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The Football Association has vowed to ban any supporter found to have attended the Euro 2020 final without a ticket, with groups of fans storming the ground prior to kick-off.

A number were able to gain entry, with ugly scenes marring what was supposed to be a celebratory occasion for a nation starved of international success.

Those that did get in saw the Three Lions suffer more penalty shootout heartache against Italy, prolonging 55 years of hurt, but many may not be allowed to enter a stadium again.

What has been said?

FA chief executive Mark Bullingham told BBC Radio Four's Today programme when quizzed on how security was able to be breached: "We will do a full review and we will work with the police to catch anyone involved and make sure we can prevent it ever happening again.

"Anyone caught will obviously be banned and have the right action taken against them."

Bullingham added on the "drunken yobs" that forced their way into Wembley: "We run a stadium, not a fortress. 

"We have got a fantastic security team at the stadium and they had never seen anything like it."

Bullingham also offered his apologies to any supporters that saw their Euro 2020 experience negatively impacted by the actions of a minority.

How many arrests were made?

The Metropolitan Police has revealed that 49 arrests were made on Sunday for a variety of offences.

It has also announced that 19 officers sustained injuries while trying to contain "volatile" crowds.

When will England be back at Wembley?

Gareth Southgate's side are still picking the bones out of what went wrong against Italy, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all missing from the spot following a 1-1 draw.

All of those involved are now heading off on well-deserved breaks before reporting back to pre-season with their respective clubs.

Southgate is expected to remain at the helm, with the 2022 World Cup next in his sights.

Qualifying action for that competition will resume in September, with England's next outing at Wembley set to take place on September 5 when a meeting with Andorra is sandwiched between clashes with Hungary and Poland.

Further reading

It’s largely impossible to feel indifference for Pitso Mosimane; a manager who either elicits strong adulation or fierce censure.

Despite the hurdles he has overcome or the plethora of breakthroughs, the unceasing fault-finding truly beggars belief. The South African is widely regarded as the finest manager his nation has ever produced, but the 56-year-old still isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

The attack and abuse he received on his return to old side Mamelodi Sundowns in May was astonishing, given his trophy-laden stint with the Brazilians.

11 trophies in just under eight years was an incredible feat, and the crowning moment in securing the club’s maiden Caf Champions League crown in 2016 remains unforgettable.

Success in that Zamalek tie was the second for any South African side — matching Orlando Pirates’ 1994 victory — but the first-ever recorded by any trainer from the country. It came against the White Knights, five-time winners, further demonstrating the height of Pitso’s achievement five years ago.

Understandably hurt by the violence intended to destabilise Al Ahly’s preparations and the scornfully abusive nature of supporters during the game, the subsequent half-baked apology by the club did little to calm the situation.

That quarter-final second-leg clash ended 1-1, but Mosimane and MT Sports Marketing and Management — the distinguished manager’s representatives — pulled no punches afterwards. The statement released via the latter condemned the behaviour of supporters and an unsatisfactory show of regret by Sundowns.

“As the management company of coach Pitso, we are disappointed that Mamelodi Sundowns FC have not apologised to him personally but issued a general statement apologising to Al Ahly ‘and those associated with the team‚’” read the statement as per Sowetan Live.

“This is not good enough. The insults were directed at coach Pitso in his personal capacity and to his mother. We hope that the entire Sundowns family will continue to look at the success of coach Pitso as something to celebrate, not vilify.”

The one-sided antipathy is hard to comprehend. Indeed, many will reckon Pitso’s strong response was par for the course.

A successive Champions League triumph with the Red Devils and third in total will be another feather in Jingles’ cap, as he’ll surpass a spate of two-time winners of Africa’s most illustrious club competition.

This will put him only one behind Manuel Jose, who claimed four titles with Al Ahly in the 2000s and secure the Egyptian giants’ 10th prize.

One would expect every supporter of the Red Devils to root for the man in charge in normal circumstances, but Mosimane continues to endure a complicated relationship with fans. They supposedly haven’t accepted him due to his African roots and their preference for local or foreign managers from Europe or South America has prompted some aversion and unwelcome vibe.

Ahly legend Ahmed Hassan denounced this sentiment recently, praising Pitso’s work and backed the experienced coach to win his fourth title since joining the club last year.

“Mosimane deserved the praise from the beginning. He’s a distinguished coach and a tactician at the highest level, and his problem is that he is African because the public and the media are used to foreigners,” Hassan remarked. “He achieved everything that was asked of him and the decision of him coaching Al Ahly was the correct one.”

