England need to learn some tough lessons

The Independent’s football newsletter [View in browser]( [The Independent]( July 16, 2021 [The Independent]( Reading the Game Written by Vithushan Ehantharajah 'The key in football is to harness disappointment' [Oscars image]( Hello! This is Vithushan, The Independent's sports feature writer, and I am taking the reins of 'Reading The Game' this week while Miguel takes a well-deserved break. So without further ado I will get straight to it. *** It has been five days since England’s Euro 2020 final defeat on penalties to Italy, and somehow it feels both a lifetime ago and just yesterday. The reaction around the result in this country has been governed by the unsavoury elements before and after, so it is probably worth starting this off with some comment on the during. Roberto Mancini’s troupe of inter-generational talents recovered from that early setback of Luke Shaw’s second-minute opener to take control of the match from 20 minutes onwards. Gareth Southgate’s use of a 3-4-3 curbed England’s attacking threat, thus giving Italy relative peace of mind in their own 4-3-3 which was punctured countless times in the semi-final against Spain. And among the regrets from Sunday many will be wondering why, given the attacking riches within the England squad, they did not try similar. The key in football is to harness disappointment, which is exactly what Mancini has done with an Italy team who failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. Similarly, if England are to be stronger for this experience, no matter how much it hurts now and may continue to hurt, they will need to learn some tough lessons. For Southgate, one of those is the need to be bolder. *** The Met police have come out to deny that their policing operation around the final had failed. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jane Connors said it was "one of the most significant and comprehensive policing plans the Met has ever committed to a football match of this scale". By now you will have read the testimonies and watched the videos of those in attendance on Sunday. You’ll have got up to speed with the booze and drug-fuelled carnage at Wembley Stadium and the surrounding area, right the way into the heart of London as football fans from around the country converged on the capital for this historic game. The corroborated stories of violence, racist chants, anti-social behaviour and thousands of fans storming into Wembley. The injuries sustained by members of the public and 19 officers who were caught up in this maelstrom of new age hooliganism. Being at the ground four hours before kick-off, it was noticeable how little police presence there was. The disarray was allowed to build throughout the day, as dangerous as it was intimidating with broken glass underfoot and bottles flying overhead. A special occasion was ruined for so many, by so some who established pretty early that there would be no consequence for their actions. That sounds a lot like failure to me. *** By Thursday, all three of England’s penalty missers had released individual statements. Each of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka apologising for their errors in the shootout, while also reiterating their dismay at the racist abuse suffered online as a result. For them, this is all part of sports grieving process, and few understand it better than Southgate. His penalty miss in the Euro 96 semi-final against Germany became part of his story, but it was never allowed to define him. And for those exceptionally talented three, aged 23, 21 and 19 respectively, there is no doubt this will become a footnote in their stories. In part because the groundswell of support around them will not allow it to be anything more. The outpouring of love in response to their statements and in Withington, Manchester, where the defacing of Rashford’s mural drew crowds to cover up the slurs and show support for one of their own. The rallying around them has been particularly instructive. While this men’s team has been an antidote to a lot of the issues prevalent in the country, it is too wishful to think they could elicited a shift to a more kinder, understanding society themselves. But it is clear they have emboldened people to stand up for what is right and for one another. And, right now, the people are standing up for them. *** Typically, the gap between the end of the European Championship and the league season is no gap at all. British teams returned to pre-season training in the week before the final and, already, the space vacated by the Euros is being filled with the tittle-tattle of transfer comings and goings. Generally, club seasons following international tournaments are governed, somewhat, by the preceding summer. Mainly for worse: David Beckham roundly booed for his sending off against Argentina in 1998, Cristiano Ronaldo at the start of the 2004/05 season for the temerity to wink. One imagines the ovation for England’s key men this summer will be on the other end of the scale with fans back in grounds after spending most of the last year locked out. For many, this will be the return of football proper, and the loving feel has only been enhanced by the last month. At least until that shiny new Premier League ball is kicked and the usual tribalism takes hold. Top stories [Bukayo Saka responds to racist abuse after England’s Euro 2020 final defeat]( [Ugly Wembley fallout leaves questions to answer for police, Uefa and the FA]( Vithushan's Dispatches Euro 2020 was my first football tournament and, barring that last result, it could not have been more enjoyable. I got to sample the wares of Hampden Park and then a flying visit to Munich for a first match at the stunning Allianz Arena. To be in Wembley for games against Germany, Denmark and the final were experiences that will stay with me. That being said, I’ve not got long to bask in that glow. I’m off to Tokyo on Monday to cover the Olympics with my colleague, Lawrence Ostlere. It’s set to be the strangest Games in recent history, and another first for me, regardless. Still, the PCR tests don’t get any easier, though Thursday marked the first one where I didn’t erupt into sneezing fit. Progress. Quote of the day “Thank you for all our dinner” A message from Reggie, aged six, posted on Marcus Rashford’s mural Reading the game quiz England became the third side to reach the final of a European Championship on home soil and lose. Who were the other two? (Last newsletter's answers and this week's answers will both be in next week's edition, happy quizzing!) Essential reading [When does every Premier League team start pre-season and when are their friendlies?]( [Team GB footballers feel strongly about taking the knee, Demi Stokes says]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. 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