Another penalty: Harry Kane is inconsolable after his missed shot, although nobody blames him. There remains the impression of an English team that still has its zenith ahead of it – and the question of whether coach Southgate will stay.
At least the ball seemed to be coming home again. Ever since winning the World Cup in 1966, England has wished for nothing more than for the men’s national team to win another trophy. In the meantime 56 years have passed, almost a lifetime, in which the other nations have always been victorious in tournaments. The period of time is also called “56 years of pain” in England. Despite all the disappointments, the hope of triumph has never been entirely lost. It is reflected in the anthem “Football’s coming home” written for the 1996 European Championships, which now stands less for the tournament than for the desire for success.