Page 9 - Keynsham Town v Ashton & Backwell 310721

Association are working to make fully funded defibrillators available for grassroots
clubs.

F is for farewell. Toni Kroos, the longtime German midfield maestro, retired from
international football after England knocked Germany out of the tournament.
Joachim Löw also bowed out as Germany’s national coach following the defeat at
Wembley, ending a 15-year reign that included a World Cup triumph in 2014.

G is for Gareth Southgate. So close, yet so far, for England’s composed, well-spoken
manager. His decision to let two of England’s youngest players take the last two
penalties in the final shootout will be second-guessed, probably forever. But
Southgate has taken his country to a World Cup semifinal in 2018 and now the
European Championship final. The next step, England fans hope, will be to lift the
World Cup in Qatar in 2022.

H is for hubris. France midfielder Paul Pogba possibly regrets his grandstanding
celebration after putting Les Bleus 3-1 ahead against Switzerland in the Last 16.
The clear tournament favorites were cruising to victory with 10 minutes left, but
France was reined in by two late Swiss goals before losing on penalties. Analyzing
the tournament on British radio, Roma manager José Mourinho said: “When I saw
the way they celebrated the third goal, I didn’t like it. I had the feeling of, these
guys are already celebrating on the Eiffel Tower, dancing here, dancing there.”
I is for Italy. Italy opened the tournament, sweeping aside Turkey in Rome. Italy
also closed the tournament, edging past England in London. Its journey to Euro
2020 glory had some tense moments — a narrow defeat of Austria in the Last 16;
the nerve-shredding penalty shootout wins against Spain in the semis and England
in the final — but, ultimately, there was no doubt Italy was the team of the
tournament. And in giant goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, a new superstar and
penalty hero was born.

J is for jackets. As well as being one of the teams of the tournament, Italy ruled
the sartorial contest at Euro 2020. No one looked better on the sidelines than
Italian legends Roberto Mancini, Alberico Evani and Gianluca Vialli, kitted out in
their suave, gray Armani suits. The elegant fashion inspired some of the best
tournament memes, too.
K is for kneeling. Prior to the tournament, England’s players were booed by some
of their own supporters for “taking the knee” in support of racial justice. Leading
Brexiteer Nigel Farage promised “a horrible, divisive few weeks” if the kneeling
continued. But manager Gareth Southgate and the players didn’t back down, the
pre-match kneeling went on and the football united England in a rare fashion.
Southgate 1, Farage 0.