On July 17’s final, Hassan remarked: “Kaizer Chiefs are an average team compared to Al Ahly, and Wydad dominated possession in the two matches, but Al Ahly need to make a lot of effort to win the tenth title.”

Despite the club legend’s confidence, there’s an obvious need for the Egyptian giants to stay on their toes against a hungry side chasing their maiden CL crown. Throw in the expected absences of six Ahly players likely to join Egypt’s Olympics team in Tokyo, and the path to glory becomes fraught with uncertainty.

“We are expecting a very difficult time after the Caf Champions League final," Mosimane told his club's official website via FourFourTwo. “We will miss six players who will participate in the Olympics. It is not easy to deal with the absence of six players in that stage of the season.”

Missing out will be Mohamed El-Shennawy, Ahmed Ramadan Beckham, Akram Tawfik, Nasser Maher, Taher Mohamed and Salah Mohsen, which obviously weakens the continent’s most successful club against the ambitious outfit from Soweto.

With Shawky Gharib’s young Pharaohs due to play Spain on July 22, five days after the final, any chance of the aforementioned featuring against Chiefs has to be beyond the bounds of possibility.

While Chiefs’ Nkosingiphile Ngcobo has been included in South Africa’s U-23 squad as well, SA coach David Notoane has revealed the midfielder will be granted special dispensation to join the group after facing the Egyptian giants.

Mosimane’s troops are unbeaten since suffering an unexpected 1-0 defeat by Simba in the early rounds of the group stage and Saturday’s final represents arguably the great coach’s toughest test in charge with a stretched squad.

Disappointment will undoubtedly provoke some schadenfreude by his detractors, but a third CL success increases the popularity of arguably Africa’s greatest tactician, especially due to the circumstances surrounding this particular final.

The censure may never be silenced totally, but Jingles will keep marching onwards no matter how Saturday's final plays out.

Christian Pulisic has received death threats over a social media video involving a goliath grouper fish, the United States and Chelsea star's father has revealed.

Pulisic hit the headlines last week after seeing one of his Instagram uploads go viral while on holiday in Florida.

The 22-year-old filmed a stunt on a boat above an endangered fish, and has subsequently been criticised by conservationists and animal rights groups.

What happened?

In the video in question, Pulisic was seen juggling a ball over a goliath grouper - a giant saltwater fish most commonly found in waters off the eastern coast of the Americas.

The Chelsea winger, who helped the Blues win the Champions League in 2020-21, ultimately lost control of the ball and fell onto the fish, which visibly struggled under his weight before he was pulled back into the boat.

How did the Blue Planet Society respond?

The self-funded, volunteer pressure group known as the Blue Planet Society, who are committed to ending the overexploitation of the world's ocean, reposted the video of Pulisic on Twitter with the caption: "Abusing a threatened goliath grouper for a social media video is a new low.”

Pulisic's father defends USMNT international

Mark Pulisic has now come out to defend the USMNT international amid the social media backlash, insisting he never had any intention of hurting the goliath grouper while slamming the online trolls that have made threats against his life.

The Chelsea attacker's father told Alex Goldberg's YouTube channel The Byline: "He is off Twitter during the season but he knows what’s going on and the harshness of it after having a bad game. He doesn’t look at it a lot.

"What hurts him more is the cancel culture. If he wants to post something on the internet, and idiots are hiding behind computers. People are just waiting to hate because of their jealousy. That bothers him a lot more.

"Whether it is regarding guns or regarding going fishing and having a hook in a fish's mouth. He didn’t even realise it but he is just trying to have a good time.

"It’s the most ridiculous thing. Christian is such an animal lover. He has horses, he doesn’t want to see animals hurt. Unfortunately, he has got death threats regarding it and it's got to the point where people are saying they want him in jail.

"People need to not wait for someone with notoriety to do something wrong. It is pretty idiotic. If you want to say he has had a sh*tty game, then go for it.

"But if you don’t know Christian as a person and what happened on the boat? Then shut your mouth."

Further reading 

Liverpool's players reported for duty on July 12, as the Reds begin their pre-season preparations with a training camp in the Austrian state of Salzburg.

There were smiles all round as Jurgen Klopp and his players were reunited some seven weeks after the conclusion of the last Premier League campaign. They 2019-20 champions have big ambitions this season, as they look to wrestle back their crown from Manchester City.

Goal brings you all you need to know about Liverpool's plans for pre-season and who will be involved.

