England’s journey united a country but highlighted it’s biggest issues

The England national team united the country and gave the nation a well-needed lift following the COVID 19 pandemic, as they went to their first final in 55 years.

The team created a feeling of unity and togetherness, which they rode throughout the tournament, this feeling was well and truly spread throughout the country as the team progressed.

England would fall at the final hurdle, losing to Italy on penalties as the Azzurri continued their unbeaten run to win EURO 2020. The Three Lions scored 2 out of their 5 penalties and would lose 3-2 after the game finished 1-1 after extra time.

Following the game, a minority of England ‘fans’ showed just how far we have to go to really drown out former football culture.

A section of violence broke out within Wembley, with people hitting anyone who seemingly was not what they wanted to see and the three players who missed England’s final penalties were savagely racially abused on social media platforms. A month of ecstasy and unity, ends in exactly what this team stands against.

For the past year, football teams in England have taken a knee as a stand against racial discrimination and in particular discrimination on social media, the England national team continued to do so throughout EURO 2020.

The attitude towards taking the knee has been mixed with some fans booing it and what happened following Sunday’s final shows just how this message is being misunderstood and that attempting to educate this minority must go on and must get harder.

The abuse Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were subject to is beyond unacceptable; it’s stating the obvious but stepping up to take a penalty in a final like that is unbelievably hard, it’s commendable and definitely not abuse worthy.

Footballers have campaigned all year for certain individuals to stop doing what seems like common sense to most. We have a long way to go, and no one will back down till our football is free from racism.

The violence that was on show is another stack of evidence that proves that some groups still believe it is the 1980’s and violence and football go hand in hand.

Football is for everyone, and no one should go to any sort of game in fear of being attacked because they are different in any way.

England had a dream tournament in front of their own fans and gave a country an incredibly uplifting month but what we continue to see is that we have a long way to go before the messages this team projects, really gets through to the minority.

It is 2021 and football has to refuse the beheld in the dark ages, football in England has to wake up.