Why did the England players put medals on and then take them off?

[Opalfeet]

I'm intrigued 🤔

We did bloody well to get to the final and did well against a team who was unbeaten for 33 games. I wish we could just enjoy the moment rather than all the self-flagellation that seems to be going on this morning.

Well said @Bustarold

Perhaps because they knew the vile and disgusting abuse they were about to be subjected to for losing, especially the black players who missed the penalty.

This is why we need to get rid of the sore losers mentality though.
Yes they’re bound to feel like crap but if they showed that they felt that they played well and that 2nd place is still an achievement then the fans will also feel the same and there would be less abuse.

How some England ‘fans’ think it’s ok to abuse their teams players just because they came 2nd place is beyond me.
But by some PPs I can see where they get this attitude from that they either win or they’re complete failures which i think is ridiculous as someone has to lose.

Also it really annoys me that you can’t even mention that England isn’t 100% perfect without being called anti-English or English bashing!
I am English and I fully support England and wanted them to win but I can still call out their behaviour if I think it’s wrong just like I would be if Italy lost and did the same thing.

We seriously need to stop this attitude of becoming overly defensive if you think someone is bad mouthing your team (when they’re probably not) as we know the statistics for DV after their team loses and it’s because of these kind of attitudes.

No it isn't. These are grown men in a very privileged position. They're surrounded by the best coaches, trainers, psychologists etc money can buy. If they choose to behave ungraciously I think they can and should expect a bit of criticism.

Ungracious in your eyes. Not mine. There absolutely can be some ungracious acts (as in any sport), but this isn't one. Removing losers medals is ubiquitous in football. It's an accepted practice and not considered disrespectful by anybody who participates in the sport.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

They should show they are the bigger men by keeping them on

But they're not "bigger men" - like so many footballers, here and elsewhere, they're a bunch of overpaid, petulant prima donnas

At least other nations' teams occasionally win a major tournament though ...

lovely backhanded jibe there....bit unnecessary the morning after.

The racist abuse is by racists looking to choose any high profile person to hurl their vitriol at.
It's not about football, never was. It's racists being racists. Precisely the same types of idiots who threaten violence on politicians, or leading public figures when the have a different point of view, or those who'll threaten sexual or physical abuse at women via Twitter et al.

It really isn't football that needs to address this, it's society.

toocold54, wow! I have no words

@BorderlineHappy it really isn’t. Pretty much the whole country, bar a few miserable people, were and are behind them.

The hatred on this thread is vile, goodbye

How are we meant to teach our children about not being sore losers when they won’t accept 2nd place.

///

Actually, this is absolutely our job to do. Not footballers. Use it as a chance to have a conversation. If your kid grows up to be a sore loser at sport that's on you, not someone like Marcus Rashford, who on balance has shown himself to be an excellent role model over the last few months.

I mean all the kicking them when they're down etc. It's all a bit dramatic. I'm not there, I have no impact on their lives...its just a post on Mumsnet. I'm amazed it's a thing and I would have said it about any team doing it. It's just I noticed tonight.

/////

Do you know how social media platforms work? It's not just you it's millions saying this. All at once. After the night they've had.

I'm sure you'd cope with such criticism admirably though.

@Restawhile

It’s not because they are sore losers , it’s to show they won’t accept being second best, that they want to aim to win next time rather than excepting ‘ their place ‘ is a runner-up.

Isn't that the very definition of a sore loser?

@Bustarold

What a petty, heartless thread about very young men, some of them teenagers, who have shown incredible dignity, maturity and intelligence. Unfortunately, it was obvious that all the adulation for the last few days was fake and "fans" would turn on them if they lost. They have suffered appalling racist abuse and they have behaved with dignity throughout. I am so sad for those boys. Disgusting.

Exactly.

Some just love to bring others down. It says more about the posters than it does about the young men who did their best. They are shouted at, abused, spat at and daily rubbish written about them.

Build people up and stopping putting others down. Putting others down doesn't actually make you any better. Shame on those that do it.

