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Opinion

English fans deserve to lose if they boo the Italian anthem

10th July, 2021
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Raheem Sterling has been central to England’s Euro 2020 campaign. (Photo by Shaun Botterill - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Expert
10th July, 2021
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Amidst growing concerns that English fans will boo the Italian national anthem on Sunday evening prior to the Euro 2020 final, one man has had the courage to call for decorum and class from those in the stadium.

Gary Lineker scored 48 goals in 80 matches for the Three Lions and there could never be a more loyal and passionate Englishman in football circles. In fact, as a young boy, groomed on a diet of English football highlights and determined to cheer home England in major tournaments, he was something of a hero to me through the late ’80s and early ’90s.

Lineker was a player that scored for fun and brilliantly so, with 238 goals across a 16-year professional career that saw little success with the national team, but plenty of plaudits come his way as a clinical and efficient striker in England and Spain.

On the eve of what could be the greatest moment in the history of English football, bar the 1966 West Ham-induced World Cup victory, much speculation around the potential behaviour of the English fans destined to assemble in Wembley Stadium has crept into public discourse.

Quite simply, there is a fear that a collective of oafs and buffoons will boo, hiss and disrespect the Italian anthem when it is played, as the energy and orgasmic fervour builds prior to kick-off in London.

Frankly, it would not be out of character for English fans, whose behaviour has been called into question over the last 50 years thanks to some obviously poor moments where a few pints and football passion have blended to create some rather disturbing and distasteful images.

No doubt the English fans have never been the sole cause of blame through history, yet any modern indiscretion will most likely reignite stereotypes that the English FA have fought to extinguish for many years.

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Lineker has seen the potential problem and called on the fans attending Wembley to rein back their nationalistic pride and show some respect for Il Canto degli Italiani in the moments before kick-off.

According to Lineker and most sensible members of the human race, anything other than a silent observance of both anthems is “disrespectful and utterly classless”.

Despite the best intentions of Lineker, the manner in which the Italian anthem is greeted by English fans is impossible to predict. The mob will be well and truly fired up and lubricated, football tensions will be running high and the perceived opportunity to return football ‘home’ may well send them into something of a frenzy.

That is exactly what Lineker hopes will be moderated; with the football world’s eyes on England in their potential moment of glory, anything other than a classy display that invites both teams to the contest and subsequently applauds the winner will be a disappointment to the collective audience.

Denmark’s challenges and eventual run to the semi-final said so much about what football means emotionally to all its adherents around the globe. All Euro 2020 teams have played with a competitive grace and respectfulness, with COVID-19 perhaps providing the most obvious incentive to do so.

Now, after three weeks of stellar play and a mouth-watering final looming between two of the games’ greatest combatants, it is important that the tone remains classy and Gary Lineker’s concerns are diffused by English fans with the intelligence and maturity to do so.

Harry Kane celebrates with Jordan Henderson.

(Photo by Chris Ricco – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

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Historically, there is little evidence to suggest that things will play out that way. Yet a legend of the English game’s cries to his own fans is the most compelling reason they could ever have to moderate what appears to be an expected response to the Italian anthem.

If the Poms boo it will be very sad. If they don’t and stand in deep respect for their admirable and worthy opponent, we may well witness a match that captures the glory of sport more appropriately than many others that take place around the globe.

I hope there is no booing. Sadly, I think there might be.

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