Liverpool pre-season fixtures & results

*Thirty-minute mini-games

Liverpool get their pre-season friendly schedule under way in rather unusual fashion, starting on Tuesday July 20 with two 30-minute 'mini-games', against Austrian Second Division outfit FC Wacker Innsbruck and German Bundesliga side Stuttgart, whom they faced in a 90-minute fixture last summer.

Those games will be played behind-closed-doors, with the first game contested in front of supporters to be played against another Bundesliga side, Klopp's old club Mainz, at the 3,500-capacity Greisbergers Betten-Arena in the town of Grodig on Friday July 23.

Six days later comes another test against German opposition, Hertha Berlin, at the 15,000-capacity Tivoli Stadium in Innsbruck on Thursday July 29.

Games can be streamed live exclusively on LFC TV GO. More fixtures are expected to be announced in due course.

Which players are involved in Liverpool's pre-season?

Klopp has named a 34-man squad for the training camp, with a mix of first-teamers, fringe players and young prospects all involved.

The likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold all reported on day one, along with Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip, all of whom are returning from long-term injury.

Other first-teamers include Curtis Jones, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kostas Tsimikas, Nat Phillips and James Milner, while there are opportunities for returning loan players such as Harvey Elliott, Marko Grujic and Loris Karius, who last played for the Reds in 2018.

Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi is also involved. Awoniyi signed for Liverpool in 2015 but has been unable to feature due to work-permit issues. The 23-year-old was finally granted a permit earlier this summer and will get the chance to catch the eye in Austria.

Others to keep an eye on include teenage Polish forward Mateusz Musialowski, home-grown midfielder Tyler Morton and young full-backs Conor Bradley and Owen Beck, who have been drafted up from the U18s.

Will Liverpool's new transfer signings be involved?

Yes. New signing Ibrahima Konate is part of the 34-man squad, having completed his £36million ($50m) switch from RB Leipzig at the end of May.

The centre-back is viewed as a key capture for the Reds, though fans will be hoping there are more arrivals between now and the end of the summer window.

When does Liverpool's season start?

The Reds get their Premier League campaign under way on Saturday August 14, when they travel to face newly-promoted Norwich City at Carrow Road (kick-off 5.30pm UK time).

That has echoes of the title-winning 2019-20 season, when the Reds defeated the Canaries 4-1 at Anfield in their opening fixture. 

Having travelled to Norfolk, Klopp's side then enjoy back-to-back home games against Burnley (Saturday August 21, 12.30pm kick off) and Chelsea (Saturday August 28, 5.30pm).

See Liverpool's full 2021-22 Premier League fixture list

Former Gor Mahia head coach Carlos Manuel Vaz Pinto has vividly explained what made him leave the Football Kenya Federation Premier League side.

Gor Mahia confirmed a few days ago they had parted ways with the Portuguese tactician and now the former Saint George SC coach has pointed out the exact reasons that prompted his exit.

What has been said

"When you are outside of your country, everything is supposed to be okay, but it was hard times but I gave my best and after the cup final, I thought my job was done. This season, no one believed that Gor Mahia could win anything or qualify for Caf competitions," Vaz Pinto said in an audio posted on the club's portal.

"I worked for six months without pay and two weeks ago I was paid my February salary. I have my family and I have my bills to pay for and you know I could not stay in the country in this situation. 

"The chairman [Ambrose Rachier] solved some of my issues and recently he repeated to say that I am the best coach he has had around and I understood all his explanations. I love the man, I love the chairman because he is a lovely man."

Momanyi exit

The coach also revealed defender Charles Momanyi - who has not been enjoying first-team duties on a regular basis recently - is set to ditch K'Ogalo.

"I know when things would be okay with the club in a few months, I could come back, but it was difficult and I could not stay like this. Players have left, [Nicholas] Kipkirui left and Charles [Momanyi] is leaving and others were injured with the club unable to solve this issue. Some are small injuries but they could not be solved because of money issues. It has been a difficult season," added the coach.

"People outside might think that things are okay, but they are not okay. Players put in a lot of commitment and the same applies to the technical bench and that is how we managed to solve a number of issues.

"The chairman is an amazing man, but there are some things he would not solve alone. 

"Me and the club tried to come up with a plan to settle my dues, but in this period of Covid-19, it is understandably difficult. Last week, the club agreed on a new contract with Betsafe where the money agreed on is a smaller amount than before and if there is no money, then things will not be easy."

Vaz Pinto arrived in January when the local heavyweights were 16th in the league and led them fourth, as well as winning the FKF Shield Cup after beating AFC Leopards on July 4.

