This Morning host Phillip Schofield opened up about being an “enormous disappointment” to his father after he failed to show an interest in football.
The TV presenter was sat alongside co-host Holly Willoughby as the pair interviewed footballer Mason Mount in his first television interview.
The 60-year-old presenter asked Mason, who is part of the England squad in the running for the World Cup later this year, about the team’s near-success last year.
The team made it to the final, but England's bid to end their 55-year wait for a major trophy ended in a penalty shootout defeat to Italy, who claimed the Euro 2020 crown at Wembley.
Phillip said: “Last summer you united the nation. We were all there, even though I've said this on here before, I’m not a massive football follower.”
He continued, turning to Holly: “I’ve got football mates and your husband and they do try.”
Turning to a more personal note, he added: “I was an enormous disappointment to my father, who was a great player and loved his football.
“However, for all of us, even people who don’t follow it passionately on a weekly basis, we all get behind the team.”
He then asked Mason: “Do you feel that lifting you up or do you try to get into a bubble?”
Mason said the England team “feel it massively”, despite often being in a bubble and trying to “focus on games”.
He said: “The way everyone got together during the Euros, when you see videos of all the fans, all the beers flying and everyone’s together enjoying it and having fun.
“They’re the moments that make you proud. We want to make the nation proud and keep moving forward.”
Mason appeared on the show in the wake of a string of England losses, including a 4-0 defeat against Hungary last night, which he described as “difficult”.
Mason said: “This is just the start. These things happen. I think if you put it into perspective, this is just the start. It's a bump in the road.”
Phillip then asked what the mood was like and the discussion in the locker room after the players walked off the pitch.
Mason said: “Obviously as players you’re very disappointed with the performance, but at that time the most important thing is to stay together.
“Stay strong as a team. We know what we can do so it’s about working hard now.”
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV Hub.
