Daily Recco, July 12: When England won the football finals
The Euro Championship 2020 ended yesterday in a heartbreaking finish for the crowd at Wembley as England came up short in the finals against Italy.
Italy won the European Championship for the first time since 1968. Gianluigi Donnarumma saved two England penalties en route to a 3-2 shootout win after the teams had fought out a 1-1 extra-time draw at an overenthusiastic stadium last night. For England, this match meant all the more since it was their first major final since they won the World Cup 55 years ago.
However, football in England has not always been this gloomy. Most of us might not have even thought of when England basked in the glory of being crowned world champions. But those who were around would not forget the moment easily.
For the English, it was their spotlight moment and they still reminisce the moment with proud nostalgia. For generations of fans, it is a part of their bedtime lore as the parents and grandparents would recount how the team under Alf Ramsey beat West Germany.
For those who didn’t, the documentary How England Won the 1966 World Cup is a good place to start. It was made to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the World Cup.
A moving film for fans, it has interviews with the 10 players of that momentous match, who were alive in 2006. Narrated by Sean Bean, the movie presents a complete overview of the tournament even as it details the journey of the English team.
As the English mourn (yet another) loss, this is a good way for the fans to reconnect with England’s solo triumph with a sense of hope that they would get to see another such glory in their lifetime. The movie is available on YouTube.