Lothar Matthaus
Germany legend Lothar Matthaus says England fans ‘deserved’ the trauma of their penalty shootout heartbreak in the Euro 2020 final.
The Three Lions were unable to end their 55-year wait for a major trophy as they were beaten 3-2 on penalties by Italy, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka all missing from the spot after Leonardo Bonucci’s equaliser had cancelled out Luke Shaw’s second-minute strike.
It was a devastating way for Gareth Southgate’s side to lose with players and supporters left in tears after the shootout. But Matthaus, who won the 1980 European Championship and 1990 World Cup with Germany, had little sympathy.
The former Bayern Munich star was adamant that defeat in the cruellest manner was nothing less than what England fans deserved following their behaviour throughout the tournament.
“English fans were hostile to the little girl in the Germany jersey,” Matthaus wrote in SportBild.
“They were whistling the opposing national anthems.
“Denmark’s goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was blinded with a laser during a penalty that Raheem Sterling dived to get in the semi-finals.
“Add to that the racist hostility towards their own players after the final. Dear Englishmen, that was unsportsmanlike behaviour that we did not know from you and never want to see again.
“So, sorry for the players but you deserve the trauma after the final was lost on penalties.”
Matthaus’ comments about the German supporter refer to an image of a young girl who was seen crying at Wembley after England’s victory in the last 16.
With the Three Lions 2-0 up going into injury time of the last 16 tie, cameras picked out the distraught young girl in the crowd, who had to be comforted by her father.
The image was widely shared on social media with many posting abusive, xenophobic comments.