England supporters were left bewildered by an unusual occurrence during Gareth Southgate’s post-match interview with the BBC, as the broadcast abruptly switched to a feed from Spanish television.
The England manager’s interview followed his team’s unfortunate loss in the European Championship final, where Mikel Oyarzabal’s decisive goal in the 86th minute secured Spain’s fourth championship title.
However, as Southgate began to share his thoughts on the match, the feed was interrupted, leaving viewers perplexed. Many fans took to social media to express their surprise and humor at the unexpected turn of events, while some drew connections between the interruption and the outcome of the final.
Gareth Southgate experienced an unexpected interruption during his post-match interview with the BBC.
Mikel Oyarzabal’s late goal secured the victory for Spain, marking their fourth European Championship title.
“Southgate’s interview begins, and the coverage switches to a Spanish interview… WTF, BBC?” exclaimed one astonished England fan on Twitter. Another fan commented, “I can’t believe the BBC cut off Southgate’s interview after ONE SENTENCE. I’m in shock.” A third fan added, “The BBC broadcast is atrocious. They cut out Southgate mid-sentence. Unacceptable.”
Others joined in the joke, with one user tweeting, “Spanish TV stealing the feed from the English broadcast,” while another quipped, “The BBC cutting from Southgate’s interview to Morata’s is absolutely hilarious.”
Luis de la Fuente’s team dominated the match in Berlin, showcasing their skills from the outset. England found their footing toward the end of the first half, but Spain maintained their lead throughout the game. Nico Williams scored the first goal for Spain early in the second half, but Cole Palmer’s impressive finish in the 73rd minute brought England back into the game. However, Oyarzabal’s late goal sealed the deal for Spain, securing their victory.
England fans took to social media to share their reactions to the broadcasting mishap, with mixed opinions.
Cole Palmer’s impressive finish brought England back into the game, but it wasn’t enough to secure the victory.
Eventually, the full interview with Southgate was aired, in which he acknowledged Spain’s superior performance and declined to confirm his future as England’s manager. He told the BBC, “I think they were the best team in the tournament. We didn’t keep possession well enough, but we were in it until the very end. I am devastated for everyone; the players have been incredible, and I am so proud.”
He added, “We had a bit of momentum and even had a big chance to equalize at the end, but I’m not sure we did quite enough. Against Spain, you have to maintain possession when you win the ball back. We did well defensively in the first half, but it took a lot out of our legs.”
Southgate also addressed the challenges faced by the team, saying, “There’s no denying that we’ve had a lot of issues to deal with. We’ve managed to overcome most of them, but we fell short. The players deserve enormous credit for bringing us so close. I am proud of how they fought and represented their country with pride, never giving up until the very last.”
Spain celebrated their record-breaking fourth European Championship title after defeating England in a thrilling final.
Southgate concluded the interview by saying, “England is in a great position with a talented, young squad that will be around for the next World Cup. There’s a lot to look forward to, but that’s no consolation right now.”
With Sunday’s defeat, England now holds the unfortunate distinction of being the first team to lose back-to-back European Championship finals.