[imagesource:here]

England’s football team, led by manager Gareth Southgate, are a very likeable bunch.

Watching them lose the Euro 2020 final last night on penalties, with 19-year-old Bukayo Saka’s missed effort securing the title for Italy, was genuinely heartbreaking.

I say that as somebody who was rooting for Italy, due largely to the fact that the English media would be insufferable for generations if the Three Lions were crowned champions.

It was not to be (obligatory “it’s coming, Rome” mention), and this morning England wakes up with a massive collective hangover and a feeling of what might have been.

Others should feel genuinely embarrassed by their actions, but we’ll do a story on videos of fans behaving badly later today.

Sky News has a round-up of today’s national newspaper front pages, and one stands out from the bunch.

This from The Daily Star, turning its attention to conkers, ahead of a world championship in October:

Conkers is coming home?

Sadly I have been unable to find any information on Shaun, the ‘alien magnet’.

The Sun took a day off from bashing the usual targets (it’s probably only a matter of days until we see a ‘Did Harry and Meghan’s message to English squad cause loss?’ headline) to heap praise upon the team for making the final:

There was similar sentiment from The Daily Express:

The Metro led with a photo we’ll see countless times in the days, weeks, months, and years to come:

That they did.

A vocal minority on social media may have sent racist abuse the way of the three black players – Saka, Marcus Rashford, and Jadon Sancho – who missed their penalties, but hopefully when the dust settles the nation realises what a fine achievement making the final was.

And ultimately, how close they came to glory.

FIFA World Cup 2022 – could football perhaps be returning to its abode?

[source:skynews]