During England’s semi-final win over Denmark I got a text that I never expected.
It was from my mum, Pat, saying: “Oh my god, you won’t believe it, I’m sitting here watching my first game since your dad passed away”.
If COVID wasn’t around I would have bought a ticket and I’d be over in England now celebrating with family and friends, and watching us play Italy in the final with my mum.
Growing up, I used to watch all my football with my dad Joe, and, bless him, he passed away five years ago.
Mum’s text choked me up. I said: “He’s watching with us, don’t worry mum”. But it would be lovely to go back and watch the final with her.
I’m 42 and I never saw England beat Germany at a finals before this tournament, so that was a huge moment for me.
(Photo by Ali Balikci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
I watched all those big games, those lost semi-finals, with my dad. I’ve got clear memories of the matches, and of lots of tears.
I’m an only child and their life was basically taking me everywhere for football from a young age. I owe everything to them.
It was journeys left right and centre, whether it was up to Scotland to play for Berwick Rangers schoolboys or to Sunderland or the Newcastle Academy. They were those parents who always took the other kids in the car as well.
It was an unbelievable moment when I became a professional footballer, and they watched every single game I played.
Dad was a huge England fan and a Newcastle United fan as a kid. When I signed for Sunderland, he had to swallow his pride and sacrifice going to some Newcastle matches to come to mine. That was huge for him.
My mum wasn’t a big football fan, but we brainwashed her into watching games. It just really hit me the other day what making the final means to England, and to my family.
There is so much emotion in this tournament. Partly it’s because of the return of crowds to the games, and the atmosphere and level of intensity that has delivered.
But also, if you look at Italy and England, they were two of the countries hardest hit at the start of the pandemic, with many deaths in both nations. The spread in northern Italy was devastating and the number of deaths was scary, and deeply affected that country.
The Euros and final between England and Italy on Monday morning at 5am AEST is available free to watch live on Optus Sport.
Southgate getting stronger and better
If England wins, there should be at least two knighthoods on offer. One for Gareth Southgate, and one for the journalist who broke the story that saw Sam Allardyce leave the England job after just one game in charge. If Allardyce was England manager right now this wouldn’t be happening.
It feels like the stars have aligned for Southgate, who oversaw the England youth set-up, and the team. He wasn’t even on the radar for this job but he went into the Football Association and said: ‘You need to sort this out because we have an unbelievable group of young players who are coming through and I need to speak to the new manager about them’.
He went in that room and sold himself and got the job. Thankfully, the FA used their initiative.
When he got the job I thought, ‘Oh, that’s interesting’. I was delighted that he’s a Three Lions man, an ex-player, and I’d heard good things about him as a manager because of his personality and the way he builds relationships.
That might have cost him during his time at Middlesbrough when they needed a rocket up the arse and he didn’t give it to them.
But he’s learnt so much through making the World Cup semi-finals in 2018 and he seems to be getting stronger and better with everything he does. He’s in this for the long stay.
The players have been inspired by his leadership and it’s the first England squad I have seen that have all bought into the way of the manager and tournament football.
(Photo by Han Yan/Xinhua via Getty Images)
That’s down to his man management and tactical flexibility.
When Jack Grealish came on against Denmark and then got substituted off, I thought, ‘How do you sell that to your player, you could lose him for the rest of the tournament’. But he accepted it was a one-off and done for the team.
Southgate and his staff had explained the potential for such a move before the match, so it didn’t come as a shock. They have been planning for 18 months and you can see the benefits of the hard work.
When England changed from a 4-3-3 to play against Germany as a 3-4-3 with wing backs, I thought that was brave, to change the dynamic from other matches to go like for like and show Germany that respect. But it worked and everyone bought into it.
Saka’s emergence is a surprise
England play a very similar style to Italy, their dynamics are the same, and I’m expecting a tight game.
England will go with the same team that played against Denmark and if not I see maybe one change, with Mason Mount potentially making way for Grealish depending on fatigue levels.
That means going with Kyle Walker, John Stones, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw in the back line. Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips, who’s been the mainstay in the defensive unit, will remain.
It will be Mount or Grealish and then a front three of Raheem Sterling, Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka, with Saka providing a little bit of defensive security to Walker when they need it.
