London’s Metropolitan Police said on Monday that they would investigate “offensive and racist social media comments being directed towards footballers,” following the game, which England lost to Italy after three players — Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka — missed penalty kicks... “This England team deserve to be lauded as heroes, not racially abused on social media,” Mr. Johnson declared on Twitter. “Those responsible for this appalling abuse should be ashamed of themselves.” Others called on Twitter and Instagram to crack down on the use of their platforms to traffic in racist language and tropes. Some pointed out that the England players had made campaigning for a more just and equitable society a central part of their message, kneeling before games to protest racial injustice.