Egypt and Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has taken to social media to show his support for teammate Bukayo Saka after his penalty miss for England in the Euro 2020 final against Italy.

With the scores locked at 1-1 following extra-time, a penalty shootout was the only way to determine the winner.

With the penalty scores at 3-2 in favour of the Azzurri, the young Gunner stepped up to take the decisive penalty but failed to beat Italy custodian Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Manchester United duo Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho had also missed from 12-yards and the trio have been the victims of online racial abuse thereafter.

The Egyptian has now shown solidarity with the teenager and assured the 19-year-old of his teammates' love.

"My bro we love you and [are] so proud of you," the 29-year-old Elneny posted on his social media platform.

Arsenal have also taken to their official website to show support for their versatile attacker.

"Last night, we saw Bukayo Saka reach the Euro 2020 final at the age of 19 years old," the club said.

"Bukayo has been with us since he was seven and the whole club couldn’t have been prouder to see him represent England throughout the tournament. You could feel it right across the club.

"Last night we witnessed the leadership and character we’ve always known and loved in Bukayo. However, this feeling of pride quickly turned to sorrow at the racist comments our young player was subjected to on his social media platforms after the final whistle.

"Once again, we are sad to have to say we condemn the racism of a number black players. This cannot continue and the social media platforms and authorities must act to ensure this disgusting abuse to which our players are subjected on a daily basis stops now.

"We have processes in place internally at Arsenal to ensure our players are supported both emotionally and practically on this issue but sadly there is only so much we can do.

"Our message to Bukayo is: hold your head high, we are so very proud of you and we cannot wait to welcome you back home to Arsenal soon."

Hearts of Oak coach Samuel Boadu has described their current set-up as "unique" after the club clinched their first Ghana Premier League title in 12 years on Sunday.

After over a decade of disappointments, the Phobians finally exorcised their demons after holding Liberty Professionals to a 1-1 draw to open a four-point lead at the top of the table ahead of the final round of games.

It is their first title since 2009.

"It’s like there is something unique in the Hearts of Oak team," Boadu, who joined Hearts from Medeama in March, has said, as reported by Africa-Foot.

“When I came, they welcomed me and supported me a lot, especially the management and the supporters as well. They were always advising me, encouraging me, they told me that I can do it so I should push it up.

“I will make sure I will not be swollen-headed. I will make sure I work extra. This is a motivational cup or win, so it will prepare me to go higher and higher.”

Hearts opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time through Daniel Afriyie Barnieh but Kwame Paul levelled the score for the visitors late in the game to ensure the spoils were shared.

The Phobians' league triumph ahead of the final matchday was partly due to a defeat on the part of closest contenders Asante Kotoko, who suffered a 2-1 away loss to Bechem United on Sunday.

“It [the league] means a lot [to us] and I feel very very happy because it’s been a while that Hearts won this trophy," Afriyie said.

"We have written our names in the [good] books."

The second most successful club in the GPL, Hearts have now won 20 league titles in all, three fewer successes than arch-rivals Asante Kotoko.

The Phobians have not only won the league trophy but have also, by the feat, secured a place in the Caf Champions League next season.

“We are excited because we went 12 matches unbeaten, we conceded the least number of goals, so we are very excited," said Hearts board member Vincent Sowah Odotei.

“We thank all the supporters. Everybody who made this possible."

Hearts will face Wafa in their last match of the season.

Former Gor Mahia and Sofapaka striker Ronald Okoth has defended England's coach Gareth Southgate for criticism he has had to deal with after losing the European Championship final to Italy on Sunday.

The Three Lions, after emerging from the previous stages unbeaten, went down to the Azzurri at Wembley Stadium as Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka missed spot-kicks in the shoot-out.

The winner had to be determined from the penalty spot after a 1-1 draw and Italy emerged victors. Okoth believes the players should shoulder the blame instead of their manager taking criticism.

"When a team wins, it’s the players who are always given all the credit, but if a team loses, it’s always the coach who takes in all the fire and blame," Okoth wrote on his Facebook page.

"Such is life when it comes to our gaffer life, I’m sure if it’s 'older players' who missed the penalties, Southgate could have still been blamed for opting to pick old legs over young fresh top talent who are on top of their games currently. If Rashford, Sancho, and Saka had scored their penalties, the trio could have been elated to immortal status.

"There’s no room for age excuses in football at the highest level. I’m sure the trio were picked to take penalties not because they are young, but because they had practised and planned for it as their game plan. Above all the top qualities they possess, what everyone is seeing is their age.

