Fans slate ‘petulant’ and ‘disrespectful’ England stars for removing Euro 2020 runners-up medal

Fans slate ‘petulant’ and ‘disrespectful’ England players for removing their runners-up medals as soon as they were awarded them – with only SEVEN players keeping them on after their agonising Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy

  • The majority of England players took their runners-up medals off straight away
  • Fans watching on at home felt unimpressed by the gesture after defeat to Italy
  • Viewers said that it didn’t set a good example to any children watching on
  • England were agonisingly beaten on penalties by Italy in the final at Wembley 

The majority of the England squad have been labelled ‘petulant’ by unimpressed supporters for removing their runners-up medals after the Euro 2020 final defeat by Italy at Wembley.

The players were awarded their silver medals moments after their agonising penalty shoot-out defeat but almost all of them removed theirs as quickly as they were handed them by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

England manager Gareth Southgate kept his on, while seven other players in Jordan Pickford, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Aaron Ramsdale, Sam Johnstone, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson also didn’t remove theirs straight away.

The majority of England stars took their runners-up medals off as soon as they received them

Luke Shaw, who scored England's goal against Italy, promptly removed his silver medal

Luke Shaw, who scored England’s goal against Italy, promptly removed his silver medal 

England captain Harry Kane took his off straight away in the medal ceremony at Wembley

England captain Harry Kane took his off straight away in the medal ceremony at Wembley

But the rest of the England squad appeared to get rid of theirs as quickly as they could and fans watching on at home took to social media to criticise what they considered to be an unsporting reaction that didn’t set the best example.

‘What is it with the England players removing their runners up medals!? How disrespectful! Be an example to youngsters and show some humility!’ one fan wrote on social media.

Another said: ‘I really don’t get why England players took off the medals so quickly and dismissively. Bad vibe x sport. They played well throughout the tournament. Period.’

A different viewer said that the sort of reaction loses England fans from other British nations, writing: ‘Taking the medals off is EXACTLY why the rest of the UK don’t support England.’

But some supporters liked the response by England. One said: ‘I personally cheered those England players removing their silver medals.’

Many football fans watching on at home were left unimpressed with some of the players

Many football fans watching on at home were left unimpressed with some of the players 

One supporter watching on said that he cheered the England players who took their medal off

One supporter watching on said that he cheered the England players who took their medal off

England fell to an agonising defeat on penalties on Sunday night, with Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford failing to score from the spot.

The final had started perfectly for England, with left-back Luke Shaw firing home from close range in only the second minute of the game.

But Italy fought their way back into the tie and Leonardo Bonucci poked home to equalise midway through the second half. 

England manager Gareth Southgate kept his medal on in the aftermath of the ceremony

England manager Gareth Southgate kept his medal on in the aftermath of the ceremony

Jadon Sancho walked away with his medal in his hands in the aftermath of the bitter defeat

Jadon Sancho walked away with his medal in his hands in the aftermath of the bitter defeat

Sancho, Rashford and Saka were all late substitutes, brought on with penalties in mind and England boss Southgate took responsibility for selecting which players took their spot-kicks, saying: ‘It is down to me.

‘I decided on the penalty-takers based on what they have done in training.

‘Nobody is on their own. We have won together as a team and it is on all of us together to not be able to win this game.

‘In terms of penalties, it is my call and it totally rests with me.’