When they counterattack, Saka will be the one who will try to exploit Emerson at left back as he bombs forward.
(Photo by Shaun Botterill – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Saka’s emergence has been a big surprise. I had Phil Foden down to be one of the biggest young stars of the tournament but instead it’s the Arsenal player who has commanded the stage.
What he did last season at Arsenal was absolutely incredible. They were having a very turbulent season. He got an opportunity that probably came quicker than the club would have liked, but for him it’s been magnificent.
There was always talk that he was capable because of what he was doing with Arsenal in the youth ranks and what he’d been doing with England at lower levels.
Spending time at wing back for Arsenal has boosted his energy levels and the work rate and the dynamics that he displayed against Denmark to get in behind and beyond their back five showed that he’s got pace and is playing with an absolute freedom.
Saka will test out Emerson, who has come in for Leonardo Spinazzola, the Italian who was on course to be player of the tournament before suffering an Achilles injury.
He is a massive loss for them, but there are still plenty of quality players on both sides.
Italy midfielder Jorginho, whose ice-cool penalty secured passage to the final, could be a contender for the Ballon d’Or this year, having played such a big role for Chelsea in the Champions League.
For England, Kalvin Phillips has been one of the standouts of the tournament. I would never have thought that Phillips would have played that many games and stayed on ahead of Declan Rice, but he’s been absolutely magnificent.
And I can’t speak highly enough of Harry Maguire and what he’s done as a captain and a leader, especially after the incident that he had in Greece. That also goes down as a great example of Southgate’s man management skills.
And then there’s Sterling, who didn’t get much game time at the end of the season under Pep Guardiola at Man City. Southgate has given him licence and he’ll probably get the player of the tournament award if England win.
Of course, I’d love nothing more than seeing England lift their first trophy in my lifetime. But Italy have been my second favourite to watch because of their playing style. Both teams deserved to play off for glory.
If you don’t know how dive or roll around on ground your out :laughing:
There all divers
chris
Guest
Hey spannerhead. Any comments on the England dive merchants Kane and Sterling? You so eloquently described the Italian tactics, I'm sure the readers would love to hear your words of wisdom on this.
Anibal Pyro
Roar Rookie
Well fútbol is a contact sport, and not any contact is a foul. Anyone Who ever played football knows its not a penalti. Then you will have dozens of pundits and bias referees trying to say that an Orange is square or an apple taste like a banana. England did not deserve anything, the ref, the VAR and UEFA denied Denmark the penalties definition. Before Var, you could say, well, a mistake, this is football, etc. But now, it was clear and obvious that the onfield call was a mistake and the VAR did not want to correct it. The problem here is that the English centhric fans do not say, well we also cheated, we are not an example of sportmanship, as they claimed. They are not learning too much from Bielsa unfortunately. If you love the sport, you feel bad about this call.
GoldenEye
Roar Rookie
Hahaha, Is that all, I wouldn't be surprised if they get Knighted... Look at the English cricket team that won back the Ashes. My point is they will have achieved something the Golden Generation never did.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Euro 2020 Champions?
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Thanks Bridgey, another good article from our Optus boys. You guys should write more often. I'm your situation in reverse - my 40+ daughter lives in the UK, Ausys but been there so long my grandkids are English, and all support England in this tournament. For me, I'm neutral and hope they play the Italian national anthem. Very impressed with Southgate, being a regular visitor to England (pre Covid) I've followed his youth teams. Good luck to both sides.
GoldenEye
Roar Rookie
Great read, I'm curious, England have had their Golden Generation, what will this team be called should they win?
Italy are biggest divers in soccer always have been always will be give it too them poms shove it right up em
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Worth mentioning Hungary been charged by FIFA and ordered to play behind closed doors. Then based on that the English blatant and incessant booing of the German and Danish anthems (among others), and the laser pen towards Schmeichel - the game should be played behind close doors or moved to another neutral venue.
Tony Harper
Editor
Excellent comment Towser, thanks so much for sharing it with us.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Well said Towser. :thumbup:
Aiden
Guest
Wasn’t he already falling at that point. Watch the replay. The English commentary I was watching thought he was already falling forward and then his back leg dragged into the defender. Anyhow, as you say, the refs disagreed. I think England completely deserved the win, comprehensively the best team but it was a controversial moment and everyone who calls it a dive is accused of anti English sentiment, as if there was no ambiguity.
