The journey is finally over, and it has become clear that football is not coming home this year – but many say the experience has been worth it. We have been chatting to fans across Ipswich to gauge their reation to England’s semi-final loss.
After the match there were mixed reactions across Ipswich.
“Deflated,” said Callum Robinson, a spectator at Portman Road. “We played really well and the fact we got this far.
“We played cleaner than them. It shows we have more integrity.”
“It’s still history.”
John Warren said: “It’s a major step forward. The fact we weren’t old enough to be around in 1990 or 1966.”
He said it was good preparation for Qatar in four years’ time.
Other fans were less happy.
“It was just rubbish,” said one spectator. “Just knew we were going to lose.”
Over at Isaacs on the Quay on Ipswich’s Waterfront, Ryan Child said he was proud of how the tournament had brought people in England together.
He said: “I feel like the team is so much more to do with the nation now that I just feel sad for the players, and I never really have before.
“I think that in retrospect they have done really well. It sets them up nicely. Germany got to the semis in a World Cup and then they won Euros and then they won the World Cup afterwards – there’s hope!”
Regarding England’s trendsetting manager Gareth Southgate, he added: “He’s been great getting the players together as a unit. Next year I’m just wondering what he’s going to wear more than anything. Hopefully a knitted sweater, to change things up.”
Fans were mixed in their reaction as to whether they would be watching England take on Belgium in the third place play-off.
Mr Child added: “Will I watch the final? Probably not. I might catch it but I am not going to watch the third place game anyway, because I don’t really care anymore.”
One fan said: “I could not think of anything worse.”
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