LONDON All day, there had been noise. The songs had started early in the morning, as the first few hundred fans appeared on Wembley Way, flags fluttering from their backs. They had echoed through the afternoon, as first tens and then a hundred thousand more had joined them, as shattered glass crunched underfoot.
The songs started as soon as the train doors opened at the Wembley Park underground station, the paeans to Gareth Southgate and Harry Maguire, the renditions of Three Lions and Sweet Caroline, and they grew louder as the stadium appeared on the horizon, until it seemed as if they were emanating from the building itself.
Inside, the noise rang around, gathering force as it echoed back and forth when it seemed England was experiencing some sort of exceptionally lucid reverie: when Luke Shaw scored and the hosts led the European Championship final inside two minutes and everything was, after more than half a century, coming home.
There was noise as Italy scrapped and clawed its way back, taming Englands abandon and wresting control of the ball, Leonardo Bonuccis equalizer puncturing the national trance. That is what happens when individual nerves bounce around and collide with tens of thousands more nerves: the energy generated, at some atomic level, is transformed and released as noise.
There was noise before extra time, Wembley bouncing and jumping because, well, what else can you do? There was noise before the penalty shootout, the prospect that haunts England more than any other. It was a day of noise. It has been, over the last few weeks, as England has edged closer and closer to ending what it regards as its years of hurt, a month of noise.
What all of those inside Wembley will remember, though, the thing that will come back to them whenever they allow whenever they can allow their minds to flick back to this day, this moment, is not the noise but the sudden removal of it, the instant absence of it. No sound will echo for as long as that: the oppressive, overwhelming sound of a stadium, of a country, that had been dreaming, and now, started, had been awakened, brutally, into the cold light of day.
Solipsism does not fully explain Englands many and varied disappointments over the last 55 years, but it is certainly a contributory factor. Before every tournament, England asserts its belief that it is the team, the nation, that possesses true agency: the sense that, ultimately, whether England succeeds or fails will be down, exclusively, to its own actions. England is not beaten by an opponent; it loses by itself.
This, as it happens, may have been the first time that theory had the ring of truth. England hosted more games than any country in Euro 2020. Wembley was home to both the semifinals and the final. More important, Southgate had at his disposal a squad that was France apart, perhaps the envy of every other team here, a roster brimming with young talent, nurtured at club teams by the best coaches in the world. This was a tournament for England to win.
In that telling of Euro 2020, Italy was somewhere between a subplot and a supporting cast. That is the solipsism talking again, though. Perhaps this tournament was never about England, desperately seeking the moment of redemption it has awaited for so long. Perhaps the central character was Italy all along.
Italys journey does not have the grand historical sweep of Englands, of course it won the World Cup only 15 years ago, and that is not the only one in its cabinet but perhaps the story is actually about a country that did not even qualify for the World Cup in 2018, that seemed to have allowed its soccer culture to grow stale, moribund, that appeared to have been left behind. Instead, it has been transformed into a champion, once again, in the space of just three years.
Roberto Mancinis Italy has illuminated this tournament at every turn: through the verve and panache with which it swept through the group stage, and the grit and sinew with which it reached the final. And how, against a team with deeper resources and backed by a partisan crowd, it took control of someone elses dream.
In those first few minutes on Sunday at Wembley, when it felt as if England was in the grip of some mass out-of-body experience, as Leicester Square was descending into chaos and the barriers around Wembley were being stormed, again and again, by ticketless fans who did not want to be standing outside when history was being made, Italy might have been swept away by it all.
The noise and the energy made the stadium feel just a little wild, edgy and ferocious, and Mancinis team seemed to freeze. England, at times, looked as if it might overrun its opponent, as if its story was so compelling as to be irresistible. But slowly, almost imperceptibly, Italy settled. Marco Verratti passed the ball to Jorginho. Jorginho passed it back. Bonucci and his redoubtable partner, Giorgio Chiellini, tackled when things were present and squeezed space when they were not.
It felt England was losing the initiative, but really Italy was taking it. Federico Chiesa shot, low and fierce, drawing a save from Jordan Pickford. England sank back a little further. Italy scented blood. Bonucci tied the score, a scrambled sort of a goal, one borne more of determination than of skill, one befitting this Italys virtues perfectly.
Extra time loomed. Mancinis team would, whatever happened, make England wait. The clock ticked, and the prospect of penalties appeared on the horizon. For England, one last test, one last ghost to confront, and one last glimmer of hope. Andrea Belotti was the first to miss for Italy in the shootout. Wembley exulted. It roared, the same old combustion, releasing its nerves into the night sky.
All England had to do was score. It was, after two hours, after a whole month, after 55 years, the master of its destiny. It was, there and then, all about England. Marcus Rashford stepped forward. He had only been on the field for a couple of minutes, introduced specifically to take a penalty.
