So, the Euros are over and England lost in the final against the worthy Italy.
This tournament has been so exciting and it’s been a joy to see these young men enjoy their game. Their camaraderie and support of each other has showed us they are a team both off and on the pitch. What great role models they are for the next generation of sportsmen and women. I love to see the awe with which so many kids are watching their idols and the idols in turn pay attention to the young fans, acknowledging them.
Just look at the pure joy of the little football player, Belle, when Mason Mount gave her his shirt. Life changing for her and such a lovely, heartwarming gesture from Mason.
Gareth Southgate has been so much more than a coach and manager for these men. He has instilled values and faith in their abilities to be both great players and human beings. How you treat each other makes a big difference to how you feel about yourself at night, away from the limelight.
The fact that many of these players have had challenging childhoods has added to their sense of drive and focus. However, how they handle it and where it takes them once they are successful depends on who is there to support them. Many don’t have family that are able to give the right kind of emotional support so the role of a manager and coach is so much more than coaching just the actual game.
The ability to lose is also important. How they cope with this will show in the weeks to come. As always, there are vile people who say horrible things. Who attack the colour of their skin and try to divide people and encourage racism. This has no place anywhere in our society and it needs to be highlighted and stopped.
The loss of a game, be it Euros, world cup or lower division, does not matter. It is never acceptable to take it out in a vile, abusive or violent way.
This is about the feelings of loss. How can these guys (mainly men…) express their disappointment and sadness in a more effective way? What makes them become so angry that they can’t or won’t control their actions?
There will be many reasons behind this behaviour and it is rarely to do with football. That is just the tipping point at that moment and a reason to let out any pent up anger from other areas of their lives.
This is a whole different topic and one to write about another day.
In the meantime, thank you to our England team for being great sportsmen, role models and inspirational human beings!
Kindness, inclusivity, compassion and being people who matter goes so much further than ‘only’ winning a football game.
