sport">From Three Lions face the tough task against Italy on Sunday evening to give their country the first top prize in 55 years. After the 1966 world title against arch-rival Germany, England is now for the first time in the final of a major football tournament. On their way to the European Championship final battle, they defeated the Germans 2-0, among others.
sport">Southgate emphasized the historic significance of reaching a new final at Wembely earlier in the week. “I think there are historical things that we should be proud of,” Southgate said. “There are different aspects to it, but in my heart I go back to the values my parents gave me: that you should treat people the way you want to be treated.
sport">“But there are also people who have tried to invade our country and we have had the courage to stop it. You can’t hide that part of the energy in the stadium against Germany came from that. I’ve never said it to the players, but I know it is,” Southgate said.
Joy to England’s players after knocking out Germany at the European Championship.
Ⓒ EPA
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sport">The German picture makes short shrift of those comments from Southgate and comes to me with a diatribe full of criticism. “It’s true: Nazi Germany started a dogfight over England in 1940/41 and wanted to bomb the island so that it would surrender. Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s iron will not only saved his own country, but also helped liberate Europe from Nazi criminals. He was rightfully named the greatest Briton of all time on a TV show a few years ago. As a reminder, Mr. Southgate: Churchill’s enemies were Hitler and Goering – not Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer.”
sport">picture isn’t the only one lashing out at Southgate. The Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung finds his statements ‘disgraceful’. Focus talks about a bizarre comparison that the English national team makes with the Second World War.
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