On July 12, 2021, Beijing time, the final of the European Championship was played at Wembley Stadium in London. Tens of thousands of England fans on and off the pitch went crazy, chanting the slogan "Football is home" and hoping england would win the cup on home.
On the other side of the stadium, Italian fans also waved their national flags, and even fans from many other European countries wore Italian uniforms and cheered for Italy. In the end, Italy beat England through a penalty shootout, bringing the Delaunay Cup back to the European continent.
▲ The "Map of Supporters of the European Championship Final" circulated on social media has aroused heated discussion, as if all of Europe is supporting Italy
England fans were lost, but it was not only Italian and European fans who celebrated, but also in Scotland, Wales and other places that belonged to the United Kingdom, and there were street celebrations, and Scottish First Minister Sturgeon even threatened that "if England loses, all of Scotland will be on holiday".
Italy won, and scots were happier than Italians
"The whole world is supporting Italy," the Corriere della Corriere d'Italia headlined prominently. Long before the competition, mainstream Voices in Europe did not support England's victory.
The French and Danish media criticized england for "stealing the final spot", and the Milan sports newspaper accused "England has been taken care of and needs the Italian team to teach a lesson".
Italy, which represented Europe in defeating England
On Twitter, some European netizens asked "why everyone hates England", got countless likes, defeated the Italian team of England, and was even made into a superhuman image, like a European savior.
Sport has nothing to do with politics, but as the first intercontinental football event after Brexit, the European Championship competition has constantly highlighted the contradictions between britain and europe. Just a day before the final, European Commission President von der Leyen publicly stated that he "hopes to see Italy defeat England and win the European Championship".
After the game, von der Leyen even posted a photo of herself holding an Italian jersey in her hand, which also had her gilded name printed on it. As a politician, von der Leyen's actions are not unrelated to the discord between Britain and Europe.
▲ Von der Leyen's jersey
There is a reason why Europe is so unhappy with the United Kingdom, since the United Kingdom applied for Brexit, the dispute between the United Kingdom and the European Union has continued, and looking at the longer history, the United Kingdom has always maintained a certain distance from Europe and implemented an isolation policy.
What makes the UK so maverick? In the context of Brexit, can the rift between the UK and the EU be bridged?
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="37" >, the arrogant Briton</h1>
In December 2020, a highly contagious new coronavirus variant was found in the United Kingdom, and many European countries such as France-Germany-Holby issued bans on British flights and people entering the country. For a moment Britain seemed to be isolated by Europe.
In fact, for the British, the word isolation is not unfamiliar, and modern Britain has long pursued an isolation policy, isolating the whole of Europe with the strength of one country. This seemingly "you are surrounded by me" argument was actually determined by the historical conditions at that time.
On January 16, 1896, the British newspaper The Times published a speech to Parliament by Canadian Treasury Secretary Foster, who used the word "glorious isolation" to praise the diplomatic model of the suzerainty. A month later, British Secretary of the Navy George W. Bush. In elaborating on British foreign policy, Goshen quoted the term "glorious isolation", which became a term used exclusively in British diplomacy.
▲ Britain hangs overseas
The so-called glorious isolation means that Britain does not ally with any country politically, and maintains the balance of power in Europe by suppressing other countries. As early as after the first industrial revolution, the gap between Britain and other countries in strength has widened, and the status of the number one power has given Britain a detached mentality, and has begun to look down on the European continent next to it with wide-eyed eyes.
For example, in 1856, in order to fight against the expanding Tsarist Russia, Britain took advantage of the Russo-Turkish War to attack Russia with France. The war greatly frustrated Russia's power, maintained the balance of power on the European continent, and preserved Britain's hegemony.
▲Strength is the support of the isolation policy
At the end of World War II in 1945, the sun of the empire, which had never set, finally set. The war devastated Europe, and European countries were in dire need of warmth. As the only major ally in Europe that was not occupied in World War II, Britain should assume the responsibility of integrating Europe. But the British, who had long pursued a policy of isolation, were deeply jealous of European union.
In 1946, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called for "the establishment of a United European State with France and Germany as the core" in his speech, and in his view "Britain should still be left alone, although we are with Europe, we do not belong to it".
Although World War II ended the glory of the British Empire, the British Commonwealth, which was born from the ruins of the Empire, was still there, and Britain wanted to use this platform to exert influence in international affairs and former colonial countries and continue to maintain its independent power status.
