Euro Cup 2021: The Lions Roar Once More The Lions of England have reached the finals! On Sunday 11 July, England will face Italy in the UEFA European Football Championship final. This is the first final England has reached since 1966. I’m not a sports-minded person but even I will be watching. England hosted the European Cup back in 1996, in the days of players like Alan Shearer and Gazza Gascoigne. Despite living in the beleaguered north of England at the time, there was optimism all around me. Due to my work schedule, I never saw a match but I was nonetheless swept along. Part of this was due to hearing “Three Lions” (Football’s Coming Home) everywhere. Only now do I wonder about the song and the kit that inspired it. (“Three Lions” refers to the England national team’s badge.)