Yesterday was the day that will be etched in British sporting history as the date when England’s footballers finally realised their potential and brought home a second major football trophy. The Queen has expressed her delight and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised a national holiday, with knighthoods for Gareth Southgate, Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling and OBE’s for the whole team including the water carrier, coach driver, boot cleaner, locker room attendant, team photographer and the sculptor who will create statues of the entire squad to adorn the entrance to Wembley. Oh and not forgetting the MBE for Phil Foden’s hairdresser.
Yesterday was the day that will be etched in British sporting history as the date when England’s footballers once again failed to realise their full potential, succumbing to Italy in a crushing 1-0 defeat at Wembley in the final of the 2020 Euro Championships, with Harry Kane missing a last minute penalty that would have taken the game into extra time. Gareth Southgate was quick to praise the heroic efforts of his team and promises that they will go one better next time. Gracious in defeat, he couldn’t speak highly enough of the brilliant Italian team who will surely go on and conquer the world.
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There are predictions that around thirty million people will be watching tonight’s final, in this country alone. There surely will be no better time to cycle the beautiful country lanes of Suffolk. The biggest danger will be unfettered badgers, wild boar, rabbits and muntjac roaming free as the hedgerows vibrate with the news that humankind is housebound and for a few glorious hours the highways and byways will be traffic free.
Both the 1966 World Cup Final and the Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales drew audiences of over thirty two million people in this country. Could tonight’s agathokakological encounter even pip those monumental occasions? Do we care? Prior to that, Joko takes on an Italian (whose name sounds like an early motor racing marque) in the Men’s Final at Wimbledon. Novak is currently quoted at 1/5 to win. That means you put on £5 to win £1. A much more rewarding gamble would be on a Matteo Berrettini victory, for which you can get the impressive odds of 4/1. That’s it then, game over, match decided, not even worth watching. Or could it be one of those rare, inexplicable sporting occasions when an inspired underdog contrives to neuter the overwhelming favourite and triumph on the greatest stage tennis has to offer? (Apparently). Remember 1975, when Jimmy Connors, the champion designate, was humbled by Arthur Ashe, still the only black man to have won Wimbledon? No Italian man has won a Grand Slam singles title since Adriano Panatta claimed the French Open in 1976. He was the man who proclaimed his distaste for Wimbledon with the memorable line “grass is for cows”. But could it also be for the big serving Berettini? Should Italy take Wimbledon and Wembley by storm on the same day, what will tomorrow’s newspapers look like!? Front pages framed in black……?
The Romans brought peace to this land. Such twin victories might have the opposite effect!
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