THE defeat of the England men’s team in the ultimate of Euro 2024 on Sunday has prompted prayers and commiserations from the country’s two archbishops.
After the sport, which Spain won 2-1, the Archbishop of Canterbury wrote on social media that he was praying for the England manager, Gareth Southgate, and the entire team.
“Despite the result, you might have won something nobody can take away: our deepest admiration, and a spot within the history books.” He added: “Congratulations to Spain in your victory and a beautiful tournament.”
The Archbishop of York also shared commiserations to England and congratulations to Spain, writing on social media that the England team “can rightly be pleased with all they’ve achieved and in the way in which they’ve lifted the hearts of the nation, reaching their second Euros final in a row”.
Other senior churchmen concurred, though the previous Bishop of Willesden, the Rt Revd Pete Broadbent, was more succinct: “We must be used to it by now. But it still stinks.”
The Bishop of Sheffield, Dr Pete Wilcox, focused on congratulating Spain, saying that he was pleased for his or her fans, and that they were “definitely one of the best team within the tournament” — a position on which most pundits agreed.
Dr Wilcox paid tribute to the England team, though, for “some great moments”, after they progressed from the round of 16 due to a last-minute equaliser and an extra-time winner, and got to the semi-final due to a penalty shoot-out victory over Switzerland.
The England men’s team have now lost two successive European Championship finals, losing on penalties in 2021 (News, 14 July 2021). The 12 months after, nevertheless, the ladies’s team became the primary England team since 1966 to say a significant trophy by winning Euro 2022 (News, 1 August 2022).
In the immediate aftermath of the match, the King sent a message to Mr Southgate, “urging you and your support team to carry your heads high”.
Reaching the ultimate was was “a very great achievement in itself, and one which brings with it the pride of a nation which can proceed to roar for the Three Lions today — and in the various triumphs which I actually have little doubt lie ahead,” he wrote.
Before Sunday’s final, the Archbishops released a video message by which they contrasted their interest in football.
“I’m really not a sporty person, and for one reason or one other I don’t watch sport,” Archbishop Welby said; but “the whole lot modified” when England got into the ultimate. “I kind of get as close as I dare to saying to God he must know the fitting answer for this one, and will he please carry it out, but I expect the Spanish are doing the identical.”
Archbishop Cottrell, meanwhile, admitted: “I spend far an excessive amount of of my life fascinated by football, watching football, dreaming about football, still hoping for a call up myself.”
“I’m a believer,” he said, predicting — perhaps more in hope than expectation — that England would win 4 or five nil, and that it might “all be over by half-time”.
In the event, it was 0-0 at half time, but Spain took the lead soon after the break. A Cole Palmer strike brought the scores level, but Spain won the sport with an 86th-minute goal.
