Euro’s 2024 – England raised my Expectations – but then dashed them
Our wait continues, but perhaps one day…perhaps
Spain were the best team of the competition, they deserved to win the tournament. From their first kick of the ball back on July 15, when they beat Croatia 3-0, they were by far the best team, both tactically and technically.
So, why am I disappointed? My expectations from day one were low, but as always, my hopes were high. The issue is that with the luck of the draw and some inspirational moments, England got to the final. They suddenly raised my expectation.
A one off game – in international football – a piece of magic, and the glory could have been ours.
58 years of waiting finally was within our grasps and hopes.
But they couldn’t quite do it. Was it that they didn’t play with the high tempo we expect, and know the players can achieve? Or was it just that Spain were just the better side?
In the end, quite rightly Spain deserved to win the competition. Every neutral knew it, and so, unfortunately, did we?
But for eighty minutes it was there, the hopes and dreams, but they were finally dashed, and therefore the long wait for silverware continues.
GS, despite his critics, has dragged England from its doldrums and taken them further than any other manager other than, obviously SAR. There have only been two other managers of note in my 60 odd years of following England. TV and SBR, but both of them couldn’t emulate GS.
So why are many calling for his head? Because that is what happens. Managers like GS lead us to expect, and when they don’t quite do it, we search for someone to blame.
Is there a better manager out there that can take us to that moment of glory? I’m not sure, but one thing I do know is when the World Cup in 2026 comes around, the country will again expect us to win.
On the other hand, I will as always, just hope that we can, but will keep my expectations low. That way, I’m not left overly disappointed.
I can just about tolerate a Labour government, and if England had won, it would have just made it more acceptable. I mean, what goes around comes around and it was time for change. But, why oh why is it that my acceptance of what goes around comes around never applies to England at football? Are we still being punished for the goal that never was that secured our World Cup victory?
Whatever the reason, life goes on and someday maybe, just maybe, we’ll bring football home.
