![]() It is a view echoed by figures from Gary Neville, who memorably intervened from his ITV pundit position following Wednesday’s semi-final victory against Denmark by pointedly contrasting England’s footballing leadership with its “poor” political variety, and by a leading US pollster, Frank Luntz. At the same time, Alistair Campbell, the staunchly Scotland-supporting former Number 10 key aide to Tony Blair, announced he was temporarily lending his support to England for what remained on Euro 2020 solely on the basis of his admiration for the coach.īut the fact remains that the “Dear England” letter was also a cri de coeur largely unthinkable of any of Southgate’s predecessors – and as a result the England manager has attained the rare accolade of being mentioned in the same breath as, if not ahead of, his most storied on-field stars. One unnamed Tory advisor accused the England manager of being an example of “deep Woke” and suggested the essay was “suspiciously well-written”. It is a stance which has won Southgate plaudits and brickbats. The England manager added: “On this island, we have a desire to protect our values and traditions – as we should – but that shouldn’t come at the expense of introspection and progress.” Referring to his players, Southgate suggested “it’s their duty to continue to interact with the public on matters such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice”. ![]() ![]() Without specifically referring to the “taking the knee” debate surrounding his players, Southgate’s “Dear England” essay set out the case for a natural, inclusive cohabitation between champions of tradition – he spoke not for the first time of his admiration for his grandfather, a former Royal Marine who fought in the Second World War – and those, including himself, who believe football cannot isolate itself from the stresses and strains of society. In a startling intervention for an England manager, a cohort not previously known for the profundity of its insights beyond the relative merits of a 3-5-2 formation, Southgate singlehandedly shifted the socio-political dial by penning his remarkable 1,700-word open letter at the start of the tournament setting out with studied candour his views on the nature of patriotism. Retailers and the hospitality industry expect Euro 2020 to generate a £10bn windfall as the feelgood factor drives spending in shops and pubs. Previous studies have shown that the euphoria of footballing victory leads to a fall in violent crime and, at least in Germany and Iceland, an increase in the birth rate nine months after a sporting triumph. A national happiness tracker compiled by YouGov has shown an uptick since the beginning of the knock-out phase of the tournament.Ī more sobering metric is the fact that domestic violence increases when England play during major football tournaments, regardless of the result.īut there is perhaps a subtler dividend to be collected from England’s success. As correctly identified by diviners of the popular mood from Atomic Kitten to at least one Tory strategist struggling with the notion that a footballer can be eloquent, it is impossible to separate this cohesive, adept and multi-cultural side and the buzz it has created from the 50-year-old philosopher coach who built it. It is certainly healthy for both the economy and, with one grim exception, well-being. Kerry has often spoken out about her feud with the other members, previously admitting she’d be ‘really hurt’ if Jenny featured in a reunion without her.Atomic Kitten’s Southgate song lyrics: How words to ‘Whole Again’ were changed to mark England Euros run Whole Again was Atomic Kitten’s fifth single from their debut album and their final one to feature Kerry after she quit the band. ![]() The group disbanded in 2004, but reunited in 2012. The band rose to fame, along with fellow members Kerry Katona and Natasha Hamilton, after forming in 1998. Within hours of its release, the new version of Whole Again had climbed into the top 30 on iTunes and received a massive reaction on social media.
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