The Guardian view on the England team: making the whole country proud
In the joyous, uproarious aftermath of England’s Euro 2020 semi-final victory on Wednesday, two young women interviewed by the BBC in central London captured the moment with some elan. “Can we stop talking about 1966 now?” shouted one above the din. “Yeah, it’s 2021 now baby!” added her friend.
England’s exhilarating journey in the tournament has, as the team’s manager Gareth Southgate hoped it would, “made history”. Sunday’s climactic meeting with Italy at Wembley will be the nation’s first ever Euro final. It could deliver the first major trophy in England men’s football since that fabled World Cup win over West Germany 55 years ago. A country that got used to the bittersweet pleasures of football nostalgia is experiencing the giddy excitement of a new story being written. Its inspiring plotlines reach far beyond the green turf of the national stadium.
In his extraordinary pre-tournament open letter, Dear England, Southgate defended his players against criticism of their decision to take the knee before Euro 2020 games. The players rightly felt it their duty, he wrote, “to continue to interact with the public on matters such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice”. In its claims about sport, politics and the public square, this was a radical thing to write. But the remarkable members of Southgate’s squad have consistently justified their manager’s faith in them, acting with grace, verve and courage.
Raheem Sterling, probably England’s player of the tournament, has used his profile to successfully raise awareness of racial discrimination and inequality. Marcus Rashford, famously, has done the same in relation to child food poverty. The captain, Harry Kane, wore a rainbow armband during England’s victory against Germany to celebrate Pride month. This is a group of gifted young men who have an unusual sense of their power to promote a social message of inclusivity. Their manager, in an age of bombast and division, exudes the forgotten virtues of humility and good-natured tolerance. As the footballer turned pundit Gary Neville has pointed out, other powerful figures could learn much from Southgate’s approach to public life.
Great sporting occasions are passing festivals, lighting up summers or dark winter evenings. The idea of their wider social significance should not be overdone. The vibrant 2012 London Olympics were hailed as evidence of a country at ease with itself, but a bitter descent into the present age of culture wars soon followed. Nevertheless, this England team deserves to be congratulated not just for its football but for exemplifying and showcasing the best of a modern, diverse England. They have been easy to like and easy to be proud of. In their exploits, a grateful, Covid-weary nation has found exuberant release and a sense of togetherness.
Now, in purely sporting terms, comes the hardest part. During an enthralling tournament, Italy have arguably been the most impressive team. They boast a formidable, unbeaten record stretching back 33 games. But whether England win or lose on Sunday, this footballing summer will be fondly remembered for a long time to come. In 2021, the national team has finally emerged from history’s shadow into the sunlight.