SOME buried their heads in their hands and wept, others hurriedly furled St
George flags and headed straight for the exits.
England were going home early yet again, this time with the jubilant taunts of
2,000 Italians ringing in their ears.
Despite a quarter-final exit that is now an English footballing tradition, the
pain was no less.
Yet the 10,000-strong Three Lions support streaming down the high-banked
stairwells of the magnificent Olympic Stadium wouldn’t be silenced. What was
begun by a handful of fans was soon being sung by thousands.
“Roy Hodgson’s barmy army” echoed loud and clear in the humid Kiev night air.
It was the unmistakable sound of hope.
Dressed in chain mail and the Cross of St George, Dex Marshall, 52, said after
the penalty shoot-out: “I’m absolutely gutted. I just feel drained. But at
least the lads gave it a real go and that’s what England fans really want.
“I’m walking out with a smile on my face. I’m not surprised we lost — Italy
have won four World Cups. We’re out but there is hope for the future. Roy
Hodgson has brought the English spirit back to the team.”
As the Three Lions supporters headed from the stadium for the bars and clubs
of central Kiev an inflatable toy spitfire lay crumpled in the gutter. Its
air squeezed out, it was as forlorn as England’s dreams.
Financial adviser Dex, from Uckfield, East Sussex, added: “The Germans were
waiting for us in Warsaw but it wasn’t to be.
“Fair play to Roy Hodgson, he restored the spirit of the team but the Italians
have a great footballing pedigree and proved just too strong for us. I
really thought this was our year. But we’ve had a fantastic time in the
Ukraine. All the talk before the tournament was of racism and violence but
the people here have been so welcoming.”
England were unable to break their hoodoo of never having beaten a World or
European Championship winning nation in a tournament away from Wembley.
Danny Bagley, 43, an IT manager from Watford, Herts, said: “Even though we
lost tonight, I think we have a lot to build on. Hodgson has done a great
job and we have some good young players coming through. It is not the last
we have seen of this team at the big tournaments. They will go a long way
together because you can see there is a real bond.”
Danny was one of thousands of supporters who rushed to Ukraine after our
thrilling 3-2 win over Sweden. He added: “We have performed totally beyond
expectations and I have really enjoyed Ukraine.”
TV executive Ed Shirbon, 36, of St Albans, Herts, said: “We have travelled
thousands of miles in a camper van to be here but it has been worth it. What
a great tournament. I think they have done us proud and Hodgson has built a
great team spirit in a very short space of time.” Fans embassy volunteer Ken
Malley, of Pyworthy, Devon, agreed that England could go home with their
heads held high. He said: “The spirit, fight and togetherness they have
shown in the squad is the best we have seen for years.
“There is a really good feeling about this team and personally I think Roy is
an excellent coach.
“He would have been my first choice anyway. The players have been singing the
national anthem like they mean it and acknowledged the fans at the end of
the game, which is so important to the people who have travelled all the way
here.They have done really well to get this far.” Football coach Ryan
Willsmer, 24, from Billericay, Essex, said: “The majority of England fans
did not expect us to qualify for the quarter-final. We gave it a good go and
it has been a great tournament.
“It is a young side and they have got some great experience on the big stage.”
Assistant Chief Constable Andy Holt, the man in charge of the UK police
operation in Kiev, said there had not been a single England fan arrested for
disorder at Euro 2012. Some Three Lions supporters — drained by the
emotion-racked evening — made their way straight back to a sandy island
across the Dnieper River last night where they are camping for £12 a night.
Others headed for Kiev’s famous Independence Square, where they sang until
they were hoarse, swilled lager and munched German sausages into the early
hours. Win or lose, football’s motherland knows how to have a party.
Preparing for usual h-exodus
THOUSANDS of miserable England fans started planning their journeys home from
Ukraine last night — after the Three Lions’ quarter-final curse returned to
haunt the country yet again.
Another 10,000-plus supporters gave up their dreams of travelling to Warsaw
for Thursday’s semi-final against Germany.
It would have been the biggest footie fan exodus since the 1990 World Cup
semi, when England lost to West Germany.
England also lost quarter-finals to Portugal, Argentina and West Germany in
the 2006, 1986 and 1970 World Cups and to Portugal again at the 2004 Euros.
A TV audience of 20million watched last night’s match.
I am Italian but feel… for Carroll
myView, by NANCY DELL’OLIO, Queen of the WAGs
I’M disappointed. You might find this hard to understand, but I do feel more
for England in football.
Of course, I’m happy for Italy, but I live in this country and the England
football team affected my life for many years. Plus I do know some of the
players.
And I care alot about Andy Carroll, he’s a very good-looking man.
I wanted the country to wake up this morning happy and feeling positive. I
didn’t want them to go to penalties — I understand how the English feel
about them.
I was pleased Gerrard took it right this time, as he missed in 2006 at the
World Cup.
Terry’s defence was good, Johnson and Gerrard were great.
And, of course, Andy Carroll!
THE BBC was blasted for banning 100,000 fans at Radio 1’s
Hackney Weekend festival from watching the match. Organisers of the East
London event said they should “focus on the music”. Fan Alex Noble tweeted:
“Hackney Weekend not showing the England game. Caps a dreadful line-up.”