Angry England Fans Racially Abuse Black Players for Losing Euro 2020: ‘Cost Us the Game’

© Photo by FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images England’s coach Gareth Southgate (L) speaks with England’s midfielder Bukayo Saka during the UEFA EURO 2020 final football match between Italy and England at the Wembley Stadium in London on July 11, 2021.

Bukayo Saka is one of the youngest footballers to ever play in the European Championships. On Sunday, he carried the weight of England on his shoulders as the world watched him try to tie the championship match and extend it.

His shot was blocked on England’s final attempt, and Italy won the 2020 Euro, 1-1, after shootout kicks with a 3-2 advantage.

Saka now faces backlash because of his skin color, as do other teammates who are either black or brown and missed shootout kicks.

The game was 1-1 through 90 minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of extra play. Despite two hours of stalemate, it went to a shootout from the penalty kicks area.

Each team would get five, alternating shots at the goal, and England took a 2-1 lead after two shots per team. England’s two goals were made by Harry Kane and Harry Maguir, a pair of white males. Their next three shots were taken by darker-skinned teammates—Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Saka. Sancho and Saka’s shots were blocked by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Rashford’s clinked off the left upright of the goal and didn’t go in.

Euro 2020 Final England vs Italy: What You Need To Know

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Italy netted two goals in their final three shots to take their first Euro title since 1968.

After the game ended, English players gave comfort to Saka, who was born in the London area from Nigerian parents who moved to England as economic migrants. Fans on social media, and particularly in England, sounded off.

Then again, there are fans of all races who defended the players as well.

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