The penalty moment as Raheem Sterling is fouled by Mathias Jensen
(Picture: Getty Images)The England men’s football team made history last night when they won 2-1 against Denmark to reach their first tournament final in 55 years.
The Three Lions will face Italy in the Euro 2020 final on Sunday, after the Italians won 1-1 (4-2 on penalties) against Spain in a tense semi-final on Tuesday.
But several people have suggested that England cheated their way to the final, accusing Raheem Sterling of diving to win a penalty that ultimately lead to the Three Lions’ victory.
Italian commentator, Tancredi Palmeri, beIN Sports correspondent, tweeted: “It’s diving home” - a cheeky play on Frank Skinner and David Baddiel’s It’s Coming Home song.
It’s diving home
— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) July 7, 2021
🚨👀 | NEW: An Italian TV commentator reportedly just said - in English - that "football's diving home."
— Politics For All (@PoliticsForAlI) July 7, 2021
After a 1-1 draw at full-time, the match went into extra time, with England winning a penalty in the first half of extra-time after the referee ruled Sterling was brought down by Joakim Maehle.
Although Harry Kane‘s spot-kick was initially saved, he scored on the rebound, putting England 2-1 in front.
The referee’s decision prompted a huge debate, with even some England supporters and football commentators referring to the decision as a “soft penalty.”
"Of course it's soft but we've seen those given all season."
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) July 7, 2021
"Wrighty, you're going to defend him anyway, no matter what."
"It's not a case of defending him. You know how it is. It's soft but those have been given all season."
Should #ENG have been awarded 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 penalty? pic.twitter.com/CcZ0lkcnlP
not how I wanted us to win it tbh with a soft penalty, but looking forward to Sunday! pic.twitter.com/npQMPrW3Dq
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) July 7, 2021
England getting a soft penalty call at Wembley. #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/6LBRVoFPdS
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) July 7, 2021
Of course, the Italian commentator’s remarks prompted even more debate, although most England fans were able to see the funny side.
Me seeing all the diving and cheating tweets pic.twitter.com/OfLveCJVUT
— Nic English (@nicwenglish) July 7, 2021
Scottish and Welsh people tweeting about cheating pic.twitter.com/f1fM7uA1Uk
— Floyd March (@FloydMarch) July 7, 2021
Me when I see "Cheating" is trending. #Euro2020 #ENGDEN pic.twitter.com/iZlej0pdRz
— Andy Horton (@andyhorton94) July 7, 2021
Drinking the sweet tears of Welsh and Scots tweeting about diving and cheating #ENG #ItsComingHome #england pic.twitter.com/4pGYaRcl6A
— Duncan Hall (@Duncyano) July 7, 2021
Rest of Europe rn #ItsComingHome #cheating pic.twitter.com/WG0fpksy8d
— Brady. (@Brvdy_) July 7, 2021
Alexa play stop crying your heart out by oasis https://t.co/5gjR2gYuuJ
— ☬ (@manj_av) July 7, 2021
Though some England fans weren’t letting it slide and pointed out a clip of Italian player Ciro Immobile, which some said showed him feigning an injury in their quarter final match against Belgium.
In the clip, Immobile can be seen rolling around in pain on the floor, only to quickly bounce back and get back up seconds later.
Italians going on about us cheating when just a week ago they're players we're doing this. The hypocrisy 💀💀 pic.twitter.com/Le0LSVOpGL
— D.E 🏴 (@Auxanooo) July 7, 2021
Any Italians talking about ‘cheating’ … I’ll leave this here.
— G O O D C H I L D (@goodchildUK) July 8, 2021
Ps it’s coming home https://t.co/qKmhPTsX6E
Italians going on about us cheating when just a week ago they're players we're doing this. The hypocrisy https://t.co/AJzLXtHK6N
— SWEET CAROLINE, IT'S COMING HOME . England. (@UKNewsAlerts) July 8, 2021
Italy fans tryna talk about cheating 🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱#englandvdenmark pic.twitter.com/ErLUAEgBaR
— UtdAli🔰🔰 (@AliSohailMUFC7) July 7, 2021
Oh come on, Immobile did the same thing against Belgium. It’s football, if you don’t like it you know where the door is lad. https://t.co/GF6ixiammD
— Joe (@JoeWritesftbl) July 7, 2021
While the conversation brought up controversial decisions of the past such as “The hand of God” from Diego Maradona in the Argentina v England match at the 1986 World Cup quarter finals.
Some even went as far as comparing Maradona’s handball to Sterling’s “soft” penalty.
For over 30 years England have been crying and whinging over Maradonas Hand of God cheating them out of the world cup..
