So the Spaniards complain about the way the Lioness was praised? And what are they based on that? They point out how our English hero, Chloe Kelly, walks past their goalkeeper after winning that amazing victory penalty. Apparently they didn’t like it a little. What applause. Cementing her reputation as an English great, Kelly ran towards the side of the pitch, where England fans and teammates and coaches could quickly join her. The fact that Little Journey went past the Spanish goalkeeper who lost her was totally coincidence in my eyes.
Either way, it’s a bit rich for the Spaniards to moan about how the winners celebrate. After last year’s men’s euro, when Spain beat England in the finals, players including Rodri, who play for England, sparkled in the packed Madrid Square by chanting to the microphone about how Gibraltar is “Spanish.” Because we English is so dignified in defeat, such outrageously provocative stunts have not been transformed into a major diplomatic incident. We were wise enough to shrug it.
But the Spaniards do not seem to have such elegance in either victory or defeat now. What a shame, it’s like dirt. After all, it’s not as if Spain doesn’t have many sporting victory to taste.
They not only won the Men’s Euro last year, but they won the Men’s World Cup itself that long ago. Their women were also world champions, beating England in the 2023 final.
Their top tennis player, Brilliant Carol Al-Caraz, like Rafanadal, of course, enjoyed the Grand Slam and won for fun. And both were cheered by the generous Wimbledon crowd. So they don’t really need as a nation to assault them with a childish petulance, once, when English makes them better.
Sports aren’t just about winning and losing. Or at least it shouldn’t. It’s about how you do it. Here, make the Germans a good example.
When the Lioness defeated them in the final Euro Finals, the Germans had every reason to feel severe, losing the Star Striker to a freak injury during the warm-up. But they couldn’t be more generous.
Spain, at least, doesn’t have much in the Argentine league for all of this. British men still recall with the sad shaking of their heads, having a terrifying glow from the Argentinean players after knocking out Britain from the 1986 World Cup.
And my generation of supporters recall their violent Peturance in their defeat against West Germany in the 1990 World Cup final. It all says quite a lot about the country.
There are many drawbacks when it comes to English. A small number of our fans have been ashamed of us for decades of unforgivable hooliganism, dating back to the early 1970s.
But our English players, both men and women, know how to win and lose with dignity. And that’s what Lioness did on a Sunday night. Chloe Kelly then told the interviewer how proud she is that she is in English.
Well said, Chloe. It’s a shame that we don’t hear such feelings more frequently. And we can assure you that you are proud of the rest of us.
