Fans have been calling for a Bank Holiday after the Euro 2024 final following England’s semi final victory over the Netherlands.
Fans are hopeful of a Bank Holiday the day after the Euro 2024 final after previous comments from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
England reached a second consecutive final under Gareth Southgate after Ollie Watkins’ last-gasp winner in the semi final against the Netherlands on Wednesday night.
The Dutch went 1-0 up early on through Xavi Simons’ superb strike but Harry Kane pulled England level following a controversial penalty decision.
Just when it looked like England were heading for extra time for the third game on the trot, Watkins latched on to a pass from fellow sub Cole Palmer and produced a stunning turn and finish to send England fans into raptures.
The Three Lions will now take on Spain in Sunday’s final in Berlin and there has been plenty of clamour to celebrate the achievement with a nice day off on the Monday.
Image: Getty
The New PM is a massive football fan and even had a secret code to let him know when England scored at a recent Nato summit in Washington, DC.
And there is hope that a Bank Holiday could be on the cards given in the past Starmer, prior to being on office – called for two England finals to result in a
“proper day of celebration”.
One was the Euro 2020 final at Wembley and the second being when the Lionesses triumphed against Germany in the Women’s Euro 2022 final.
“The whole country is incredibly proud of what Gareth Southgate and our England heroes have achieved already,” the 61-year-old told The Mirror in 2021.
“History has been made. If we win on Sunday, the country should get the chance to celebrate it properly with an extra bank holiday, granted in the name of the England team.”
Image: Getty
With Labour voted in following a landslide win over the Conservatives in the General Election, Starmer now has the power to make it happen.
However, he has stressed previously that there are financial concerns when it comes to making a Bank Holiday happen.
Speaking in April when asked about St George’s day, Starmer said: “I think that [a Bank Holiday] is both sentimental – in the sense of our history, our values our traditions – but, for me, bound up with that sense of service to our country.
“A bank holiday would be very nice but I think that, with the economy where it is at the moment, we have to celebrate in-and-around the work that we’re doing, because we need to absolutely take our country forward.
“What I want to do, if we’re privileged enough to come into government, is to have a government of service to the country and have a decade of national renewal – and that would fulfil St George’s Day’s promise.”
There has also been talk of both Southgate and Kane receiving knighthoods irrespective of Sunday’s result.
Southgate has an OBE, while Kane was awarded an MBE in 2019.
Paul Scholes Was ‘The Most Overrated English Footballer Of All Time’, Says Former Prem Player (an)
The former Birmingham City player also mentioned that Scholes failed to win a single vote for the Ballon d’Or prize.
Paul Scholes has been labelled the “most overrated English footballer of all time” by former Premier League midfielder Curtis Woodhouse.
The 42-year-old, who made three appearances in England’s top flight for Birmingham City during his two-year spell at St Andrews, has been vocal about Scholes on a number of occasions down the years.
Back in 2020, he pointed out that the former Manchester United midfielder failed to make a PFA Team of the Year during his career – but he did so on two occasions.
Curtis Woodhouse in action for Birmingham City against David Beckham at Old Trafford. Image credit: Alamy
He wrote: “Scholes ran that many games for Manchester United he was never ever ever ever voted into the PFA team of the year by the players he was running games against. Just let that sink in.”
“Scholes was never ever voted into the PFA team of the year. It’s voted for by the players of every team competing in the league that year. To be respected by your fellow professionals as the best is the highest accolade.
“Steven Gerrard holds the record of being voted in 8 times.”
Image credit: Alamy
Woodhouse continued: “He had Keane next to him, Giggs and Beckham either side and Yorke and Cole up top! Oh and Rio and Vidic behind him! Paul Scholes running games is a footballing myth that’s grown and grown since he retired.”
He also claimed Scholes retired from international football at 29 years of age because “he couldn’t get a game in his preferred position” of centre midfield.
“That position was occupied by the great Steven Gerrard and the very good Frank Lampard,” he added.
