Eurozone 2020: Raheem Sterling’s penalty fall ruffles a few feathers

European media take England’s win well

How generous were sections of the European media towards England and their semi-final triumph? Not hugely. Italian paper Corriere dello Sport, for example, had “Zuppa Inglese” as its headline, which literally means English soup. We were lost too, until helpful Italians on the interweb explained that it’s actually a trifle-like dessert that is regarded as boring, so the headline actually sort of meant, ‘English Bores’.

Over in Denmark, meanwhile, under a Berlingske piece headlined “Let the English Party - they have nothing else”, the writer commented on England having “the most corona deaths in Europe”. “It could have been avoided... but it wasn’t because the leadership is too poor. And the corona fad is not an exception, but characteristic of a country that is so convinced of its exceptionalism that it even thinks itself exempt from a pandemic. Let them party... and instead rejoice that you have woken up in Denmark today.”

And you thought it was only a game.

Finally, the Scottish Metro. Their headline? “They think it’s fall over”, over a picture of Raheem Sterling winning his penalty.

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Quote of the day

"Haven't seen Sterling fall that quickly since the day of the Brexit vote." - Virgin Media reporter Rob O'Hanrahan's take on penalty-gate.

Number of the day

27.6 - That's how many million people watched England's semi-final on ITV's various platforms, making it the most-watched football match ever on a single UK channel.

Tweeter of the Week

We’ll go with the rather excellently monikered Cantonio Conte (@FCTwenteBenson) whose quite rude take on the award of that spot-kick garnered quite a bit of attention…..

“They’ll be putting that penalty in the British museum with all the other stolen shit.”

That earned him a heap of new followers “from around the world”, he said, Cantonio thanking them profusely before making them a promise that no doubt left them giddy.

“If you think my Euro football tweets are good just wait till you see my Dublin Bay South by-election results tweets over the next few days.”

Word of mouth

"My brother has literally had a baby, as the second goal went in. He's crying his eyes out, he's had a little girl. It's a special night all round." - Declan Rice revealing that Harry Kane's goal prompted his brother to give birth.

"Thank you for being the cohesive force of the country for a month, for sharing an incomparable unity, joy. The party is over, but what a party. One with a free bar, dancing on the tables, life and happy days - and the kind where you are reluctant to go home." - Danish paper Ekstra-Bladet saluting its lads in fine style.

"The standard of leaders in this country the past couple of years has been poor, looking at that man [Gareth Southgate], he's everything a leader should be - respectful, humble, he tells the truth." - Gary Neville sending a big hello to Boris Johnson. Or "Corbynista" "multi-millionaire socialist" Neville, as the peeved Daily Mail dubbed him.

Marca take England win well

“English football can stop lecturing the rest of the continent about diving. Always going on about how frowned upon it is when a foreigner tries to trick the referee.

“In pure English football, it’s not done. Except in the semi-final of the Euros that is. The mistake was so clear it makes England’s qualification suspicious. Remember that of their seven games played, six will have been at Wembley. It’s a shame because it undermines one of the best Euros ever.”

Apart from that, Spanish paper Marca took England’s triumph well.