Editorial 15 July 2024.
Monday’s front pages are dominated by two stories: England’s 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final and the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump – as more details start to trickle out.
Most papers feature images of a dejected-looking England after Spain scored a late goal to clinch the trophy. Other papers look ahead to the future of England boss Gareth Southgate, with speculation he could now be replaced.
Over in the USA, more and more details are starting to emerge regarding the shooting of Donald Trump. The former president spoke out pleading for unity in the country whilst the US secret services are coming under fire as details over how the shooter was able to get so close to Trump without being stopped is questioned.
‘England’s Euro heartbreak’
The Metro dedicates its entire front page to the loss. The paper says “Lions weep tonight” calling it “heartbreak” in the final.
The Daily Express leads with a large image of a desolate Jude Bellingham amid celebrating Spanish players. The paper says the “dream is over” but that the “three lions did us proud.” The headline reads, “Dream Is over… but three lions, you did us proud”.
The Times says England have been the “great comeback team” at the tournament but Spain’s late second goal gave them too little time to mount another one. Spain has been the best team of Euro 2024 and “have been appropriately rewarded,” the paper adds.
The Telegraph has a large image of a dejected Jude Bellingham on the pitch
The i newspaper says England have suffered “heartbreak, again” but that the squad and boss Gareth Southgate “return from Germany as heroes after defying critics.”
The Daily Mirror says the wait for a major tournament win “goes on” for England. The paper says the team will be “shattered” by the defeat but Southgate has triumphed in making England “believe in itself again.”
The Daily Mail says “Football’s not coming home”.
The Times’ Owen Slot, chief football writer for the paper, says on the front page that a “familiar heavy feeling returned to a familiar looking football team” in Berlin as England were unable to muster a second comeback against Spain. He says that despite their magic moments at this tournament, the brief “flutters of genius”, England will know they were the second-best team in the final. Inside, the paper says it understands that Southgate is expected to receive an upgrade to his OBE for getting his side to the final. He could, it suggests, even be knighted.
The Sun says Gareth Southgate will be knighted despite the defeat. It notes that Southgate took over a demoralised team in 2016 and has now led them to two Euro finals and a World Cup semi.
‘Trump assassination attempt’
Away from the football, the morning’s second lead story regards the assassination attempt of Donald Trump. The former president, who’s running for office again, was at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday when a 20-year-old opened fire on him and the crowd.
The FT says the shooting was an act of political violence that has transformed the 2204 presidential race and threatens to polarise the country even more. The paper calls on voices of moderation to be heard, though it suggests the mood on both sides of the political divide at the moment doesn’t lend itself to cool heads or calm nerves.
The Guardian agrees that the attempt on Trump’s life has upended the race for the White House – and triggered fears of more political violence. The paper says the US is “reeling” after the shooting and enduring one of the most contentious periods in modern history.
Its editorial urges politicians across the spectrum to be careful in their rhetoric and calls for the US public to make “this grim moment” a turning point for the better, not worse.
The Daily Telegraph says Trump’s call to the US public to unite following the shooting had a “statesmanlike tone.” It says the incident had cast a dark shadow over the presidential race – but that election strategists felt that his unity message would help win over swing voters in the run-up to November’s presidential election.
The Mail says America has been left in “uproar” after the assassination attempt. The paper adds that Trump is now “tipped for a ‘landslide’ election victory” in November.
