Frank Skinner Says UEFA Blocked Three Lions Euro 2020 Final Performance

Tomorrow is the day the whole nation shall be willing it to finally come home, as England take on Italy in the Euro 2020 final. And Frank Skinner has claimed he'd be leading the cries at Wembley if it weren't for UEFA.

'Three Lions' by Skinner, David Baddiel and the Lightning Seeds has become the country's favourite football anthem since its release back in 1996, but a pre-match rendition was apparently vetoed by UEFA.

PA

Appearing on Friday night's Last Leg of the Euros, 64-year-old comedian Skinner said: "There was a suggestion that we sang it on the pitch before the final on Sunday, and UEFA said it was too partisan and not fair on the Italians to have that.

"In the opening game, which was Italy against Turkey, Andrea Bocelli sang 'Nessun dorma' before the game."

Fair play to Skinner there, positing 'Three Lions' as England's 'Nessun dorma' - and himself as England's Andrea Bocelli.

Surely UEFA could allow a post-match performance, should football come home? Get Skinner, Baddiel and Bocelli pitch-side and let the winners take to the stage.

A spokesperson said: "UEFA can confirm that such a request was received yesterday. However, the programme for the closing ceremony has already been finalised, and no additional elements can be integrated at this stage due to the very tight countdown schedule and operational complexities ahead of the kick-off.

"The song Three Lions - It's Coming Home is the fan song selected by the English Football Association, and will be played during the players' warm-up, as has been the case for England's previous matches (with the karaoke graphics on the giant screens)."

PA

The song was originally released 25 years ago for Euro 1996, but ends up back in the charts every time England takes part in a major international competition.

To onlooking nations, 'Three Lions' is often viewed as a song built on unwarranted arrogance - and while this is an understandable view, it is a misinterpretation of the tune.

It is in fact about the unfounded faith England fans cling to in the face of decades and decades of disappointment.

In an interview with The Guardian, Baddiel explained: "Instead of writing an idealised or triumphant song, like most of the ones beforehand, with their visions of winning the cup, this time more than any other time, we decided to write a song about assuming that we, England, were going to lose.

"Because that's what experience had taught us. Three Lions, really, is a song about magical thinking.

"About assuming we are going to lose, reasonably, based on experience, but hoping that somehow we won't."

Hopefully 55 years of hurt will come to an end tomorrow.

COME ON ENGLAND!

Topics: SPORT, UK News, Football, England

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey