David Baddiel does not think football is coming home, based on England’s performance so far in Euro 2024.
The Three Lions singer appeared on The One Show but was dismissive of England’s chances in the UEFA football tournament. He told hosts Alex Jones and Anita Rani that he does not feel like England will be bring football home in the Euros. But added, crossing his fingers: “Let’s hope.”
Baddiel appeared on The One Show to talk to hosts Alex Jones and Anita Rani about his new memoir.
The comedian and writer penned football anthem Three Lions with comedy partner Frank Skinner and Ian Broudie of Brit pop band the Lightening Seeds. Three Lions was originally recorded for the Euro 1996 tournament, in which England were knocked out in the semi-finals by Germany.
Asked about the track rising back up the charts during Euro 2024 he said: “I think that football at the moment isn’t quite coming home, is it? It’s not even packed its suitcase. It’s not that early, it’s been three games. But none the less, let’s hope.”
The TV presenter and football fan also confessed that the day he realised Three Lions had been embraced by England fans as a football anthem was the “best day of my life”, superseding the birth of his children.
Baddiel recalled being at Wembley stadium in Euro 1996. He said: “The song came out, it went to Number One, then it got knocked off by The Fugees. England, again like now, were not playing well. Again they disappointed. We drew in Switzerland and second game in that tournament, we’re playing Scotland – not very good in the first half. Then Gary McAllister misses a penalty. Gaza scores one of the best goals of all time, we win two – nil. As the team go off, the DJ puts the song on and the whole crowd joins in. And it was such an unbelievable moment, ’cause we didn’t know at that point me and Frank that the nation had taken our song to heart.
“You know, people say that the best day of your life is when your Children are born. Forget that = that was the best day of my life. It was! Even recounting it. It was amazing. It was so experience.”
Baddiel revealed he has been the victim of scams in the past, when he paid for luxury football packages that turned out not to be what they were promised.
Watchdog’s Matt Allwright highlighted the plight of some Scotland fans who had paid thousands of pounds to travel to Germany believing they would watch Euro 2024 matches live, only to find themselves watching it on a big screen. The scam packages were traced to a company called Football Roadtrips, which as rebranded as EFX, the European Football Experience. The company is going into liquidation, but Watchdog has managed to secure refunds for some viewers.
Baddiel said: “It’s terrible, I actually myself, back in the day, have done the same thing, where I’ve paid for a package and it hasn’t been at all what it was supposed to be. There’s a lot of that goes on with football packages so I think it is really great you’ve managed to shine some light on it.”
The One Show airs on BBC One at 7pm Monday to Friday, but has been moved to BBC Two on some days during the Euros.
The Euro 2024 final will take place on Sunday 14 July.
