England’s early Euro games were marked by a surprising amount of hostility from their own fans. Players endured boos and even missiles thrown at them, and even Gareth Southgate wasn’t spared. The families and relatives of the players, including those on the bench, also faced abuse, with beer and coffee hurled at them by nearby fans. It’s baffling considering these fans, who have traveled far and spent much, should ideally support their team. The simple explanation is that England’s performance was lackluster.
Belgium, too, faced similar treatment. After a goalless draw with Ukraine, even the brilliant Kevin de Bruyne was jeered. This stems from the modern fans of top football nations, who, like the players, feel entitled. England and Belgium were favorites, and their fans expected excellence and entertainment. When their expectations weren’t met, they felt personally let down.
The massive salaries of top players aren’t resented when they perform well. But if they don’t, fans turn angry. Social media has exacerbated this, making it easy to criticize and attack rather than support. Fans of leading countries have grown to expect easy victories over lesser-known teams, which adds to their frustration when results fall short.
Take Georgia, for instance. Ranked 74th in the world with a population of only four million, they defeated Portugal, a football superpower with Cristiano Ronaldo. This victory brought immense joy to Georgia, highlighting the unexpected thrills football can bring. Smaller countries like Slovakia and Serbia, familiar with Premier League stars, relish surprising victories over stronger teams.
Austria, Turkey, and Romania, considered middle-ranking, performed admirably. They benefit from not being expected to reach the final, allowing them to play with determination and unity. England’s poor performance has been partly blamed on player fatigue after a long season, but this affects all Euro participants.
Watching England struggle against Slovakia in the knockout stage was exasperating. I almost wished for them to lose and end the headache. After 90 tedious minutes and a Jude Bellingham spectacle, England managed to win. Now, we deluded fans hope the best is yet to come, believing they can’t keep playing poorly forever.