The age-old ‘Gerrard, Lampard or Scholes’ debate is a popular one on social media and Woodhouse, a former British light-welterweight champion, once again voiced his opinion on the latter on Sunday.
Ballon d'Or votes
Curtis Woodhouse 0
Paul Scholes 0
Steven Gerrard 220Facts don’t care about feelings @talkSPORT
— Curtis Woodhouse BEM (@curtiswoodhous8) June 12, 2022
He mentioned the fact that Scholes failed to win a single vote for the Ballon d’Or prize throughout his career.
“Paul Scholes didn’t receive a single vote for the Ballon d’Or in his entire career,” Woodhouse tweeted. “Not one person EVER voted for him. The most overrated English footballer of all time. Please end this debate.”
Liverpool legend Gerrard, who ranked above both Frank Lampard and Scholes in the overall Ballon d’Or voting table, received 220 votes throughout his career, while former Chelsea midfielder Lampard recorded 169.
Paul Scholes didn’t receive a single vote for the Ballon d'Or in his entire career. Not one person EVER voted for him. The most overrated English footballer of all time. Please end this debate.
Kind regards
Curtis Woodhouse BEM @talkSPORT ✅— Curtis Woodhouse BEM (@curtiswoodhous8) June 12, 2022
Paul Scholes ✅ https://t.co/rdoGfbieVA
— Curtis Woodhouse BEM (@curtiswoodhous8) June 12, 2022
Woodhouse once labelled Scholes’ former teammate Ryan Giggs as “unbelievably overrated” in another social media post.
“Ryan Giggs another unbelievably overrated Manchester United player,” he wrote. “Outstanding longevity but in a team that dominated for years and were a free scoring machine his statistics for goals and assists is awful.
“Another Manchester United myth, good player, never anything more.”
Paul Merson has bizarre theory on why Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon were picked over Jack Grealish (an)
Gareth Southgate’s squad selection has been called into question
Gareth Southgate’s decision to leave out Jack Grealish from England’s Euro 2024 squad has sparked debate after a lacklustre start to the tournament.
England currently sit top of Group C heading into their final group game against Slovenia on four points after beating Serbia but drawing with Denmark.
The 1-1 draw against Denmark in particular has brought into focus Southgate’s squad selection, with many ex-players suggesting the likes of Grealish and Marcus Rashford would have given England something they’re currently lacking.
Neither Cole Palmer or Anthony Gordon have played a single minute in the tournament so far after stellar club campaigns and Arsenal hero Paul Merson has an interesting theory as to why they were called up.
Questioned what the pair would be thinking on Jeff Stelling’s Football Greatest podcast, Merson suggested Southgate selected them both to avoid conflict over playing time.
“That’s why they’re there and Jack Grealish is not there,” Merson said. “I imagine Jack would be going mad now.
“I can’t imagine Gordon and Palmer saying anything, I just imagine them sitting there just saying to themselves ‘maybe I should be getting on’. I don’t see them saying anything to [Southgate].
“I can see a Jack Grealish going to Gareth ‘why am I not not playing?’
“He brings on Eze, who’s one of our most gifted players, to do a job. He’s running back.”
Merson also questioned Southgate’s substitutions and believes Palmer in particular should have been given the chance to impress.
Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon haven’t played a minute (Getty)
He added: “He puts Bowen on the other side. Bowen is alright if you want to keep a lead, if you’re winning like we were last week, we’re one-nil up, you put him out on the right, he’ll do what it says on the tin. He’ll get up and down. He’ll block crosses and get crosses in.
“But you don’t put him on to go and win a game in my opinion. There are horses for courses.
“You’ve got to put Palmer on, he’s scored 20 goals this season. He can play with that bit of flair. Eze gets on and doesn’t touch the ball. There’s no plan.
“I’d play Watkins but I’d have to keep Kane in the team. I’d have to find a way. You’ve got to keep world-class players on the football pitch.”
England face Slovenia at 8pm on June 25.