"These are players who’ve proved they belong up there with the very experienced and best. Even some of the most experienced players do bottle under pressure, it’s normal and it has nothing to do with age."

The former KCB and Mathare United star added the English coach followed his plan only that it failed to produce desirable results in the end: "Southgate just didn’t pick them out of the blues. It was clearly a game plan but even the most experienced of players still crack under pressure and that’s what happened, even Italy’s most experienced penalty takers cracked. 

"It could have gone either way. Unfortunately, it’s the age gap excuse being used to slander a manager who clearly had his game plan in place."

The retired striker also criticized young players who feel entitled to first-team duties because of their age.

"This 'age gap' theory peddled by a section of our local football fans is the reason that has made some of our ‘young talented players' back here at home feel entitled to opportunities because they are young and get away with them because of the same reason," he added.

"I’ve seen young players dismissed from clubs because of this same entitlement that has been put in their heads by fans 'this one knows football' and 'Kenya teams only love oldies when there are young players like so and so' and such other stories. Football does not need old or young stories.

"If you’ve proved yourself, you’ll definitely be tasked with opportunities that come with huge responsibilities. Age is just a number. It was simply a game plan that went wrong and nothing to do with ‘age."

After their misses, Sancho, Saka, and Rashford received online racial abuse.

Sally Bolo believes Bukayo Saka should not have been given the opportunity to take the final penalty during England’s defeat against Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday.

The Three Lions failed to clinch the trophy on the final day despite a good run in the competition as they lost 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Wembley Stadium.

The 19-year-old Arsenal player was among the players who missed from the spot for England - same as Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho - and Gareth Southgate's charges could only watch on as Italy celebrated a winning the title.

The decision to give Saka a chance to take the final penalty has left one Arsenal fan in Kenya, Bolo, demanding an apology from Southgate, insisting he had put too much responsibility on the young star.

“As a die-hard Arsenal supporter, I'm going to bed a sad girl,” Bolo, a former official of FKF Premier League champions Gor Mahia wrote on her Facebook page after the final whistle.

“Bukayo [Saka] was the fifth penalty taker, and I'm still not sure why. He’s never taken one in his senior career, and it’s unjust to put so much responsibility on a 19-year-old.

"But he’s also the sort to never shirk responsibility, which is part of what makes him unique in the first place.

“Gareth [Southgate] owes us [Arsenal Family an apology]! And those senior England players should be ashamed! They must develop some balls!”

Bolo has further condemned the racial abuse on social media aimed at Saka, Rashford, and Sancho after they failed to convert their penalties

“I pity these young players; only God knows what they are going through right now,” Bolo wrote on her Twitter handle.

“I'm truly baffled as to why the Premier League was at the forefront of the Black Lives Matter campaign, but now these fantastic players are being targeted by racists. Racism is very much alive and well in England!”

Already, the Football Association has condemned the act and said in a statement: "We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team."

"We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible.

"We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore the government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real-life consequences.

"Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse."

Gareth Southgate has reiterated the need for a period of reflection to be taken in on the back of England's Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy, but he is hoping to lead the Three Lions at the 2022 World Cup.

His current contract is due to take in that tournament, but fresh terms have been mooted for a man that has put a success-starved nation within touching distance of long-awaited international honours.

After reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Nations League, an appearance in a first European Championship final has the Football Association keen to put an extension in place.

What has been said?

Southgate is reluctant to speculate on a new deal, as opinion can shift quickly in professional football, but he is looking to take in at least one more shot at elusive silverware.

The 50-year-old told reporters when asked again about his future on the back of penalty shootout pain against Italy: "I don't think now is an appropriate time to think about anything.

"We have got to qualify for Qatar but I need some time to go away and watch the game and reflect on the whole tournament, I need a rest.

"It is an amazing experience but to lead your country in these tournaments takes its toll and I need a break now. 

"I said at the time it is great to have that internal support, you greatly value that as a manager.

"I don't want to commit to anything longer than I should and I don't want to outstay my welcome so all of those things need consideration.

"I want to take the team to Qatar, I feel we have made progress over the four years, we have had a fourth, a third and a second-placed finish and that is as good as anyone."

Will football ever come home?

England's wait for international glory is now extending beyond the 55-year mark, with a World Cup triumph in 1966 remaining the only entry on their roll of honour.

Southgate is, however, convinced that steps are being taken in the right direction and has pointed to the recent success enjoyed by others as an example of how challenges can be overcome en route to landing ultimate prizes.

