England suffered yet another agonizing defeat in the Euro 2024 final, falling 2-1 to Spain thanks to a late goal by Mikel Oyarzabal in the 86th minute. The loss left the players devastated, with Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid particularly distraught. He stormed off the pitch, kicking a drinks cooler in frustration, and later sat contemplatively on the England bench, gazing out at the pitch.
Jude Bellingham kicked a drinks cooler in frustration after England’s loss to Spain
Bellingham eventually returned to the pitch, where he was consoled by England captain Harry Kane and manager Gareth Southgate. The 21-year-old played a crucial role in England’s journey to the final, including a stunning overhead kick that kept them alive in the dying moments of their last-16 tie against Slovakia.
A furious Bellingham sat thoughtfully on the bench as Spain’s players celebrated their triumph
Despite his emotions, Bellingham had calmed down by the time of the medal presentation, but he was visibly upset as he walked past the Euro 2024 trophy. Like many players on the losing side, he quickly removed his medal. After the match, Bellingham described the defeat as ‘cruel’ and ‘heartbreaking.’ He acknowledged that England didn’t play their best game but felt they had gotten back into it before being ‘sucker-punched’ by the late goal.
Bellingham returned to the pitch and received consolation from Harry Kane and Gareth Southgate
Bellingham also played a part in England’s equalizer, setting up Cole Palmer with a brilliant pass despite being off-balance. England manager Gareth Southgate praised his team’s efforts, acknowledging that Spain was the better side but expressing his devastation at the loss. He felt they had momentum and a chance to equalize at the end but ultimately didn’t do enough to secure the victory.
England fell short again in the European Championship final against a dominant Spain
Like many losing finalists, Bellingham promptly removed his medal after the presentation