‘Whitewash’: Former Sun editor hits out at lack of Sterling coverage ahead of Euros final

A former Sun editor has hit out at newspapers for featuring “entirely white front pages” ahead of this evening’s Euro2020 final.

England face Italy in a much-anticipated clash today as the Three Lions go into their first major final in 55 years at Wembley looking to land a maiden European Championship title.

The player of the tournament so far has been Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling whose goals against Croatia and the Czech Republic gave England safe passage through the group stages.

He also forced Simon Kjaer to put the ball into his own net for the equaliser against Denmark and won the decisive penalty in extra-time following a blistering performance.

Sterling shunned

But in spite of his heroics, Sterling was largely shunned ahead of the final on front pages, with captain Harry Kane, who has had a somewhat indifferent tournament, widely featured instead.

The front page of tomorrow's Sunday Telegraph:

'I hope history records not only your success but also the spirit, commitment and pride with which you conduct yourselves'#TomorrowsPapersToday

Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4Oomry pic.twitter.com/IWjGPK2Zaw

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) July 10, 2021

Tomorrow’s #frontpage – A proud country is watching, lads… time to take your place in history – CAESAR MOMENT#tomorrowspaperstoday

Read more: https://t.co/nZepgvqXqd pic.twitter.com/dq8sXNj9ha

— Daily Star (@dailystar) July 10, 2021

MAIL ON SUNDAY: Queen and William: come on England! #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/3WJWegaXmF

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) July 10, 2021

Tomorrow’s #frontpage – FOR QUEEN AND COUNTRY! Her Majesty salutes the ‘spirit, commitment and pride of Gareth Southgate’s band of brothers and hopes for glorious repeat of 1966!#TomorrowsPapersToday

Read more: https://t.co/trb6Wzes4V pic.twitter.com/OfFKSLwM3w

— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) July 10, 2021

Yelland

Former Sun editor David Yelland reacted fiercely to the coverage, telling newspaper bosses to “try better”.

If I was still editing I’d have put @sterling7 on my front page today and certainly ensured I did not have an entirely white front page. Sadly fully half of the papers have only white faces, unconscious bias at best. Try better tomorrow? ???????❤️??

— David Yelland (@davidyelland) July 11, 2021

After England’s win over Germany there was vocal calls to plaster “talisman” Sterling across front pages.

Unfortunately, they too fell on deaf ears, with Harry Kane and Prince George dominating the newspaper coverage.

Stick this on your front page of your newspaper tomorrow, our talisman, our King pic.twitter.com/2Ed0t6thdL

— Sophie Levin (@sophielevin11) June 29, 2021

Related: Petition launched to rename ‘London’ ‘Sterlingrad’ if England win euros