He added: "Most teams that win, France went through what we’re feeling now in 2016. Spain did it before they won. It’s normally part of the process you have to go to. 

"The fact we’ve had the first signs of some consistency - semi-final, final - that has to be the right direction. 

"When you get so close it’s more painful of course. It feels like my stomach’s been ripped out this morning. But I know that is the process we have to go through, and England have to keep that track going, whoever’s here, whoever’s at the FA."

Further reading

Gor Mahia coach and former Kenya international Sammy Omollo has given Kaizer Chiefs no chance of defeating Al Ahly in the Caf Champions League final in Casablanca, Morocco on Saturday.

Amakhosi defied the odds to go all the way and made it to the final of the annual competition. They are playing the Red Devils who are aiming at winning their 10th continental title while for the South Africans, this is their first-ever final in the competition.

The tactician is expecting an entertaining game but believes Chiefs have absolutely no chance of winning.

Why will Amakhosi lose against the Red Devils?

"Chiefs are just lucky to have made it to the Champions League final," Omolo told Goal on Monday.

"I am not seeing them defeating Al Ahly at all, they are going to lose because of several factors. They are playing against Pitso Mosimane, their own, someone who understands their game and South African football inside out, so he definitely knows how to stop them.

"Another vital factor is the Chief's defence. It is shaky and inconsistent. Yes, they kept a clean sheet in the semis against Wydad Casablanca, but their back four is generally weak. It cannot stop the defending champions from getting the crown."

Will the 'underdog' tag work in favour of Chiefs?

"From what I have seen in my years against opponents from Egypt, they usually don't underrate the opponents," Omollo continued.

"Al Ahly will for sure take the game with all the seriousness it deserves. And I am not taking anything away from Chiefs, they have given their best from the preliminaries to the final, but that is where it is going to end.

"They will pick their lessons and work harder, maybe, they can replicate their run next season but with enough quality to help them lift the trophy. In football, it is always about learning."

While Chiefs needed a 1-0 aggregate win to eliminate Wydad Casablanca in the semi-finals, Al Ahly defeated Esperance de Tunis 4-0 on aggregate to qualify for the final.

Further Caf Champions League final reading 

Jack Grealish has blasted back at those accusing him of not stepping up when England needed experience and cool heads in a Euro 2020 final penalty shootout with Italy.

The Three Lions, in their first international showpiece since 1966, saw a meeting with the Azzurri at Wembley Stadium go to spot-kicks after 120 minutes of action delivered a 1-1 draw.

Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all fluffed their lines, with questions being asked of why pressure was piled onto the shoulders of late substitutes and teenage stars.

What has been said?

Fingers have been pointed in Grealish's direction, as an attacking talent with more than enough ability to convert from 12 yards, but he claims to have volunteered when Gareth Southgate was looking for a list of five takers.

The Aston Villa captain has posted on social media: "I said I wanted to take one!!!! 

"The gaffer has made so many right decisions through this tournament and he did tonight!

"But I won’t have people say that I didn’t want to take a peno when I said I will."

The bigger picture

Grealish has never taken a penalty for Villa at senior level, but that is only because alternative options have always been favoured.

He is a confident character and would have backed himself to deliver on the grandest of sporting stages.

That opportunity was denied him, with England suffering a 3-2 defeat as Gianluigi Donnarumma proved to be a hero for Italy.

Jordan Pickford kept out two Italian penalties, but his efforts ultimately counted for nothing as the Three Lions saw 55 years of hurt extended towards next year's World Cup in Qatar.

Further reading

It has become a regular phenomenon that after every major penalty miss in football, legendary Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan is the topic of discussion on social media.

The latest such incident followed after England's shoot-out defeat to Italy at the 2020 European Championship on Sunday.

On home soil at Wembley, London, England suffered a big heartbreak in the final as they lost 3-2 on penalties, the match having ended 1-1 after extra-time.

The Manchester United duo of Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, as well as Arsenal youngster Bukayo Saka missed their kicks for the Three Lions, after Harry Kane and Harry Maguire had put England on the front foot.

For thousands of Ghanaians, England's penalty agony reminded them of the 2010 World Cup when lead striker Gyan spurned a last-minute penalty in extra-time against Uruguay, which would have sent the Black Stars to the semi-final of the global showpiece.

Indeed, a lot of similarities have been drawn between the two situations for banter.

Below are the best reaction:

A mural of England and Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford has been vandalised following the Three Lions' Euro 2020 final loss to Italy.