Churchill
Compared with the indifference of the British, the French were very enthusiastic about the matter of European union. In 1950, French Foreign Minister Schumann proposed the famous "Schumann Plan", he proposed to integrate German and French coal and steel production, Schumann said in an interview with reporters that "the establishment of a common management agency to manage French and German coal and steel production, other European countries can also participate in this organization."
On this basis, the European Coal and Steel Community was established in 1952, and the European union process since then has developed at a jaw-dropping rate. The Economic Community and the Atomic Energy Community were formed one after another, and in 1967, on the basis of these organizations, the European Community (the "European Community"), the predecessor of the European Union, was established.
The British have just woken up from their dreams, and if they insist on the policy of isolation, they are afraid that they will really be isolated by Europe. But the British could not let go of their inner arrogance and were unwilling to join the Franco-German-dominated European Community, after all, how could those who were accustomed to being the boss succumb to others.
Britain gathered a number of non-EUROPEAN European countries and organized the European Free Trade Association in an attempt to compete with the European Community and regain European dominance. But the British-led organization was very loose, the economic level was uneven, unable to compete with the European Community, and isolationism really could not be sustained.
▲ Schumann and the coal and steel community
The pragmatism of the British people played a role, and in order to get out of the predicament, under the leadership of then Prime Minister Heath, the United Kingdom began more than a decade of accession negotiations.
The forces represented by French President Charles de Gaulle resolutely refused to join Britain, and de Gaulle once said: "Britain's nature, structure, and environment are different from those of continental European countries, so how can it join the European Common Market?" But with the death of de Gaulle and britain's perseverance, in 1973 Britain joined the European Community as desired.
But Britain's isolationist voices remain, and they are dissatisfied with Britain's payment of hundreds of millions of pounds to the European Community and the implementation of the Economic and Trade Terms of the European Community. The British government had to organize the country's first referendum in 1975 to vote on whether to remain in the European Community. In the end, the Remainers won with 67% of the vote, and the United Kingdom remained in the European Community.
Heath signed a contract to join the European Community
In the 1990s, when the European Union's successor, the European Union, began to push for the eurozone vision, Britain was once again in opposition.
Social groups nostalgic for the pound refused to accept the euro, and they still believed in the pound, which had witnessed the glory of the empire. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said half-jokingly: "Do you want me to tell Her Majesty the Queen that her avatar will not appear on our currency again in the future?" ”
When Blair became prime minister, he promoted the benefits of the euro across the UK, but the conservative forces in Britain responded tit-for-tat that "the quality of the Bank of England's services is far higher than that of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt". The UK became the only EU country at the time not to use the euro.
▲ Margaret Thatcher
Britain believes that it is unacceptable for the EU to acquire some of the powers of member states, and it has refused to join the Schengen Area and has resolutely refused to deregulate border controls. British columnist Paul. Johnson once pointed out that "the British people are always accustomed to shaping Europe according to their interests and habits, rather than being shaped by Europe." In a relationship that is imminent, the UK and the EU have joined hands into the 21st century.
Britain's glorious isolation to its accession to the European integration process reflects the decline of its national strength. Integration into Europe was not Britain's intention, and the consciousness of isolation has always existed in the consciousness of this country, and in the second decade of the 21st century, the specter of isolationism has returned.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="226" > second, long-delayed separation agreement</h1>
At the beginning of the century, the international situation was turbulent, and a series of conflicts of interest broke out between Britain and Europe. When the European debt crisis broke out in 2008, the European Union continued to increase financial support in order to save the economies of Italy, Greece and other countries.
Britain's reluctance to increase its own fiscal spending to aid these countries has once again seen criticism of the eurozone, with Financial Times columnist Britan writing that "the eurozone is far from the optimal currency area."
▲ Britain insists on using the pound sterling
In addition to economic problems, the outbreak of the Arab Spring in 2010 caused a serious refugee problem. The UK is unhappy with the EU's policy of admitting refugees. The rift between the two sides is getting bigger and bigger, and calls for Brexit in the UK are rising again.
In order to comply with the voice of the people, Prime Minister David. Cameron said "there will be a referendum to decide where the UK will remain in the EU". Cameron supports Remain, he organized the referendum to ease the division in the country, and Cameron is confident about the result of the referendum.
On June 23, 2016, the referendum was held as scheduled. More than 30 million voters across the UK voted. But the vote was much a surprise to Cameron's expectations, 52% to 48%, brexiteers won, and Brexit became a foregone conclusion.
