And fade to red. The Euro 2024 trophy will not, it turns out be coming back with the players to England after all. The parade can be scaled back, the beds turned down, the welcome basket stashed. Monday will be a day for hangovers and regrets, which is in its own way English football’s own safe place.
But it is at least headed to a very good home as England’s footballers were eased aside by a supremely coherent and talented team. A 2-1 victory, the winner coming painfully late, means Spain are now four-time winners of Europe’s elite competition.
