyfddJ
- OptaJean (@OptaJean) July 11, 2021
The motherland of the round ball finally thought to bring home a title on July 11, 2021, 55 years after the last acquired in the 1966 World Cup. But the band of Gordon Banks, Bobby Charlton and Geoffrey Hurst, scorer of the FRG at home (4-2 ap), has not yet found a successor. A cruel date for English football and for the selection of the "Three Lions", convinced that its time had finally come. Semi-finalist in 2018, finalist in 2021, Gareth Southgate's England may be preparing their revenge on history next year at the Qatar World Cup, in the form of a logical ascent of a selection that has countless young talents.