▲ Cameron
Shocked, Cameron announced his resignation and Teresa. May took over as prime minister, and negotiations between the UK and the EU over the details of Brexit began.
Brexiteers excitedly say that "the British have regained their sovereignty", but is this really the case? Although the United Kingdom no longer needs to pay an annual membership fee of 8 billion pounds, Brexit has caused market separation between the United Kingdom and Europe, and the headquarters of many banks and multinational companies have moved from the City of London to the European continent. Around the competition for various interests, a new round of wrestling between the UK and The EU has begun.
People who support Brexit
On 29 March 2017, the Brexit process was officially launched, and the United Kingdom must exit the Eu within two years, that is, before 28 March 2019, but the tug-of-war between the UK and the EU around the terms of brexit is constantly playing out.
For Brexit, it is necessary to clarify the issues of tariffs, border controls, personnel exchanges, and fishing rights in the sea area between the EU and the EU. The UK also intends to continue to enjoy the benefits of the EU Common Market, which was naturally rejected by the EU.
The agreement can not be reached for a long time, the United Kingdom has to face the reality of a no-deal Brexit, if this really happens, there will be a series of problems around customs, finance, etc., which the British people do not want to see anyway. The protracted negotiations have also led europeans to see Britain as a "spoiler of European integration".
▲ It is not close to talking
Britain's behavior of retreating has caused great trouble to both sides. European countries are disgusted by Brexit but still want to enjoy preferential treatment. Tusk, then president of the European Council, angrily said, "I wonder what hell is like for those who push for Brexit, who don't even have a sketch of the Brexit plan."
The time for Brexit was pushed back and forth, and theresa was overwhelmed. May stepped down in 2019, but until then no concrete results had been reached on Brexit. Johnson took over the banner and continued negotiations between Britain and Europe.
▲Teresa. Mei is gone, and the mess is still the same mess
In May 2021, a new round of clashes broke out between the UK and France over fishing rights at sea, with French fishermen restricted from fishing in British waters. Angry French fishermen protested Britain's violation of previous fishing agreements, and at one point there was a warship standoff between the two countries. Although the French eventually withdrew their warships, the incident further worsened Britain's image in the minds of Europeans.
In addition to the great opinions of European countries on the United Kingdom, even Scotland, the constituent country of the United Kingdom, has also expressed its call for Remain in the Eu. Scotland has close economic and trade ties with the EU, and it urgently needs a large EU market, and most of the Scots have voted to stay in the EU in the referendum. However, England has a large population and supports Brexit, and Scotland passively leaves the EU together.
For this reason, the Scots felt that they were being held hostage, and Scotland's First Secretary of State, Sturgeon, wanted to organize a referendum on Scottish independence to defend the rights of the Scots. Although the referendum failed with a 55.3% opposition, the contradictions between the Scottish and British governments have not been resolved. Instead, it is becoming more and more intense.
Scotland wants to stay in the EU
When the new crown epidemic struck in 2020, the British government caused the domestic epidemic situation to get out of control due to the improper control in the early stage. Around the vaccine, the BRITISH and European sides have once again staged a big drama of contention. The British newspaper The Guardian even called it a "war between Britain and Europe".
At the end of 2020, when the Pfizer vaccine cooperated by the United States and the United States was successfully developed, before the official approval of the research and development country, the United Kingdom preemptively announced that it would purchase 800,000 doses before the end of the year.
The United States and Europe have expressed indignation at Britain's half-way behavior, and Dr. Fauci of the United States has vividly compared it to "the United Kingdom is like a marathon in a corner, suddenly joining in the last kilometer", and officials in the EU country of Belgium have also criticized the Uk for disregarding the feelings of other European countries.
▲ Fauci
In response, Education Secretary Williamson responded, "The UK became the first country to certify the Pfizer vaccine because we have the best medical regulations... Much better than Belgium, much better than the United States, we are much stronger than any other country." In order to grab the vaccine, britain's ugly eating is unacceptable to Western countries.
With the successful development of a vaccine in the UK, in January 2021, the British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca suddenly announced that it would cut its vaccine supply to European countries.
The European Union has fought a tit-for-tat confrontation, threatening to delay or even interrupt the supply of vaccines developed by EU countries to the United Kingdom, and the two sides have started a war of words. The German media claimed that "AstraZeneca's epidemic prevention effectiveness for the elderly is less than 10%", and the British side expressed "great anger" at this smear behavior, declaring that this is "Europe's malicious revenge".
