The Last 16
On Sunday 30th June, once the England football team had made it through the group qualifier rounds of the Euro 2024 cup, we were treated to a couple of nail-biting hours of pitch action as England played Slovakia in the first round of the knock-outs. Slovakia scored, then England scored – only to have the goal disallowed thanks to the Offside Rule!
After going into added time, England scored an equaliser in the 94th minute, just moments before the final whistle. The game went to extra time – 15 mins each way – in which England scored again within the first minute! In the last few seconds of the extra time, goal-keeper Pickford spectacularly saved a shot by Slovakia and his triumphant grin was the closing image of the game, and led England on to face Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
In Camber, singing from the pubs could be heard loud and clear: Sweet Caroline, Three Lions (It’s Coming Home), Vindaloo, We Are the Champions! A couple of hours later, the streets were calm and silent except for the birdsong.
As I popped outside to put my recycling into the green bin, I heard, in the distance – possibly from someone on the dunes – a single voice singing out: “Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land …” I called back – “Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land, Eng-er-land”. I was overjoyed to hear the response: “Enggg-errrrrr-laaaand”! Whether you love or hate football, it is wonderful to hear the shared joy in our country’s sporting success!
The Last 8 (Quarter-finals)
The game against Switzerland on 6th July was an edge-of-the-seat affair! After drawing 1-1, with the Switzerland and England goals coming just 15 and 10 minutes respectively before full time, and the score remaining the same after 30 minutes of extra time, the game went to penalties. England’s goalie, Jordan Pickford, saved the first penalty shot by Switzerland, which allowed England to score the fifth penalty in the shoot-out and settle the contest. England was through to the semi-finals!
William, Prince of Wales, and President of The F.A., was in attendance at the match at Dusseldorf Arena
in Germany and was on tenterhooks as much as the rest of the country!
The Last 4 (Semi-finals)
Wednesday 10th July took England to the semi-finals against Holland in Dortmund, Germany. Each side had scored a goal within the first 20 minutes and, as the game continued, it looked as though it might go to extra time. However, 10 minutes before the end, England scored again, only to have the goal disallowed due to the Offside Rule – again! (Think back to the England -v- Slovakia game!) Extra time was looking even more likely.
At 90 minutes, England scored once more, during the first minute of only 2 minutes of added time! The added time continued for almost 5 more minutes with everyone wondering why the Ref hadn’t blown the final whistle. The game played on. When the final whistle eventually blew, England fans went wild! Not just in the stadium in Germany, but in the pubs, clubs and gatherings around the whole of our country! Camber was no exception!
England had made it to the final!
The Last 2 (The Final!!)
On Sunday 14th July, England had the apprehensive task of facing Spain in the final of the UEFA European Championship 2024. It was Spain’s fifth final, having won four times before, and England’s second consecutive final, having yet to win the tournament. Spain was known to be a formidable opponent – a tough and strong side – but the England team went onto the pitch in the Olympiastadion, Berlin, undaunted by Spain’s reputation, and playing to win.
Just two minutes into the second half, Spain scored a goal. Watching the game at The Castle, the disappointment was palpable amongst the gathered crowd. Still, not giving up hope, there were mutters about how England has managed to equalise in many of the games in this tournament. Almost half an hour later, England scored. The roar from the crowd was incredible! The whoops and cheers were so loud and sustained, surely it could be heard in Rye – or even over the water in France! How wonderful to share that moment of elation as a community!
Sadly, Spain scored again – with just four minutes to go before full time, meaning they went on to be the champions and England, once more, went home without the trophy. As sad as this was, everyone acknowledged that the England team had fought hard and, in true English magnanimous style, the crowd assembled in The Castle applauded both the England team and the Spanish victors as they paraded onto the field after the game.
Afterwards
Two days after the defeat, Gareth Southgate stepped down from his role as the England team manager. The nation generally acknowledged the hard work he had put in over his 8-year tenure, improving the England team’s progress. In his official statement, he praised the players and the fans, ending with “Thank you, England – for everything.” Lee Carsley, manager of the England U-21s, will be replacing him in the interim, until a permanent replacement is found.
Much of the media coverage described the tournament with various statements such as “a chance to end 58 years of pain and disappointment for England”. They were, of course, referring to the last major win for the men’s team in 1966, when England beat Germany to take the World Cup.
Very little has been said in the press about the fact that The Lionesses, England’s women’s team, won the UEFA European Women’s Championship 2022 (Euro 22), beating Germany to take the trophy. Ironically, it was Spain’s women’s team who pipped England’s Lionesses at the post in the World Cup 2023, beating them 1-0 in the final.
The England men’s team, along with the rest of the country, was left heartbroken after working so hard to reach their second successive semi-final without winning the title but, whilst we await success for the men’s team, we can remember that England’s football is very much alive and kicking (literally) – and it is on the up! Well done, to the England teams!
