Skip to main content

England’s Euro 2020 - Good Weather, Cheap Pints, and Another Round of Crushing Disappointment

Unfortunately for fellow Brits like myself, the time has come for another major international tournament and if previous attempts are any indication, we’re in for another whole summer filled with good weather, cheap pints and another round of crushing disappointment. Some might gasp at that statement and point toward the likes of Phil Foden, Mason Mount, and Harry Kane as suitable talents to lead England to their first European Championship in 2021. However, with the likes of Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, and Wayne Rooney unable to produce on the international stage, I don’t give our boys much chance either.

I know that’s a pretty negative note to start on but I have tried to remain positive. Gareth Southgate has assembled quite a side that (on paper) that looks poised for at least another visit to this years semi-final before obviously being quickly dismantled by the likes of France or Germany. Last weeks Champions League Final was a fine example of some of the talent that England possess throughout their 11-man line up and is probably the main reason why a lot of fans see England going deep into the tournament. However, there is a small issue. Having a so-so manager assemble a team of famous names is one thing, getting them to perform together is an entirely different ball game. Now, this would be a heavy task as it is but unfortunately for Gareth Southgate, Englands stars will be more concentrated on the elevation of their price tag than winning any games. 

Harry Kane recently announced his desire to leave London’s north end in his pursuit of a fuller trophy cabinet. As Englands captain and certified main goal threat, his performance at Euro 2020 will ultimately have a major effect on his future career and where he ends up in the coming months. The same goes for fellow Premier League star Jack Grealish who has been linked with a move away from Aston Villa for sometime now and the list doesn’t stop there. 

So with most of this summers stories focused on where these players will end up playing their club football in September, its hard to see why most of England’s players won’t treat the Euros as a personal showcase to secure their next big pay day instead of competing against Europe’s greatest. 

Last nights performance against Austria was just a small taste of what I fear might be to come - lacklustre team football combined with moments of individual brilliance that will ultimately result in our timely exit (but at least we can use it as an excuse to enjoy the weather and flirt with government COVID guidelines). 

England Euro 2020 - independent.co.uk



Labels:

Comments

  1. Stevo 57June 3, 2021 at 9:32 AM

    We are always lacking on the big stage, almost stage fright I would say !! Lol

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Athlete's Wages - The Price WE Pay For World-Class Sport

In 2014, Michael Jordan became the first billionaire athlete with his combined assets reaching an estimated $1.9 billion. Since then, athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Tiger Woods and Michael Schumacher have all joined the billionaire club as a reward for their decades of hard work and sacrifice to become some of the greatest sportsmen of all time. However, no matter what year you choose, the world always seems to be in some sort of economic crisis  and every day people lose their livelihoods so that people further up the food chain can live a little more lavishly. Professional athletes are treated like gods whilst the mortals within the general public continue their daily struggle to make ends meet. The worst part? The deeper you dig, the more outrageous this illusion becomes. Let's start with some infamous salaries from this year alone (before endorsements and sponsorship):   NBA: Average Salary - $7 million           Highest Paid - Stephen C...
2 comments
Read more

"Pistol Pete" Maravich - The Most Underrated NBA Legend of All Time

When people talk about inventors that were ahead of their time, some might say Leonardo Da Vinci, Plato, or Hero of Alexandria. But if you ever want to find a man that was born into the wrong era, look no further than "Pistol Pete" Maravich.  Now, I'll admit, Pete Maravich isn't exactly a household name in today's NBA and I doubt you'll find him on any all-time lists. However, in the basketball world, there are two main things that Maravich is known for:  1. Having very bad knees. 2. Being one of the best NBA guards of all time.  As the son of a tough basketball coach, Press Maravich, Pete was sculpted into the mould of a great basketball player. The legend of "Pistol Pete" started at Louisiana State University from 1967-1970 and he immediately set the college basketball scene alight. Over 3 seasons, he averaged 44.2 points per game, an NCAA record that still stands to this day and is a stat that arguably makes him the greatest college basketball pla...
Post a Comment
Read more

We Were Wrong

International football is a strange paradigm. The same fans who pushed England to the brink of their best result in 55 years are the same fans that have brought nothing but disgrace to themselves and the nation after Sunday nights heartbreaking exit at Euro 2020. After just 1 minute at 37 seconds, Luke Shaw raised a nation to it’s feet, only for Italy to bring us crashing back down to our sofas with our heads in our hands 66 minutes later. Despite the outrageous home advantage, it was always Italy’s game to lose and with a 33 game winning streak on the line, they showcased not only why they are the best team in Europe, but maybe even on the planet - something our young lions may one day possess (just not in the immediate future).   There were several major errors both on and off the pitch that ultimately cost the lions their first international trophy since 1966. In fact, England’s problems started long before any ball was placed on a penalty spot. After a scintillating 45 minutes ...
1 comment
Read more