Towser
Guest
As this article is personal and as Waz said intelligently written I’ll give it respect. Being old enough to remember England’s 1966 World Cup win and remembering family at the time in Sheffield, most except me aren’t around anymore. The heavy steel and cutlery industry of Sheffield that all my family worked in, took its toll on its workers (most of whom followed The Owls and Blades)with an early demise. I could get into a deeper discussion about the social discrimination in England that still exists today, but this is not the place for it. Many like your Dad didn’t get much joy from following England before then and certainly not after. The Sheffield clubs a bit like Newcastle and Sunderland haven’t given much joy to their fans either, so any football win for the area and by extension country can lift it. However as you point out the whole world, including the Italians is/has done it tough in the Covid era. So whilst emotionally I will be supporting England for the sake of relatives long gone and their offspring, on another level in terms of social fairness, I’m glad I live in Australia. As for whether if the Socceroos played England in a World Cup match, who would I want to win. Tough question, I’ve probably given 10 times more emotional investment into following football in Australia than I ever did in England where it was part of my upbringing. When I came it was the migrants game, the Italians, the Greeks, Croatians and Serbs all were a band, united in following the game we left behind. I remember watching a qualifier for the World Cup against Iran at the old sports ground, also standing in a long line to get into a cinema at Bondi junction to watch a film about the 1970 World Cup. What amazed me on both occasions was the amount of languages spoken. That in itself like family, is a a special bond.
Waz
Roar Rookie
Is that a fact? The referee disagreed, as did VAR. and plenty of local referees have explained why they think it’s a foul This photograph shows the second contact/foul on Stirling with an opponent’s knee clearly in the back of his knee: https://m.facebook.com/groups/382798669160634/permalink/1017408869032941/?ref=content_filter But sure, if you’ve made your mind up …
Waz
Roar Rookie
Not worth mentioning Hungary been charged by FIFA and ordered to play behind closed doors? Ajax charged by UEFA with fan misconduct …? Dortmund charged by UEFA over fans misconduct … ? Celtic charged by UEFA over fans conduct …? Hibs, PSG, Red Star Belgrade all charged over fans violent behaviour … ? Roma charged by UEFA over fans racist chants ….? UEFA charges Romania over racist chants …? Croatia charged by UEFA Over fans behaviour …? Russia charged by UEFA over racist fan banners …? At UEFA 2016 Hungary, Belgium, Portugal were all charged by UEFA over fans behaviour … ? I did my best to pull up a broad range of countries charged by UEFA for you, if you open the other eye that is? “They’re not like us” I hear some true blue Aussies cry, “it’s the Sok-ha see” others will say … well, AFL’s crowd violence has been well documented and only last month a Port Adelaide fan was “brutally assaulted” at a game. Same for the NRL so it’s pretty much a human problem, not a particular race And lets not get started on Italy … There is a word for people who only see what they want to see.
Anibal Pyro
Roar Rookie
C mon Mr Bridges, not a line on how Denmark was ROBBED with that STERLING DIVE??? If a Brazilian or an Argie did that, OMG. Worse than that is the denial of english media and fans
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
I know England cops a fair bit of flak for failing in tournaments, etc. But I'll tell you something, I'll tell you for free, and I always say it on these sorts of forums, other teams, even the very best teams, do NOT like playing against England. And Italy is one such team. They are accustomed to approaching all games with a degree of caution, but coming up against England, they will display the utmost caution. Very tough team to play against.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Why Harry Kane did not get a penalty when tripped? Why VAR did not intervene? Think Australian referees and VARs are clowns. Think again.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Well written Michael. I'm finding it heard to pick a team to support. Both teams guilty of deplorable acts to get in. I soooo despise diving and weak refs who reward it. I would have been handing out a few yellow cards, to Sterling, the Italian who was rolling in the penalty box until his mates scored then jumped up and ran to the celebration. Wonder if the Italian fans were proud of that. AND to an Argentinian who managed to get past some rough treatment until he was in the box than knocked over by a feather. Let skill win the game, not theatrics or coin toss of penalty shoot out.