IAN HYLAND
On last night’s telly
Harry’s Heroes: Euro Having A Laugh, UTV ★★★★
Could ITV have scripted the climax to this series any better? With the England v Germany legends rematch drifting towards the dreaded penalty shootout, Harry Redknapp’s boys managed to grab a scruffy winner.
The goal was scored by Lee
Hendrie, who in Tuesday’s episode had spoken in great and distressing detail about his mental health issues.
It wasn’t the first lump in the throat moment of the night, though.
That came when Paul Merson, who had spoken with equal frankness about his alcohol and gambling addictions, was made team captain.
If you’d been following this journey since Monday night, you would have
understood what victory meant to the likes of Merson and Hendrie.
Who knows, perhaps the strength of feeling engendered by their soulbaring may even have persuaded you to overlook the fact that wheeler-dealer Harry brought in eight last-minute reinforcements.
That almost certainly swung things in England’s favour.
Still, it will no doubt add spice to the inevitable re-rematch next summer.
Not only will Euro
2020 be taking place
(Covid willing), it will also be the 25th anniversary of England’s penalty shootout defeat to Germany in that memorable Euro 96 semi-final. (Apologies for the spoiler if you’re just catching up on Euro 96 on ITV4).
All Harry needs to do is make sure the dentist’s chair is locked away and persuade some of the legends from that squad to dust off their boots.
Given that one of the names on the list is a certain J. Redknapp, it shouldn’t be that hard.
Gareth Southgate might be busy, though.
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Fans following this know what it meant to Merson and Hendrie