Well the finals will be played later in the evening between England and Italy and it promises
to be a cracker. But this match will also be interesting for other reasons. The
English Premier league is followed with great passion around the world and that
facts holds good in Goa too. The wins and losses of teams like Manchester
United, City, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur to name just a few can excite and
generate much comment on digital platforms. English teams have also won the
Champions League on several occasions. That success has however eluded the
national team for a while. Fifty five years to be precise. They now have a
chance to win another title when they meet a canny Italian team. For the fans
of English football the relationship with the national team is much more
complicated.
Carlson Gonsalves a passionate football
fan said it was not the norm to support the English team even if one supported
an English club. He however admitted there was a lot of hate since the start of
the tournament. He said “As an English fan for a number of years the fact that
we’ve made a major final after 55 years is fantastic. I hope we can emulate the
likes of Charlton and Hurst and win our first ever European Championship. It
will be a really tough game against an Italian team which has been on the up
since failing to qualify for the World Cup in 2018. We need to be wary of their
threat and take our opportunities well in the finals. Hope the best team wins.
Come on England”.
Timothy Lobo a restaurateur and passionate football fan said he
followed the EPL but did not follow any specific team. He said “I enjoy good
football and appreciate a good game played by anyone. On the international
front I follow the travails of the Dutch team. Yes they love to make it hard
for themselves. With regards the English, no, I usually support any team,
playing against them. They are an arrogant lot prone to lecturing the world. I
hope the Italians win it in style. I hope it goes to Rome.”
Omi Omkar a musician from Vasco-Da-Gama said with both his
pre-tournament favorites Belgium and France eliminated, it would be a neutral
watch for him and many others. He said “Many fans know the English team very
well due to the popularity of the EPL, but I would still want Italy to take the
trophy to Rome as they have looked more convincing than England in the
tournament. In addition I hate how the English fans have been disrespecting the
national anthems of their opponents their behavior after their semi-final win
against Denmark. I hope the trophy doesn’t “Dive” its way home”.
Juvot D Costa of Sao Jose De Areal had a more nuanced take on
why he felt England would win. He said “I am not a fan of England but I do
support the EPL from where most of the players in the squad come from. I
support the efforts they have put into taking them to the finals. That’s the
only reason I am backing them.”
Conal Lobo a Goan who lives in Mumbai said he would not support
the English because of the poor behavior of its fans. He said “They are English
for heaven’s sake, can be very tedious and pompous. They think they have the
right to comment on anything or everything. Of course it does not apply to
them. Look at how they won the semi finals and kept quiet about it. Hypocrites,
that’s what they are.” He hoped the Italians would show them who boss was at
Wembley.
The
final will certainly be a very competitive affair and one can only hope the
best team wins.
