and in the end, they are the same ones who still lose

The World according to firo Sportphoto / picture-alliance / dpa / AP Images

Posted today at 6:00 am

"It's coming home, football's coming home. " In June 1996, football "Come home". In the midst of a Britpop wave, Ian Broudie, singer of the group Lightning Seeds, makes all England hum when approaching this European championship organized by the football country. Tube of the coming summer, Three lions becomes the anthem of a team of England subscribed to disappointments for thirty years and their victory obtained at their World Cup.

Comedians David Baddiel and Frank Skinner, presenters of the offbeat show "Fantasy Football League" on BBC 2, support Broudie in song and lyrics. " Ian was known for writing sweet and bitter love songs, Skinner recalls in a BBC interview. He said he didn't think he could write about football. So we got there and we wrote a sweet and bitter love song about the England team. "

Sweet then bitter, like the course of the selection led by Terry Venables during this Euro. However, a wave of optimism is floating over the country. Oasis has conquered the world, magazines proclaim the return of Swinging london and Tony Blair, young leader of New Labor, boasts of a young, modern and uninhibited England.

"How we did not win"

On the ground, this England also has talent, with the Shearers, Sheringham, Gascoigne, Ince, Adams and McManaman. After a false start against Switzerland (1-1), she unrolls against Scotland (2-0) with a goal and a legendary celebration of Paul Gascoigne, then crushes the Netherlands (4-1). A whole country can already see it.

Even the sluggish qualification in the quarterfinals against Spain on penalties (with Miguel Angel Nadal, the tennis player's uncle, in the role of the cursed shooter) do not temper this carelessness. "I don't know how we did not win this Euro", Terry Venables was still surprised in 2016. The answer is simple: his team crossed the road to Germany.

But, promised, things are different before this semi-final, this June 26. England play better, have no more doubts and face a Mannschaft weakened by injuries, starting with that of their goalscorer, Jürgen Klinsmann. From the 3^e minute, the inevitable Alan Shearer cuts a corner to the far post to score his fifth goal in the tournament. No one wanted to think about Gary Lineker and his famous sentence: "In the end, it’s always the Germans who win. "

The plan runs smoothly until the 16th^e minute. Moment chosen by a supporting role to spoil the party. Replacing Klinsmann, Stefan Kuntz tackles a ball that passes by and equalizes (1-1). The English can grow well, the score does not change and then comes to mind this sentence sung by Frank Skinner: "England will ruin everything again. "

Gareth Southgate's sacrifice

It remains to be seen how. As we approach the penalty shootout, the ghosts of Turin are back. Six years earlier, West Germany blocked the way to the world finals in a session marked by young Gascoigne's tears after the failure of Chris Waddle.

The Germans are sure of their nerves, their technique, and think that fear will overtake their adversaries. Kuntz agrees to shoot in fifth position, confident that his turn will not come. "I was sure the English would not be able to miss one or more before me. " Bad language. Shearer, Platt, Pearce, Gascoigne and Sheringham carry out their mission without trembling.

But behind, the volunteers deserted. Steve McManaman and Darren Anderton parade, and defender Gareth Southgate advances as the sixth shooter with the head of the one who would rather be elsewhere than on Wembley lawn. "I was surprised that the coach designated me, will admit the current English coachs. I hadn't trained and had only tried one in my career, which I had missed. "

Little reassured, therefore, Southgate dashes, but the opening of his right foot leaves no room for doubt. Andreas Köpke guesses that the ball is going to go to his right and stops it without forcing his dive. Behind, Andreas Möller adjusts David Seaman and sends Germany to the final (6 shots on goal to 5). Albion no longer sings, and Lineker's sentence is taken for granted.

Fortunately, the English have humor (but also optimism) for them. The Broudie-Baddiel-Skinner trio do it again with Three Lions 98 at the World Cup two years later. The clip begins with Southgate’s failure before hope takes hold again. "Fans still believe it" and set off for France. Along the way, supporters improvise a match on a motorway service against Germans wearing a mule and wearing a flocked Kuntz jersey. This time England will fall in the round of 16 against Argentina … on penalties, of course.