As he approached the ball, he slowed, trying to tempt Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italian goalkeeper, into revealing his intentions. Donnarumma did not move. Rashford slowed further. Donnarumma stood still, calling his bluff. Rashford got to the ball, and had to hit it. He skewed it left. It struck the foot of the post. And in that moment, the spell, the trance that had consumed a country, was broken.
Jadon Sancho missed, too, his shot saved by Donnarumma. But so did Jorginho, Italys penalty specialist, when presented with the chance to win the game. For a moment, England had a reprieve. Perhaps its wait might soon be at an end. Perhaps the dream was still alive. Bukayo Saka, the youngest member of Southgates squad, walked forward. England had one more chance.
And then, just like that, it was over. There was still noise inside Wembley, from the massed ranks clad in blue at the opposite end of the field, pouring over each other in delight. But their noise seemed muffled, distant, as if it were coming from a different dimension, or from a future that we were not meant to know.
Italys players, European champions now, sank to their knees in disbelief, in delight. Englands players stared blankly out into the stadium, desolate and distraught, unable to comprehend that it was over, that the tournament in which everything changed had not changed the most important thing of all, that the wait goes on. And the stadium, after all that noise, after all those songs, after all those dreams, stood silent, dumbstruck, and stared straight back.
See more here:
Italy Wins Euro 2020, Leaving England in Stunned Silence - The New York Times
- In pictures: Snow Strippers take over Londons Trance Party - Dazed - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- Juno Reactor's Ben Watkins on the 1997 Goa trance classic Bible of Dreams: "What really gave the album its sound ... - MusicRadar - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- W&W make their triumphant return under the NWYR project - We Rave You - March 12th, 2024 [March 12th, 2024]
- A Trance Database Arrived: Browse by Year with Ease - We Rave You - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Top 15 best Malayalam thriller movies on Netflix, Prime Video, and more; From Mammoottys Kannur Squad to Fahadh Faasils Trance - PINKVILLA - February 16th, 2024 [February 16th, 2024]
- Rock N Roll Circus: Second stage announced as Sheffields Gatecrasher returns with 30th anniversary show - Yahoo Eurosport UK - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Nicholas Gunn: "I learned many years ago to never set expectations" - Electronic Groove - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Guardians of the Galaxy 3 Redeemed Star-Lord's Infinity War Mistake - CBR - Comic Book Resources - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Gatecrasher at The Republic: 19 photos taking you back to days of famous Sheffield superclub in 90s and 2000s - Yahoo News UK - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Tisto unveils his own remix to Da Hool 90s anthem 'Meet Her At ... - We Rave You - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Morissette Eager To 'Feel, Think and Move' With Thousands in ... - VOCM - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Countdown to the Indian Spirit Festival 2023 | Grateful Web - Grateful Web - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Billy Gillies Uplifts Souls with His Summer Mix - EDM Identity - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Tritonal to Embark on 15 Years Of Enhanced Music Tour - EDM Identity - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Dining Review: Basil and Bunny in Bristol - Rhode Island Monthly - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Ally Ewing delivering good impression of Brian Harman with strong ... - Magnolia Banner News - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Review: Weathervanes, EdFringe - Everything Theatre - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Calvin Harris and Sam Smith share video for new collaborative ... - DJ Mag - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Exclusive Single Premiere: Wandering Blind "Only A Matter Of Time ... - the AU review - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- Brunch Electronik Festival Celebrates Electrifying First 3-Day Edition ... - Rave Jungle - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- West Coast Drive Safety Concerns Solved By Chucking Blinkers On ... - The Bell Tower Times - August 18th, 2023 [August 18th, 2023]
- What is Trance Music? (18 Different Types of Trance Music) - DITM - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- Fahadh Faasil to team up with Anwar Rasheed again after Trance for a film helmed by Romancham director? | Exclusive - Ottplay - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- ARTY announces Alpha 9 debut album 'New Horizons' coming in January - We Rave You - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Meet the creatives behind the scenes of BTS' 'Yet To Come in Busan' concert live band, choreographers, and more - Bandwagon - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Alesso and Sick Individuals' "We Go Out" Is a Weekend Rallying Cry - EDM.com - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Pecky the magpie reviews The Axeman's Carnival by Catherine Chidgey - The Spinoff - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- This Week In Toledo History | The Press - Press Publications Inc. - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Review of Amazon Primes The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season One, Episode Eight Alloyed - Television - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Smile is innovatively terrifying, ultimately unmemorable - The Emory Wheel - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- What to do in Las Vegas this week (October 13-19 edition) - Las Vegas Weekly - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Meet the Artists Shaping the Wave Music Scene - EDM.com - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- How to fix an Apple Watch stuck on