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.
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.
(Photo by Chris Ricco – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Ain't that the truth. What a disgusting performance. Disrespectful to the winners as well. They should also comment on the buffoons. What has changed in 50 years I ask?
Kramer
Guest
Hi Stuart, things weren’t classy at Wembley today, far from it and booing was a minor discretion compared to the mob trying to break there way in and then beating up Italian fans. Is anyone surprised? Nope, the reality played out how everyone expected and you were absolutely spot on. Animals.
Kramer
Guest
I have an unhealthy claim to facts and reality? Mate, you’re proving everyone’s point with your aggressive nature on a “comments” website, looking for conflict with everyone that disagrees with you. No other country had been so vile as to attack a young German girl who was crying than the English fans on Twitter, it was beyond vile what was said. I’m sure you haven’t seen either conveniently. Deflecting by talking about the ultras in lower class countries…well guess what, the English fans are on there level so I guess it’s not that bad then. Unbelievable.
Get over it!
Guest
I'm Australian and I would "boo" Italy proudly. I recall going to the 2000 Olympics with Oz v. Italy. The St John's ambulance spent so much time on the MCG picking up 'cripled' Italian players that the 90,000 strong crowd cheered everytime they went on the field with the stretcher and the paramedics were waving to the spectators. Here we are 20 odd years later and FIFA officially condones this behaviour. I would field some AFL and NRL players next time to Socceroos play Italy to give them some proper injuries they will never recover from. Knee cap them I say!
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
Stuart. So sorry to seemingly be picking on you, but you either seem to have a gaping hole in your lexicon (have a crack at the word 'some' in the thesaurus), or you simply cannot remove yourself from the typical bigot's position of being unable to distinguish any differences in their target. Every time you prefixed 'English fans' in your piece, you would have far more correctly inserted the word 'some' before it. Otherwise, well, you run the risk of sounding just as bigoted and ignorant as those you wish to criticise. And I'm sure that's not the case, is it Stuart?
HR
Roar Rookie
But what about the German fans. They started all this when they invaded Poland!!!! :laughing:
nics
Roar Rookie
A cunning ploy Baldrick!
nics
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately given the ethnicity of those who missed the penalties, if I were them would not be checking their Twitter accounts. :unhappy:
chris
Guest
You want to compare the number of fans in football to the number of fans of the sport you follow AFL? Thats laughable. And speaking of deplorable behaviour of AFL fans....
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Chris - the behaviour of the english fans last night and probably in into the morning has been appalling, not only their booing and disrespect, but violence and thuggery, bad sports, and it goes to the england players too, to see the behaviour of the English team during the medal presentation ceremony after the game. The vast majority of them each took off their runner-up medal as soon as it was put around their neck. Disrespectful to the game, to their supporters and to the winning Italian team and it made them look like bad losers. Sure, losing hurts, and particularly in a penalty shootout, but at least be graceful in defeat. Glad they lost! Well done Azzurri.
chris
Guest
Davico there's a reason why the English get banned from travelling and why euro towns basically board up when the English hooligans come to town. Yes other countries do it but not to the extent that the English do. You are deluded if you think otherwise.
chris
Guest
BigMig agree with you there. For years we took it you know where from the Uruguayans etc. and it was a form of payback. And as you said - a one off. The English just do it unprovoked. Look at their behaviour this morning. Storming the gates, booing the anthems. Alcohol is obviously a problem with these dim w*ts. The better team won so it's all good.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Stuart Thomas -" English fans deserve to lose if they boo the Italian anthem" and they did boo the Italian National anthem despite all the pleas for respect. They LOST. They deserved to lose on every front.
Aiden
Guest
I don't have a huge problem with booing the national anthem. After Australia was treated disgracefully in Uruguay we were a pretty hostile (although I'd argue still not as bad) crowd for the return leg and it made a difference for our lads, they have said as much that the support carried them. It seems a feature of football to its credit, the crowd really is an extra man. As long as you respect the opposition fan in the seat beside you, smiles after the game, raise a glass in the pub etc. But there is a section of the England crowd who are arrogant, violent and thick, and they are unfortunately in numbers large enough to stand out (and sway referendums). I don't know any English fans like that personally. But the same blokes who go for holidays at Magaluf and shag their 'birds' on the footpath, urinate on the sides of churches, vomit on the beach, fight the locals and stand bare chested with a paunch in the middle of the street, whipping their shirts around their sun burnt heads. They also go to football matches apparently.
Davico
Roar Pro
Micko, I said I would call it out if stuff happened and some of the stuff coming out post game is in fact a disgrace and England, or at the very least their fans need to be barred from the next few tournaments. Hopefully all those who have turned to violence post match get locked up for a long time. No place at all for that rubbish in any sport or society.
ac
Guest
The Beautiful game has some ugly people wuo support it - sadly. Make it hard for rest.
Kozz
Roar Rookie
I think Big Mig make a valid point about thuggish & often racist behaviour from English fans. I believe this often fires up other nations to make sure they never... ever win a big one. I mean the old we won WW2 stuff they integrate into their chants are getting tiresome. It portrays a nation still living off past & never to be revisited glories. Once were Empire!
Davico
Roar Pro
Call me the mock. Not very good management though bringing on young guys just to take Pens
Davico
Roar Pro
Would love to see Rashford hit the winner. now that is a quality human!
Davico
Roar Pro
Some of the scenes from London streets not great from what mates over there have sent. Fingers crossed, but not hopeful there will be no booing of the Italian anthem seeing some videos of the walk up to Wembley. Atmosphere inside the ground looks jovial at the moment, but....