Not coming home

In 1996, England hosted the European Championship for the first time, and comedians, David Badiel and Frank Skinner recorded and released a song called Three Lions with Ian Broudie of the Lightning Seeds.

It was a sad lament on football and the hope that this time, next time it'll be different and England will win.

England reached the semi-final in 1996, before losing to Germany on penalties. And in the World Cup two years later when the song was rerecorded and rereleased.

Three Lions is an anthem now sung at England games, though perhaps the original sadness tinge to it is lost on the terraces.

So to the recent Euros, as they have now finished, and England reached the final again: would this be the time football came home?

No.

England had flattered to deceive, and yet reached the final, coming from behind in each of the knockout games, but last night having fallen behind again, then levelling, England conceeded a second four minutes from time, and that was it.

That is back to back final defeats. A record a few years back we would have been jealous of, but seems a let down. Talk now is of the manager being replaced. Fne, but then by whom?

It is probably the weight of expectations of 58 years of not winning that the team carries each tournament which must weigh us down, as the latest verson of the National Team tries to write their history, their triumph.

They came close this time, but were not a good watch, only sparking into life when having to chase the game after falling behind.

So it goes, so it goes.

England were outplayed for about eighty of the ninety minutes, certainly until Kane was taken off England were average, while Spain were, well, Spain. No Spanish team, either club or national, has lost any final since 2001. 23 years of success, not always getting to the final, but when they do, they win. Spain deserved to win, scored with the best two moves of the game, and that's that.

Its the day after, there is a flat mood in the country, but England were no where near good enough, but might be next time. As its always the hope that gets you. I am not sad or angry, just hoping that one year I get to see England win something. And Norwich win the FA Cup too, but it doesn't define my life now, not affect my happiness. Sad yes, but there's more to life than football.

There. I said it.