▲ AstraZeneca vaccine
Vaccines are related to everyone's life and health, and Britain's halfway cut-off and lower exports have hurt the feelings of Europeans. In the eyes of the European people, Britain adheres to the idea of standards and does not consider other countries, and its image among the European people is becoming more and more negative.
The return of isolationism has made the UK seem out of place in Europe, and the conflict between the UK and the EU has spread from politics to economic and trade, medical and other fields, and even spread into the green field in the summer of 2021.
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" data-track="227" >3, "opponent"</h1>
As the birthplace of modern football, football has always been a special presence in the hearts of the British people, and the Premier League is also one of the top football leagues in the world, but the England team has not performed well in international competitions.
In the World Cup, for example, england won the title in 1966, and the best two results were only fourth place, and the European Cup has never won a single title. So "football home" has always been a talking point among English fans, who want their teams to bring the glory of the championship back to England.
▲ Football goes home
At this European Championship, England eliminated Ukraine 4-0 and reached the final four of the European Championship again after 25 years. The enthusiasm of England fans has been ignited, but as one of the host countries of this European Championship, British fans have not performed well.
In the early morning of June 13, Beijing time, in the European Cup Group B Denmark vs Finland match, Danish midfielder Eriksen suddenly fainted and fell to the ground, and the team doctor immediately performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation for him on the spot. Teammates also built a human wall to prevent Erikson's painful images from flowing out.
While other broadcasters switched cameras, the BBC in the United Kingdom aimed the camera at Eriksen's face for a 15-minute live broadcast. Under the hard work of Erikson's teammates, the BBC turned the camera on Erickson's wife on the field, and the footage of her collapsing and crying instantly spread through the BBC network.
▲ Teammates blocked for Erikson
The BBC's blatant display of Erickson and his family's pain in order to attract ratings has attracted a lot of criticism. After the public outrage, a BBC spokesman claimed that "the broadcast rights of the stadium are controlled by the host broadcasting agency, UEFA, and as soon as the game is suspended, we stop reporting as soon as possible". Obviously, the British did not want to admit their mistakes and tried to throw the pot at UEFA, and UEFA officials immediately refuted it.
As the media regulated by the British government, the BBC has always been regarded as the mouthpiece of the British government, and European dissatisfaction with the BBC has been passed on to the British.
On June 30, in the quarter-quarter match of the European Cup, England eliminated Germany 2-0. In the video, a little German girl is sadly crying in the crook of her father's arm. For such a scene, a large number of British fans inflicted online violence on the German girl.
▲ "Little Nazi, make you cry" insulting remarks
One Twitter user said "Cry, you little Nazi", British influencer Jack. Dean even wrote that "when I saw a 10-year-old German girl crying in the crowd and cheers erupted in the bar, it was the proudest thing in my life to be an Englishman." ”
Although some British fans spontaneously apologized for the little girl's donation after the game, the incident caused a serious emotional confrontation among British and European fans, and many European fans made it clear that they "do not want England to win the cup".
In the early morning of July 12, Beijing time, the final of the European Championship was played at Wembley Stadium in the United Kingdom. Less than two minutes into the opening, England player Luke Shaw inserted himself into the penalty area and scored a goal without interference, giving England a 1-0 lead.
Italy then launched a fierce counterattack, and finally in the second half Bonucci scored a goal in a corner scuffle, and the score was equalized. The two teams maintained the draw until the end, and the match was dragged into a penalty shootout. As Rashford, Sancho and Saka conceded penalties, Italy beat England 4-3 and won the DeLaunay Cup after 53 years.
▲Italy won the championship
Some England fans, who could not accept defeat, besieged Italian fans and burned the Italian flag at the exit of the stadium, and British football hooligans once again became the focus of European public opinion.
This is not the first time that English football hooligans have attacked fans in other European countries, and during Euro 2016, thousands of England fans clashed with 200 Russian fans, and as a result, England fans' heavy punches hit the iron plate of the fighting nation, although the large number did not take advantage.
The curtain has fallen on the European Championship, but the contradictions between Britain and Europe continue. The British want a more central place on the world stage, but how they handle their relationship with Europe is still testing the British government and people.
▲ The rift is difficult
Long-term author | Biluo Qingyao
Veteran of history
Responsible editor| Thomas
Graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science| Editor-in-Chief of the Global Intelligence Officer