With the scoreline locked at 1-1 after extra time in Sunday's showpiece event, penalties were needed to decide the winner of the European Championship.

Italy won 3-2 on spot-kicks as Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka missed, with all three players subsequently targets of racial abuse from online trolls.

What happened to Rashford's mural?

In addition to the influx of hateful messages on social media, it has also been confirmed that artwork proudly depicting Rashford in Withington, Manchester was defaced after the game.

The Rashford mural was created by street artist Akse in partnership with community project Withington Walls, whose co-founder has expressed his disappointment.

Ed Wellard said of the vandalism that took place in the wake of England's first major final appearance since 1966: "I've come out to fix what I could immediately and cover up what I couldn't and hopefully we will get the artist out to come and fix it.

"We dared to dream yesterday and our hopes were dashed but to wake up to this is more depressing. Racism seems to be more and more prevalent."

The FA's response to racist abuse

The English football association has released a statement vowing to support Rashford, Sancho and Saka while calling on the government and social media companies to do more to stamp out online racism.

"We could not be clearer that anyone behind such disgusting behaviour is not welcome in following the team," the FA statement read. "We will do all we can to support the players affected while urging the toughest punishments possible for anyone responsible.

"We will continue to do everything we can to stamp discrimination out of the game, but we implore the government to act quickly and bring in the appropriate legislation so this abuse has real-life consequences.

"Social media companies need to step up and take accountability and action to ban abusers from their platforms, gather evidence that can lead to prosecution and support making their platforms free from this type of abhorrent abuse."

What else has been said?

Former England full-back and United legend Gary Neville has also been among those to condemn the abuse aimed at three of the Three Lions' most promising young stars.

Neville has even called out British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for failing to take the issue of racism in football seriously enough, telling Sky Sports: "The taking of the knee over the past month when the players tried to explain it to promote equality and be against racism was ridiculed by our top-ranking government officials.

"So when we get racial abuse after a football match at the end of a tournament, I expect it, unfortunately, because it exists and it's actually promoted by the prime minister.

"I knew the minute Bukayo Saka, Rashford and Sancho missed last night, I knew we'd be waking up this morning to headlines of racist abuse."

Further reading 

Witchcraft has been a central theme of African history long before colonisation as it resonates across all the continent’s facets of life, according to historians. Even at this, witchcraft or sorcery remains a nebulous concept to define because its meaning differs from one region to another.

Archaeologically, witchery entails the use of supernatural means to cause harm to the guiltless, but in the modern era, it has evolved to using mystic skills like the casting of spells and re-enactment of magical rites to reverse the status quo.

Astoundingly, this has found its way into the beautiful game as some football teams in Africa now rely on Muti, Juju or Otumakpo to influence the outcome of their matches or better still, complement their efforts.

From national teams down to club sides, football administrators and not forgetting the players; they have all been fingered for getting involved in the unholy act in one way or the other.

Now the question is, does witchcraft truly exist in African football or is it just a figment of imagination? 

Goal tries to explain it here!
 

What instances stressed the realism of magic in African football

In 2000, an official of the Nigeria Football Association was alleged to have scampered on the pitch to steal off with a charm that was placed in the back of Senegal’s net during Nigeria’s Afcon quarter-final match in Lagos.

His intervention 15 minutes from full-time ensured the Super Eagles scored two late goals courtesy of Julius Aghahowa to deny the Lions of Teranga from proceeding to the semi-final.

Before Cameroon squared up against Mali in the semi-final of the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations at the Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, handler of the Indomitable Lions Winfried Schafer and his goalkeeping coach, Thomas Nkono, were arrested by riot police for placing a charm on the pitch shortly before kick-off.

Two months after the competition, the Ivorian government settled a 10-year row with displeased witch doctors who revealed they had a hand in Cote d’Ivoire’s Afcon triumph in 1992. They were reported to have been hired by the Sports Minister at the time. In that year’s final, the Elephants overcame Ghana 11–10 on penalties after they played out a 0-0 draw after extra-time.

A video that went viral in 2015 showed Andre Ayew sprinkling a whitish substance on the field before his team took on Cote d’Ivoire in the Afcon final. Despite the act – which many claimed was Muti – Ghana ended up on the losing side.

A few years ago, the Rwandan Premier League encounter between Mukura Victory and Rayon Sports was flawed by claims of witchcraft. In a video footage made available on social media, striker Moussa Camara – whose team was down by a lone goal and missed several scoring chances – sprinted to the opponent’s goal to lean a small object against the goalpost.

