‘Got to be the worst national anthem performance I’ve EVER watched’: England fans not happy after God Save the King was ‘butchered’ ahead of Italy clash in Naples
- England’s national anthem was criticised by supporters ahead of the match
- Singer inside the Diego Armando Maradona stadium appeared to have trouble
- European Championship 2024 qualifying opener being held in southern Italy
England supporters have bemoaned the rendition of their national anthem effort at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium after the singer appeared to experience some difficulties.
Going first, the singer inside the ground missed the opening note before appearing to fiddle with her ear piece with a look of nervousness etched across her face.
With the camera having panned to the England team lined up alongside their Italian counterparts, the players appeared somewhat lost amid the confusion and the rendition of God Save the King could scarcely be heard.
Jude Bellingham, in particular, appeared to look down the line and then back again at the singer with a look of bemusement.
Reacting to the effort on social media, England supporters decried the singer, with some labelling it the ‘worst’ effort they had ever heard.
The singer in Naples appeared to experience some technical difficulties when beginning her rendition
England’s players and staff were left equally bemused by the ‘butchered’ national anthem effort
The England players and fans stood there bemused as the singer struggled to get the words out
Former Tottenham defender-turned-broadcaster Jamie O’Hara said labelled the effort a ‘shambles’.
He wrote: ‘Wow national anthem was a shambles.’
‘Wow. Got to be the worst national anthem performance I’ve ever watched,’ one wrote.
‘Wanted for crimes against the national anthem,’ another joked.
Another supporter called for England to go out and ‘stuff’ Italy after the rendition, accusing the singer of ‘butchering’ her effort.
‘England must surely go out and stuff Italy after that brutally butchered attempted at the National Anthem,’ they wrote.
‘Jeezo, how embarrassing.’
Another continued along the ‘butchered’ theme, writing: ‘I’ve never heard the national anthem so butchered in my life.’
‘National anthem ruined. Nice one,’ another wrote.
While one other supporter said it sounded as if the singer were being ‘forced’ to offer her own rendition.
‘Wtf is this national anthem she sounds like she’s being forced to sing it,’ they suggested.
Another fan was more coy, but appeared to offer the same critique as many others online. ‘Strange rendition of the national anthem this…’ they pondered.
Meanwhile, another supporter simply labelled the effort ’embarrassing’.
‘Whoever this is singing the national anthem for England is embarrassing. Disgraceful,’ they wrote.
Italy’s national anthem was not saved mockery, however. Performed by Naples natives Gigi D’Allesio and rapper, Clementino, it was altered to be a jumped-up hip-hop rendition, which appeared to leave the ground equally as bemused.
‘This poor woman singing on the pitch absolutely butchering the English national anthem then two blokes absolutely murder the Italian national anthem what is going on,’ one observer wrote.
‘England national anthem butchered by someone who didn’t know the tune, words or timing and the Italian anthem sang by the Italian Dick & Dom with the tune changed & played via a 1990s karaoke machine,’ another echoed.
Vivienne Miedema, of Arsenal and Holland women, appeared to suggest she was enjoying the differing version of the Italy anthem.
England supporters – significantly outnumbered inside the ground – tried their best to rouse a passable rendition
Declan Rice gave England the lead early on in the first half with a deflected strike from a corner
However, a mischievous social media user suggested that there could have been some foul play at hand with the ‘sound guys’ inside the ground.
‘The sound guy when he’s asked to explain why the Italian national anthem ran so much smoother than for England,’ they joked.
In spite of the bizarre anthem rendition, England’s opening European Championship qualifying game got off to the perfect start after Declan Rice gave Gareth Southgate’s side the lead early on in the first half.
It capped what had been an impressive start for the World Cup quarter-finalists, before Harry Kane became England’s all-time leading scorer with an effort from the spot.
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