In the run-up to England's match with Italy, the English media has been showing all the tact one might expect in such a situation.
None more so than TalkSport, who have employed Stuart Pearce to record an audio message of what England means to him.
“What does England mean to me? I was born in Shepherd’s Bush, London, the capital," says Pearce, former England captain.
“I worked as an electrician, whilst playing non-league football for Wealdstone, eventually I signed for Coventry City, then Nottingham Forest.
“The best was yet to come. On the 19th of May, 1987, I was called up to play for my country. It was the greatest honour of my life.
“I’ll never forget the feeling each time I was able to pull on my national shirt to be one of the best 11 players in your nation felt incredibly special, singing the national anthem with 100,000 patriots singing alongside you at Wembley.
“It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up even now, nothing comes close. So what does England mean to me? It’s Cornwall, it’s the Lake District, the New Forest, Stonehenge, Buckingham Palace.
“This country. This England. My England.”
“Do us proud lads. Do it for England.” 🏴
Stuart Pearce has a rousing message for @England. This is what it means to him.
Goosebumps listening to this 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hntyJswVD7— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 7, 2021
“It’s a Cornish pasty, fish and chips, clotted cream and scones, pie and mash. It’s The Who, The Stranglers, Oasis, The Sex Pistols.
“It’s the bridges of Brunel, the sonnets of Shakespeare. Her Majesty the Queen. It’s a Bristolian, a Brummie, a Scouser, a Geordie, a Cockney and a good old fashioned cup of tea.
“More than anything, it’s home. This country, this England, my England. And if anyone knows that as well as I do, it’s Gareth Southgate and these players.
“So do us proud, lads. Think about what your country means to you. Keep dreaming, keep believing. Do it for yourselves. Do it for us. Do it for England.”
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