Omg are people really comparing wimbledon to football? Tennis is a middle class sport that very few working class kids ever have a chance to compete in. It's expensive and exclusive! Football is one of the few sports that anyone good enough can do well in! As for the racist abuse suffered by these players, it's absolutely disgusting! The people who dish out this sort of abuse are not "fans" but simply morons who turn on the team at the drop of a hat! Remember when David Beckham was sent off in the world cup? These arseholes were burning effigies of him!

And as many posters have said, at an elite level second counts for nothing.

Boo-ing other teams national anthems
Boo-ing every time the Italians had the ball
Invading the pitch
Racially abusing team members
Where I live, making small children afraid to wear the colours of their (non England) team in the street

It isn’t the team I am ashamed of.

And how fucking Boris etc can cite this sort of internationally embarrassing behaviour as bringing the country together, I don’t know.

Well done those young players. I can’t imagine my 19 yo under that sort of pressure.

The players were magnificent for the entire tournament, held an incredible Italian team to the final moments, brought fans together and were brilliant role models. And still, people are screaming at them for doing something which is commonly done by footballers of every nation. It’s been explained to you why they do it and you still persist in slagging them off.

@ForgedInFire

They congratulated Italy and accepted their medals, they didn't stomp off of the pitch like toddlers. I wouldn't call them sore losers, just young men who were deeply disappointed. Maybe we could show them some grace and understanding instead of judging them

Yep.

The rush to criticise is dreadful to see. There is something lacking in a person that seeks to put others down, criticise constantly. They did extremely well. Only 1 team can win. Imagine the pressure they are under. The high standards of fitness and training to take part at the highest level in sport. I hope they are able to ignore the horrible comments, racism, and jealously displayed by others today and going forward. Hold the heads high.

I’m not English, so take this as you will - but if you want your team to do better, if you want to be fans - then maybe actually support them

Yeah, I agree with this. A thread on mn about medals might be the least of their worries (anyone seeing a fraction of the racist tweets being directed at them - abhorrent stuff - would see that) but also, it is another picking apart of their actions.

There's a difference between a supportive message that says "we're proud of you for getting those medals" and one that says "you're just sore losers".

Professional sportsmen who have had to excel at every point in their lives in order to get into the England team. They acquitted themselves brilliantly on the pitch and brilliantly off the pitch. They have brought the nation together in a way that’s completely unprecedented. And that’s still not enough for you.

I agree with this too. Especially the off pitch bit. I cannot remember ever having a national men's football team, before this one, that is NOT also plastered all over the headlines for off pitch behaviour (gorup sex, drinking, prostititutes, drugs etc). In my eyes, this team are a shining example to kids and young sports competitors everywhere.

We seriously need to stop this attitude of becoming overly defensive if you think someone is bad mouthing your team (when they’re probably not) as we know the statistics for DV after their team loses and it’s because of these kind of attitudes.

Ignorant. Utterly ignorant.
It's not footballing attitudes that increase DV, it's attitudes to violence, particularly towards women, the consumption of alcohol and predominantly male aggression that causes DV.
Correlation does not equal causation. DV increases with alcohol consumption, unemployment, gambling, drug use and more.

I suspect what you were 'trying' to say was that the inability to handle defeat is an example of male behaviour's general inability to deal with negative emotions, and that can ultimately manifest itself in depression, violence, erratic behaviour and more.

@Hdhdjejdj

The players were magnificent for the entire tournament, held an incredible Italian team to the final moments, brought fans together and were brilliant role models. And still, people are screaming at them for doing something which is commonly done by footballers of every nation. It’s been explained to you why they do it and you still persist in slagging them off.

I know strange isn't it. Petty and pretty pathetic behaviour actually by MN who one would assume are a few years older than the footballers. Sad people on here, lacking in something

MN never misses a chance to put the boot in. If they’d won someone would have found something to criticise.

@megletthesecond

It's a bit rude.

Yes and not a good example to set many, many children who idolise footballers.

@Blossomtoes

MN never misses a chance to put the boot in. If they’d won someone would have found something to criticise.

Totally agree.

We did so well but instead someone has to look for something, anything to criticise. Some people just cannot help themselves.

They were gutted. Nothing more.

Hopefully once the disappointment fades, they will feel pride in getting to the finals. They carried us all on a high for the last few weeks.