Why virtues are more valuable than (vicarious) victory

“I’m not abusing black players because of their race, I’m just angry that they played shit, I’d do the same if they were white."

But does that make it ok? It's a phrase I've heard time and time again following an outpouring of anger and bitterness triggered by England's crushing defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final.

Heartbreak makes people say and do terrible things, however, abusing any person because you placed your hopes and dreams in the hands (or more appropriately, feet), of young men is perversely spoilt and entitled.

A loss became the justification for some English fans to turn on a team and manager who just days earlier were praised as being a team we could be proud of.

Whilst I too supported the team all month and felt disappointment after the final kick. Not for myself, but for the exceptional young men that had given their all and lifted the spirits of a divided nation that had been in the doldrums over the past year and a half.

It me made wonder how can anybody expect success from others so they can wear it as a badge of honour for themselves? "We will never get a better chance", said some, from the comfort of their homes.

How much do these same people demand from themselves? Have they worked hard and made sacrifices to reach the pinnacle of their profession? Better yet, did they accomplish it before the age of 30? Most haven't, which is why the convenient ease of vicarious victory has such a strong appeal.

To those people, I would say, if you have a desire for your country to be a nation of winners, perhaps start by striving for perfection yourself.

If winning by association is something that we desire, then the notion losing by association is equally applicable. The torrent of abuse was unnecessary, the racial harassment, abhorrent and utterly depressing. Whilst emotions can become uncontrollable at times, people need to pause and consider what good is done by sending out hateful and hurtful messages into the world?

This is a team of young men that we should be proud of beyond victory. We should show some empathy towards the players who had the weight of a nation on their shoulders and remind them of the old adage that if at first you don't succeed, try and try again.

England has always held winning in high regard, when in fact the character displayed in the pursuit of victory are more important in relation to how we want to be represented as a country.

Becoming the best is the culmination of talent harnessed with hard work, with a sprinkle of good luck. However, remaining at the top is finite and it is the admirable virtues of dignity, respect and compassion, all of which were shown by the England football team, that ultimately leaves lasting and impactful legacy on our nation.

I can’t ignore the racist abuse suffered by the black players no matter how few some people claim there to have been. It is abhorrent and we have to stride towards eradicating it completely if we are to progress as a nation. This goes beyond preventing people from spewing hateful messages on social media. It means adjusting our national psyche so we have a greater understanding of different backgrounds, religions, cultures and countries. It happens through communication and that means listening to others as much as it means speaking. You’ll have your turn to voice your opinion, but learning and understanding only comes through listening.