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Jubilation erupts across England
Posted: Saturday June 17, 2000 08:04 PM
LONDON (AP) -- After 34 year of frustration, celebrations broke out all across England Saturday night after Kevin Keegan's team beat Germany 1-0 at the Euro 2000 championships in Charleroi, Belgium. After he final whistle blew, jubilant fans poured into the streets, motorists honked their horns and fireworks were let off as the whole country rejoiced in England's first win over the Germans since the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley. In London, fans sang and danced in the fountains of Trafalgar Square in central London. Around 500 people surrounded Nelson's column, waving the red and white flag of St. George, chanting "England, England" and the name of goal-scoring hero Alan Shearer. Hundreds of other revelers danced in a conga line around the historic square as passing motorists sounded their horns in support. Police kept a low profile on the edge of the square. Prime Minister Tony Blair watched the match with his family at 10 Downing Street and was "delighted" with the result, his spokesman said. "He was delighted, like everyone else, and now he is hoping for the right result on Tuesday night against Romania," the spokesman added. A victory over Romania would put England through to the quarterfinals. But England's victory was also tinged by the shame over the violence perpetrated by English fans before, during and after the match. Disgraced fans began arriving back in Britain after being deported from Belgium, returning in handcuffs under heavy security guard. The 343 fans arrested during rioting in Brussels on Friday night were being brought back on Belgian military aircraft in batches of 40 a time. Each planeload was accompanied by 25 to 30 police officers, with many more on the ground to take them through customs and on to trains. Robson, Venables react to England's winCHARLEROI, Belgium (AP) -- Bobby Robson and Terry Venables were two England managers who couldn't achieve what Kevin Keegan did -- beat Germany in a major soccer championship. Keegan ended 34 years of German domination over England in World Cups or European Championships when Alan Shearer headed the winning goal: Robson -- England manager when England lost to Germany on a penalty shootout in the 1990 World Cup semifinal in Turin, Italy: "We've done it. We've learned how to win. Kevin Keegan kept faith with his players and they have given us a wonderful result. "Never leave [Alan] Shearer unmarked on free kicks and corners. It was a good free-kick that gave Shearer the two yards he needed and it was a perfectly placed header -- he's had a good sight of it and he doesn't miss those opportunities." "I think it's a great tactical decision [sending on Steven Gerrard and taking off Michael Owen]. We were stronger in midfield with Gerrard. Kevin wasn't afraid to play Gerrard and I think that's a clever decision by him which has to be applauded. But you need luck and it's gone for us today." Terry Venables -- whose England team also lost in a semifinal penalty shootout at the 1996 European Championship: "We knew we had to win and we've won -- the three points put us in a good position now. We had organization and worked really hard - the two center-halves were outstanding. It was going to be a scrap and we scrapped better than them. "We've been saying 'give Shearer the chances and he'll finish.' He took it perfectly. "He Keegan did not want to be criticized as he was after the Portugal [loss]. He decided to take a striker off and having five in midfield snuffed it out."
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