— ᒍEᖇ ᗪI᙭Oᑎ (@JeremyDixonDJ) July 7, 2021
Well this blatant dive is just as bad #englandvdenmark pic.twitter.com/NBzoMSuD0Q
This is a nation that has cried for over three decades about Maradona "cheating".
— Ryan Fitzsimons (@RyanStevenF) July 7, 2021
Oh how things change!
From a nation that’s gurned for 35 years about Maradona cheating them out in a quarter final. pic.twitter.com/FtUZOBw9ti
— Tim J (@TNJohnstonNI) July 7, 2021
Don't think I ever want to hear England bang on about Maradona after the cheating that went on in that game
— Antaine Lancaster (@Antainel92) July 7, 2021
All complain about maradona cheating then Sterling does that
— Kyle (@HKyle30) July 7, 2021
Don’t let me ever hear another word from the English about Maradona cheating
— James Tierney (@j_tierney07) July 7, 2021
Though England fans were not having any of it, noting that the penalty decision was checked by VAR and saying that it was a decision that went in their favour for once.
Why are people crying about a dive? It was checked by VAR.. if they thought it was a dive or not a penalty they wouldn’t have given it.
— Mario Falcone (@Mario_Falcone) July 8, 2021
It’s not ‘cheating’ it was checked.. comparing it to Maradona is madness, had there been VAR back then that would’ve been checked + disallowed!
I love that a ref giving us a pen is some how us cheating when its not our decision and the people trying to compare a pen to maradona hitting the ball in with his hand as the same thing lmao
— Aryyn (@SirAryyn) July 7, 2021
Mate that is not cheating at all... Did you actually watch video above
— 🏴 Chelsea Lookback ⭐⭐ (@1JamesCHELSEA) July 8, 2021
How many times have England been cheated Maradona handball, Lamps over the line... About time we actually got a decision
Ppl get bitter because its England... Best team won in the end... Tough final ahead
It was a penalty. Let’s stop all this loaning. People bringing up hand of god as similar incidents are jokers. https://t.co/YviW05zOeR
— ozzy (@jozzy84) July 8, 2021
Totally out of order but he saved the pen!. All this nonsense about replays and disqualifying England. For once the decisions went in our favour, that hardly ever happens. That’s football, we’re through, bring on Sunday, rest of you get over it ffs!! https://t.co/p6ckkLKL5R
— Claire Lock (@clairewoods93) July 8, 2021
That is a penalty. He makes contact with him. #Sterling Is moving at speed. The slightest touch and it will send anyone down. You think #ITA wouldn't do the same? #immobile wouldn't go down here? For once #eng on the right side of a decision. Sterling brilliant again pic.twitter.com/pNOvl3RMyL
— James (@jimmydoris1986) July 8, 2021
A few England fans shared how they didn’t care either-way, they’re just glad that the squad made it to the final.
Big game, and this squad performed. I don’t care that it’s an IG & a penalty (correct for me), we fully deserved that victory last night. Players. Stepped. Up. 🦁🦁🦁 https://t.co/2i2KuaLqrh
— Kieran Ridley (@kieranridley5) July 8, 2021
You can tell me about it wasn't a penalty.
— DoctorBexWolfie🏴 (@BexWolfie) July 8, 2021
You can tell me about the laser pointer at the Kasper Schmeichel.
You can tell me stop saying it's coming home.
But don't care because i am happy and it is coming home. 🏴😁
Soft, but 100% a penalty, this anti #England agenda is hilarious, everyone hates us but we don’t care #ItsComingHome 🏴🏴🦁🦁🦁 https://t.co/YWcvCPPrnx
— Liam Arrowsmith 🏴 (@ArrowsmithLiam) July 8, 2021
I don’t care if our penalty wasn’t a penalty, we weren’t given 2 clear penalties earlier in the game and the free kick Denmark got was from a dive, I promise you I do not care😹
— Matthew🏴 (@TonyyyMartial) July 8, 2021
Elsewhere, some accused both Italy and England of cheating during the tournament.
Italy and England both cheating in the euro final on Sunday like pic.twitter.com/tig4UINZ90
— idk (@lifeyouknw) July 7, 2021
Wonder who'll cheat more in the final since both Italy and England cheated their way there
— Sian 🏴🇬🇧🏳️🌈 (@siian_98) July 7, 2021
England has cheated their way to the finals and so did Italy. May the best cheater win!
— Ms. B🇮🇹 (@BfromKla) July 7, 2021
We imagine there will be even more football Twitter debates during the Euro 2020 final on Sunday - hopefully there isn’t any controversial decisions.