the Apple logo - Android Authority - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Houston Texans offense in a trance, plus other Week 4 takeaways - Toro Times - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Kubix Festival announces return to Sunderland with acts including Five, N-Trance, Ultrabeat, Flip & Fill, A1 and 911 - Sunderland Echo - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Hypnotherapist sexually assaulted woman he placed under a trance - The Telegraph - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- The Up & Coming EDM Genres Likely To Strike It Big In The Coming Years - Critical Hit - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- TRENCH Radio: 10 Of The Best Mixes This Week - TRENCH - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Tisto unites with the Black Eyed Peas for new single 'Pump It Louder' - We Rave You - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- The Perks And Quirks Of 'Paw'renting - Entrepreneur - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Tranquil trance on dream island - The New Indian Express - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- I was hypnotized by a Four Seasons 'resident healer' for $285 - Business Insider - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Gareth Emery Shares Exclusive Playlist Ahead of Groove Cruise The Ascension 2022 - Your EDM - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]
- Acid trance - Wikipedia - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Spain in trance after beating Lithuania: 'It's like a fairytale we don't want to end' - BasketNews.com - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) Story Recap - TheReviewGeek - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Richie McNeill: 10 Events That Define the History of Hardware - Music Feeds - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Matthew McConaugheys favourite songs of the 1990s - Far Out Magazine - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Kerry Katona breaks down in tears and left shaking as she opens up on mental health battle after... - The Sun - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Herald: THEY ARRIVE AT RAVE PARTIES - Herald Goa - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) Story Recap - TheReviewGeek - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Mind Is Completely Blown People React As Trailer Of Hrithik-Saifs Vikram Vedha Is Out - MensXP.com - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Free Trance Samples: Thousands Of Percussions, Loops, and FX Sounds For Your Uplifting Productions - Magnetic Magazine - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- The Growing Tide Of Trance Blues - An Emerging Genre - Music Essentials - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Aarppo to Urumboottu - indulgexpress - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- The healing dance of SAs choreographic shaman - Mail and Guardian - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Fall preview of jazz festivals in the area and beyond - wbgo.org - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- SWTOR 7.1.1 Healer Balance Changes Overview and Analysis - VULKK.com - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Soft Cell | YouTube Theater | 8/24/22 - Grateful Web - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Lee Yu Mi and Coleman Domingo win the 2022 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series - The Hollywood Reporter - BEAM Media - September 9th, 2022 [September 9th, 2022]
- Bulleh Shah's 265th Urs celebrations: A melange of trance and ecstatic exuberance - DAWN.com - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Chatting with Emma Hewitt: The Queen of Trance Music - Digital Journal - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Just Dance: These Asian DJs Are Revolutionising The EDM Scene - Augustman Malaysia - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Shaukat Tarin instigates Punjab to withdraw from IMF deal - Geo News - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Chlo Is a Goddess in a Silver Gown with the Highest Thigh-High Leg Slit at the 2022 VMAs - Harper's BAZAAR - August 29th, 2022 [August 29th, 2022]
- Ferry Corsten Brings "What the F" to Los Angeles [Event Review & Interview] - Your EDM - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- Jason Ross On How His Sophomore Album Reflects an Elevated Version of Himself - EDM.com - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- Paul McCartney Compared Writing 1 of The Beatles' Songs to Writing a James Bond Theme - Showbiz Cheat Sheet - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- John Digweed celebrates the 200th digital release of Bedrock Records [Magazine Exclusive] - We Rave You - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- Hypnotherapy for Health and Happiness - Next Avenue - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- Matroda returns to Insomniac with house single 'Hazy' - The Groove Cartel - August 27th, 2022 [August 27th, 2022]
- Cocaine-Related Deaths Reach Record High in the UK - Men's Health - August 10th, 2022 [August 10th, 2022]
- Britain will pay a heavy price for falling into a net zero trance - The Telegraph - August 10th, 2022 [August 10th, 2022]
- The Outside - 8/7/22 - WYSO - August 10th, 2022 [August 10th, 2022]
- Chicane: "There were times when I came very close to smashing the sh*t out of the studio in frustration" - MusicRadar - August 10th, 2022 [August 10th, 2022]
- Priests and politics: The separation of church and state - SC Times - August 10th, 2022 [August 10th, 2022]
- Elsie Richter Dating Finn Wolfhard: Heres Everything You Need To Know About Their Relationship! - Landscape Insight - August 10th, 2022 [August 10th, 2022]
- The Greatest Comedy Of The 1980s Is Now On Netflix - Giant Freakin Robot - August 10th, 2022 [August 10th, 2022]
- Sunday Conversation: Mickey Hart On Dead & Company, Tito Puente And Why Hell Never Retire - Forbes - August 10th, 2022 [August 10th, 2022]
- Blue Grotto owners to open nightclub in former Cactus Jack's location - Kamloops This Week - August 10th, 2022 [August 10th, 2022]