Day 17: Defeat and perspective
LFC TV's Matt Critchley is in Poland to bring us daily updates as 16 nations compete for the European Championships crown. Here is his latest blog on England's defeat and why it was put into sad perspective.
Difficult to know where to start today. I could say 'I told you so' (see yesterday's entry) but that helps little. I could, like most others, start extolling the virtues of Andrea Pirlo. But what does that achieve?
England are out of another major tournament on penalties but it's perhaps the facts of the game, the way they approached it, that is of greater concern. Still you'd be better off reading today's papers for a better insight and analysis of last night's events than I can give you.
I feel dissappointed that England won't be coming to my base in Warsaw. A semi-final at the national stadium in Warsaw against Germany would have been an unbelievable occasion. I know some Liverpool fans will be glad that the likes of Steven Gerrard, Glen Johnson and Andy Carroll will now be able to put their feet up. And I understand that.
But a successful summer, despite the tiredness, can also push a player onto new heights the following season. After winning the European Championships with Spain four years ago, Fernando Torres and Xabi Alonso were at their best for the 2008-09 campaign. Sadly we won't see the benefit of that effect this time around.
But now is a time to look forward, look ahead to an exciting first season at Anfield under the stewardship of Brendan Rogers. There are still semi-finals and a final to be decided here but I, for one, can't wait now to get back to Liverpool and start concentrating on what lies in store.
Football, penalties, winning, losing. It was all put into perspective last night with the news of Miki Roque's death at the age of just 23. Losing and going out of a tournament doesn't feel important at all really.