England’s memorable journey at Euro 2024 came to an end as they were outplayed by a superior Spain side in the final. Despite a brilliant individual moment from Cole Palmer, who added to the impressive goals scored by Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Ollie Watkins earlier in the tournament, it wasn’t enough to secure the trophy.
England’s resilience, commitment, and memorable moments brought the country together and allowed us to dream once again. However, their football was not good enough to break the 60-year trophy drought, and they fell short of showcasing the best of their talent and game to the rest of Europe.
Gareth Southgate deserves credit for bringing England back to respectability and competitiveness, but there are still steps to be taken, which may require a change in management. England’s ability to hold off the tide of inevitability and convention was impressive, but Spain proved to be the better team, showcasing their classic style of play and remaining calm under pressure.
While England made the country dream, they were ultimately a team of champion moments, falling short of being a champion team like Spain. We thank England for the ride and look towards the future with realism, acknowledging that there is still work to be done to reach the top.
One final time, England gave us a picture-book moment at Euro 2024. Cole Palmer, a gifted young player, scored a goal to add to the collection of brilliant and memorable goals scored by Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Ollie Watkins.
However, this time, a single moment of brilliance was not enough. Summer tournaments are not won by individual moments of genius; they are won by great teams, and Spain was the only great team at this tournament in Germany. England has not yet reached that level.
England has shown resilience, determination, and increasing commitment and unity throughout this tournament. They have given us memorable moments and flashes of real joy. They allowed us to hope and brought us together once again, dreaming of something fantastical in fan parks, pubs, and living rooms across the country.
However, did they play good enough football to break the cursed trophy drought that England has endured for nearly 60 years? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Not even close.
Did they play the way we had hoped they would? Did they showcase the best of English talent and football to the rest of Europe? Did they demonstrate how sophisticated English football has become in recent years? Again, the answer is no. We will have to wait for someone to unlock the puzzle of how to bring English players to a summer tournament in peak condition and with the right amount of freshness.
England’s Euro 2024 journey ended with a defeat to a superior Spain side in the final.
Cole Palmer provided a moment of brilliance, but it wasn’t enough for England.
Jude Bellingham’s frustration was evident after the final whistle.
Gareth Southgate’s side almost proved that individual moments can win a summer tournament, but a great Spain team proved too strong.
Gareth Southgate has brought England back to respectability, but there are still steps to be taken, which may require a change in management.
We owe Gareth Southgate a debt of gratitude for his contributions. He has restored England to a position of respectability and competitiveness, and we should be forever grateful for his efforts. He has moved our national team forward in numerous ways, and we will recognize the significance of his impact in the future.
However, this summer has likely revealed that there are still significant steps to be taken, and they may be more substantial than we initially thought. To be honest, these steps should be taken now by a new England manager.
In this magnificent, magical, and historic arena, we witnessed a thrilling and absorbing game of football. However, the first half was far from a great final.
England played to their strengths, employing a direct style of football reminiscent of the Premier League. They mixed it up, going long at times and battling for second balls. They matched Spain man for man in midfield, and it worked. Credit to Southgate for that. Spain failed to register a single shot on target in the first half.
After halftime, the game became a mini-classic, but only because England refused to let go of their belief that they could win. Spain played brilliantly in the second half, with their two wide players, Nico Williams and the remarkable teenager Lamine Yamal, taking control of the contest. The first goal was a geometrically beautiful move, a wonderful combination of passing and movement.
From that point on, Spain should have dominated. They were far superior, and England’s performance between halftime and the hour mark, when the sluggish and leggy Harry Kane was replaced by Watkins, was arguably their worst of the entire tournament. Spain scored once and could have scored four times during that period. England looked exposed and disorganized. Declan Rice and young Kobbie Mainoo were bewildered, and Marc Guehi, who had been solid all month, looked genuinely discombobulated for the first time.
And yet, England found a way to score with their second shot of the game, and we were not surprised. Slovakia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands had all experienced England’s ability to strike back, and now Spain had felt it too. But this time, it was not enough to turn the tide.
Nico Williams’ goal for Spain showcased their brilliant style of play.
England struggled at the start of the second half, playing some of their worst football of the tournament.
England’s ability to hold off the tide of inevitability and convention throughout this tournament has been remarkable. They played four knockout games and fell behind in all of them. It has been an exhilarating ride, but deep down, we knew that a team good enough and calm enough to withstand England’s storm would eventually emerge, and that team was Spain.
Spain were fabulous to watch in the second half. The pace, angles, and overloads they created were straight out of the classic Spanish playbook. While this Spain team may not be as dominant as the 2008, 2010, or 2012 squads, they remain a very good side, and their bravery cannot be understated.
England’s previous opponents had crumbled under the pressure of their comebacks. They had not been able to mentally withstand the knowledge that they were being countered by a team that appeared dead and buried. But Spain showed their class and remained calm under pressure.
While this Spain team may not be as dominant as their vintage predecessors, they are still a force to be reckoned with.
England made the country dream, but they were a team of champion moments, not a champion team.
We congratulate Luis de la Fuente and his players on their victory, and we now view England with a sense of realism that often follows big match losses. Winning Euro 2024 would have been something wonderful, and we would have forgiven England for anything had they brought home that beautiful trophy.
However, the truth is that England has scraped through this tournament, scavenging for results like a thief in the night. It has been fascinating and exhilarating, breeding love, hope, and optimism. But it would be wrong to ignore the fact that England has played pauper’s football for much of the tournament, and this is the starting point from which we must build for the future.
Consider this: if you were to select a team of the tournament from all 24 competing nations, how many England players would make the cut? Perhaps none. This tells us a lot about where England is currently and where they need to go from here.
Thank you, England, for making us dream. But Spain is a champion team, and England is a team of champion moments. There is a significant difference between the two.