While many in England continue to mourn the loss, still more in Europe celebrate the win that appears to have extended beyond sport. Ahead of the final, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen pledged her support for Italy despite being a self-confessed 'Anglophile' who lived in London as a student. Her home team, Germany, were knocked out by England in a 2-0 defeat in the round of 16. At the time, the UK was in the process of departing the EU, and in a provocative statement, Jean-Claude Juncker's former spokesman Margaritis Schinas quipped: "Football is staying home in the European Union." Mr Schinas, who is now a European commissioner, told the European Parliament that he could not "personally" see the sense of the semi-finals and final being hosted in London.

Source: Express July 12, 2021 19:58 UTC