He was chased by the goalkeeper and that led to the encounter getting stopped momentarily. After the restart, Camara scored the leveller but he was subsequently fined 100,000 Rwandan Francs, with the Rwandan FA threatening to impose stiffer punishment on any player caught taking part in witchcraft.
 

What footballers have said about witchcraft in African football?

No doubt, this subject has continued to generate contrasting opinions over the years. While some footballers - past and present - believe the use of juju works in football, others disapprove of that philosophy.

Former Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic believed black magic is real and not just a fantasy. He ascribed his team’s failure to win the 2012 Afcon due to his players who try to outshine one another using witchcraft.

Zimbabwe coach Zdravko Logarusic accused Cameroon of ‘witchcraft’ ahead of their 2020 African Nations Championship opener, which the Warriors lost 1-0. A photograph shared with Goal portrayed the Croat coach displaying the carcass of a bat, accompanied by a sign which reads ‘witchcraft in Cameroon’.

Former Nigeria international Peter Odemwingie disclosed that most African players believe more in juju treatment than going to see doctors when injured.

“At least 70% of players believe in it. They think that some kind of salve will save them. This is more suggestion. Brainwashing goes,” he told Championat per The Nation.

“But three years in Nigeria have been helpful to me. They called me to the Big League, and there my career developed much faster.”

Emeka Ezeugo once revealed that when he came to the Nigeria national team in 1987, there was juju everywhere with players hanging all sorts of amulets to get favour with the powers in their changing rooms.

Well, the debate about the place of witchcraft in African will obviously be an unending discourse. For Fifa and Caf, they seem not to believe in this ideology, little wonder they have remained silent on this over the years, and they have neither clamped down on those caught in the act nor reviewed this in the Laws of the Game.

Come to think of it, if charms, juju and muti truly exist in African football, why has it been a near-impossible task for an African team to get past the quarter-final of the World Cup since its inception?

Or could it be that teams from other continents have superior or advanced witchcraft?

Gary Neville has defended Gareth Southgate's "pragmatic" approach after England's Euro 2020 final defeat, insisting the head coach has "proved many of us wrong".

England missed the chance to win their first major tournament since the 1966 World Cup after losing on penalties to Italy in the European Championship final.

Luke Shaw gave the Three Lions an early lead in the Wembley showpiece but Leonardo Bonucci equalised for the Azzurri in the 67th minute before a goalless extra-time period and a dramatic shootout.

What's been said?

Former Manchester United and England defender Neville told Sky Sports : "I saw after the game people saying Southgate should have made more substitutions, these players should have taken the penalties; these are the same people who have been saying that he should have played a different system against Germany, that he should not have played Kieran Trippier against Croatia, that he should have played a more attacking system.

"I genuinely believe that Southgate and his players navigated their way to this final in the only way they could and that was to be a little more pragmatic - put the two holding midfield players in front of defence; if it needed to be a back five, it was because of the shape or quality of the other team.

"He found a way to get to the final. Sometimes we all like to be purists at times and want him to find a way to play all those attacking players but I don't think England would have got to the final if they had gone punch to punch with some of the nations they came across along the way.

"I think Gareth knew he had to play a certain way to get to the final and he did that. At the end, it comes down to small margins, details like penalties. This is not the time to be criticising tactics and substitutions.

"The reality is that Southgate has proved so many of us wrong - not just in this tournament but over the last two years - about decisions he has made - it would be a nonsense now to start suggesting we are right about substitutions and penalty takers when most of us have not seen this in our lifetimes."

England's Euro 2020 journey

England exorcised the demons of their 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat to Croatia by beating Zlatko Dalic's side 1-0 in their group-stage opener, before qualifying for the Round of 16 as Pool D winners after a 0-0 draw with Scotland and a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic.

Southgate's side then laid down a huge statement of intent by seeing off arch-rivals Germany 2-0 at Wembley, and followed up that result by thrashing Ukraine 4-0 in the last eight.

The Three Lions impressed once again to conquer Denmark after extra time in the semi-finals, but winning a maiden European crown ultimately proved to be beyond them as Italy produced a classy display in the final to land their second title.

What's next?

England will now have to dust themselves off ahead of the resumption of their latest World Cup qualifying campaign, with their next Group I outing against Hungary scheduled to take place on September 2.

Should the Three Lions reach Qatar 2022 as expected, they will once again be among the favourites for the most prestigious prize in international football after an encouraging four weeks which has seen the country unite behind Southgate and his exciting group of young stars.

Further reading