England manager Gareth Southgate remained still and solitary, lost in contemplation as a familiar sight played out before him and his team at the iconic Olympiastadion in Berlin.
The final scenes played out on another story of valiant England’s defeat, with Spain celebrating a well-earned 2-1 victory as Euro 2024 crowned its deserving champions in Luis de la Fuente’s exceptional team.
Southgate, who then turned to comfort his devastated players, experienced his fourth consecutive major tournament where England came agonizingly close but ultimately fell short – a recurring theme throughout his eight-year tenure as manager Thapcamtv.
Labeling Southgate and England as almost-managers and an almost-team might appear harsh, but their persistent failure to seize crucial opportunities, as seen in each of those tournaments, invites such criticism.
Southgate was left to confront the stark reality: Spain were simply superior
Beside Southgate stood a dejected Harry Kane, England’s captain, at the conclusion of a turbulent Euro 2024 journey. Despite sharing the Golden Boot, Kane’s performances appeared labored, prompting concerns that age might be catching up with the team’s leading goalscorer of all time.
Kane, initially a fitness concern before the tournament, managed to score three goals at Euro 2024. However, his performance fell significantly below his usual high standards throughout his illustrious career. Consequently, it came as little surprise when he was substituted by Ollie Watkins in the 61st minute. Meanwhile, England’s supporters had been vocal in their calls for the Aston Villa striker’s inclusion since early in the second half.
While Southgate has made four unsuccessful attempts to end a 60-year sequence without success for the men’s team, another opportunity for Kane to secure his first career trophy has sadly slipped away.
As England prepares to depart after a tournament marked by sporadic peaks, both Southgate and Kane will have plenty to reflect upon. Their journey was fraught with close calls, narrowly avoiding defeat against Slovakia in the round of 16 and staging comebacks against Switzerland in the quarterfinals and the Netherlands in the semifinals to secure their spot in the final.
Southgate admitted he held onto hope the night preceding the championship match, but was confronted with harsh reality as Spain demonstrated their superior skill against England. There’s no disgrace in this defeat, yet the disparity in quality and innovation between the teams was glaring and humbling.
England couldn’t execute their usual comeback strategy against a formidable Spain team. Despite substitute Cole Palmer equalizing Nico Williams’ early goal, England couldn’t mount a late resurgence, as Mikel Oyarzabal sealed Spain’s victory with a decisive goal just four minutes from the final whistle.
It was an opportunity for Southgate and England to rewrite history and secure a place among the legends, a chance to redeem themselves after the heartbreak of losing the Euro 2020 final to Italy on penalties at Wembley. However, the outcome remained unchanged, echoing a familiar narrative.
England’s most recent letdown joins a list that includes the aforementioned defeat, along with the semi-final loss to Croatia in the 2018 World Cup and the quarter-final disappointment against France in the 2022 World Cup.
Southgate understandably declined to address his future at this moment, but it would come as a surprise if he chose to continue into another tournament, given that four previous attempts have ended without success.
He deserves recognition and admiration for guiding England to the latter stages of major tournaments and rebuilding their reputation. However, there’s a growing sentiment that it might be time for new voices to inject fresh energy into a talented squad that has frequently fallen short.
Euro 2024 has been a challenging journey for Southgate, despite his team making it to the final.
Being keenly aware of the risks of becoming a polarizing figure and a detrimental influence on England, Southgate was visibly affected by the personal abuse he endured, such as having three plastic beer cups thrown towards him following the draw with Slovenia Bongdalu.
The rifts with England’s supporters were temporarily bridged with their advancement to the final, yet these factors will weigh heavily in his decision-making process in the days ahead.
The stalwart, leader, and source of inspiration—now doubts loom over Kane
In an unexpected twist at the beginning of Euro 2024, doubts now surround Kane—once considered the cornerstone, leader, and driving force of the Southgate era.
Was Euro 2024 merely an unfortunate tournament for a world-class player, battling both fatigue from a demanding season with Bayern Munich and nursing an injury? Or does it signify the beginning of a decline, suggesting his prime years may be behind him?
Kane’s displays in Germany could have justified his omission against Spain, especially given Watkins’ impressive performance in the semi-final. However, benching your captain, a proven match-winner, for a European Championship final is easier said than done.
Considering Kane’s track record, he remained the player Southgate relied on for crucial opportunities. However, Kane’s limited mobility and signs of fatigue meant he struggled to find himself in scoring positions during the match.
The striker, who has amassed 66 goals for England, had just 13 touches in Berlin, prompting Southgate to make a decision that few would have anticipated before Euro 2024: substituting him off in a closely contested match.
Kane’s endurance issues are highlighted by the troubling fact that he has now been substituted five times during matches in Germany. It appears evident that he could benefit greatly from an extended break to reignite his waning form.
England’s performance in Germany has been largely uninspiring, but credit must be given to the resilience instilled by Southgate and the individual brilliance shown by Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, and Watkins. Despite not hitting top form, their journey to the final remains a commendable achievement.
Southgate addressed the physical challenges that affected England’s squad, yet he also acknowledged his initial midfield selections were flawed in the first three games. This included the unsuccessful attempt to deploy Trent Alexander-Arnold in an unfamiliar position and the decision to substitute Conor Gallagher at halftime during the Slovenia match.
The change to a three-man defensive setup, followed by a return to a back four against Spain, showed some effectiveness but also suggested a lack of clarity in strategy.
Regardless of Southgate’s future, England’s squad might require further adjustments considering Kyle Walker and Kieran Trippier, aged 34 and 33 respectively, are likely approaching the conclusion of their international careers.
The younger talents like Bellingham, Phil Foden, Kobbie Mainoo, Cole Palmer, Anthony Gordon, and Adam Wharton bring rich promise and hope for the future. Meanwhile, John Stones and Jordan Pickford displayed near flawless performances in Germany, providing strong contributions from defense and goalkeeping.
Southgate’s future involvement in England’s rebuilding process is uncertain, and Kane’s fitness and performance will face intense scrutiny following a disappointing tournament.
On the eve of the Euro 2024 final, Southgate openly expressed his deep desire to win, stating that he wanted it “so badly it hurts” — yet both he and England found themselves once more grappling with the familiar sting of defeat.