Three Lions made us proud, but can the nation do the same?

THE final whistle blew and England’s dreams were crushed yet again in a penalty shoot-out – this time to Italy; the Euro 2020 trophy snatched away in the final heartbreaking seconds of what felt like the longest game in history.

But instead of recriminations, the result sparked a huge outpouring of pride in a young England team that are true role models for the rest of society – a team instilled with the values of their inspirational and dignified leader, Gareth Southgate.

For one glorious moment, it felt as though this team, in spite of their loss, could unite an England divided by toxic political and social debate around Brexit, by the traumatic and unequal effects of Covid and the rising salience of Black Lives Matter.

Southgate has proved an exemplar of inclusivity, ensuring England players lead on anti-racism, taking the knee before every kick-off. And those players have stepped up under his lead. Raheem Sterling was awarded an MBE from the Queen for his work on anti-racism. Harry Kane wore a rainbow armband during Pride month, showing his support for the LGBTQ+ community.

The players stand up for social justice, demonstrated by Marcus Rashford’s campaign for free school meals for kids in the school holidays. Jordan Henderson was at the forefront of the #PlayersTogether campaign that saw footballers raise money for the NHS as they tackled the coronavirus pandemic.

The players stand up for each other, as exemplified by Kalvin Phillips, who ran the length of the pitch to console team-mate Bukayo Saka when he missed one of those three fateful penalties.

These boys took us to the first major final since 2009, when the Lionesses met Germany in the final of the UEFA Women’s Championship, and were also defeated. They took us to the first men’s major tournament final since 1966. They scored in the opening two minutes. The nation held its breath for the next two hours as they valiantly battled to stay in the game – on top of the game. They were extraordinary, but ultimately defeated.

And yet 12 hours after that devastating penalty shoot-out, the mood changed from one of celebration to one of despair, not at the result of the game, but at the sickening racist abuse being hurled at England’s players and the scenes of hooliganism in and around Wembley.

Penalty-takers Rashford, Saka and Jadon Sancho were subjected to an outpouring of disgusting racial attacks online, after failing to reach the back of the net. Pictures and details began to emerge of the drunken louts who had stormed the stadium, injuring innocent members of the public and police officers.

Twitter has removed more than 1,000 racist tweets since the game. Employees have been suspended from their jobs.

The last week was one when we should have been celebrating just how much England have achieved and the hope that they delivered for the future of our national game. Instead, the national conversation was all about racism and hooliganism.

Thankfully, it’s clear this behaviour will no longer be tolerated. A petition calling for racist football fans to be banned for life from all football matches in England has now reached well over one million signatures. The message is loud and clear. England, the team, were a credit to the nation. It’s time England, the country, stepped up to make us proud too.