England’s charming lads separated from glory by the finest of margins | Jonathan Liew


Southgate’s side let early control slip and the madness tamed them, the dream ending with Saka’s saved penalty

A butterfly flaps its wings in the skies above London and the faintest pulse of air whistles around the grand white Wembley arch and, 436 feet below, England’s luck is about to run out. The atmosphere heaves and wheezes with the heavy breath of 66,000 fans. The ball will shortly leave Bukayo Saka’s foot and in that moment nothing else will seem to matter.

It won’t matter that these brave, brilliant lads have charmed the nation.

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