Harry Maguire wears a New England uniform with a multi-colored St. George's Cross on the collar, causing an uproar. Photo: Getty Images/Mark Leach
This glamorous friendship was in many ways a tribute to Terry Venables. It was his image that graced the cover of the program, and it was his career that served as inspiration for the tender video montage in anticipation of the start of the program. Wembley on a Saturday night is not usually a place for quiet reflection on mortality and loss. But at the first mention of Venables, whose family were there to witness the moving memorial, a reverent silence fell over the stadium. It was as if the very reminder of the former England manager and his boys from 1996 transported the crowd back to another, less challenging era.
“Oh Terry, Terry,” they began chanting to the same tune Barmy Cricket Reserve Army did for James Anderson. El Tel: there was a man who immediately recognized the St. George Cross when he saw it. In fact, one of the photos chosen to show the highlights on the giant screen shows Venables posing next to Gareth Southgate, holding that unmistakable red and white logo. Twenty-eight years ago, expressions of English patriotism rarely included the symbolic colors blue or purple.
After all, it was under Venables that the chorus of the Three Lions resounded across the country. And it was during his reign that English uniforms were still produced by Umbro, a company so undeniably English that the trade began a century ago in the back room of a Cheshire pub. But since then, globalization has changed the shades of national loyalties. And now that England have handed over their kit design to Nike, 5,000 miles away in Beaverton, Oregon, they are plunged headlong into a PR nightmare of a multi-colored cross whose main stated purpose is to ruin history.
- < li>England's controversial kit debuted at Wembley
It is clear that Southgate is irritated by this interlude. As the linchpin of the Class of 1996, he is keenly aware that the cross dreamed up by West Coast marketers has about as much in common with England's patron saint as a hologram. But he grits his teeth and continues, already accustomed to the pre-tournament absurdities that attack him in this impossible task. «I was far from my concentration,» he said of the flag furore as his England players warmed up. This was the company's firm position, but it was difficult to believe given that the Prime Minister had already commented on the issue.
Even by the standards of his seven-and-a-half tumultuous years as manager, the prelude to this summer's European Championships seems unusually ominous. When he's not forced to ridicule the works of Banksy and Reuben Dangoor at press conferences, he's distracted by a catalog of bizarre sagas, from Ben White's self-imposed absence from the England squad to the decisions of Tottenham and Newcastle to quit the England squad. play a match in Australia just a month before the start of a potentially crucial major tournament.
England fans show their passion for the traditional St. George's Cross before the start of the match. Photo: Reuters/Peter Ciborra
Add in the injury to Harry Kane, whose fitness is as much a national prayer as David Beckham's metatarsal once was, and you can see why even Southgate's Jove-like patience is being tested. The disappointment is compounded by the fact that the signs on the field are as encouraging as ever. England boast the Bundesliga's best player, Kane, and La Liga's brightest talent, Jude Bellingham. Add to that the presence of Phil Foden — so gifted that even Pep Guardiola, the mentor of one Lionel Messi, calls him the best player he has worked with — and you can see why they are not easily tagged as Euro 2024 favourites.
Not that this game against Brazil was a clear confirmation of this statement. England have created a curious patchwork here, from Bellingham's rich brushstrokes in midfield to Ben Chilwell's loose brushstrokes at left-back. Such is the curse of these March friendlies. As nice as it was to see a player of Vinicius Jr's caliber at Wembley, he frankly looked more interested in saving himself for Real Madrid's Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City than in a full game against England in a match that has no special consequences.
At least Endric, who is poised to become Real Madrid's next superstar at the age of 17, has the decency to step up to the plate. Nine minutes after coming on, he delivered a precious burst of electricity, taking advantage of Vinicius' save to punish England's wastefulness. With the teenager being compared to Pele and Ronaldo, you can understand why thousands of Brazilian fans were furious. For the 80,000 fans at home, it was more of a collective sigh. Yes, England had put together a 15-month unbeaten run dating back to the World Cup in Qatar, but the game highlighted some familiar defensive weaknesses, with Chilwell and Harry Maguire particularly suspect.
Southgate naturally considered the evening well spent. With so few chances to referee the entire England squad ahead of the tournaments, he did get some insight into Anthony Gordon's potential as Kane's understudy. He also learned that Conor Gallagher was still a long way from being in the starting lineup. And the best thing was that he could entertain himself with something other than questions about the St. George's Cross.
One day he will remember his time in this job as the period when he fought the most difficult of the culture wars. Fans who unfurled a mosaic of red and white flags during the God Save the King performance expressed the idea that it was better to keep things simple in England.
Controversial England kit debuted at Wembley
By Ben Rumsby
England debuted their new £125 home kit at a packed Wembley at the end of nearly a week of rows over the multi-coloured St. George's Cross.
The Three Lions showed up for a pre-European Championship friendly match against Brazil wearing a Nike jersey that has sparked a major riot since its unveiling on Monday.
They did so in front of members of the Euro 96 squad, who, according to David Seaman, the team's goalkeeper, would have refused to wear the offensive kit the day before.
He apparently intended to include the current England squad in the squad . manager Gareth Southgate, who also said that the controversial motif of the tape cannot be called the St. George's Cross.
The England squad will face Brazil at Wembley wearing a controversial new kit. The 'reimagined' St George's Cross on New England's shirt collar has caused huge controversy Photo: Reuters/Peter Ciborra
Before kick-off, fans held up cards that together formed a in the stands there is a huge Cross of St. George.
Seaman was invited to Saturday's friendly in honor of Terry Venables, along with the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Alan Shearer.
The Wembley match was England's first since since former coach Venables died in November at the age of 80 after a long illness.
Seaman, Gascoigne and Shearer were in Venables' team that reached the Euro 96 semi-finals. final almost 28 years ago, losing to Germany on penalties.
The Football Association invited them to attend a memorial ceremony in the Wembley Suite before the game with Brazil and watch the match from the Royal Box.
There were also plans to recognize the recent defeats of Stan Bowles and Ron Baynham, as well as Brazilian player and World Cup-winning coach Mario Zagallo. Both pairs of players wore black armbands.
Venables was hailed as «the most technically gifted British coach» in history during a memorial ceremony to mark his death four months ago.
In his tribute To his former manager, Southgate said: “He was open-minded, forward-thinking, enjoyed life to the fullest and created a brilliant atmosphere in England that allowed his players to flourish and produce one of the most memorable tournaments in England's history. A brilliant man who made people feel special.»
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