Spain beat England to win Euros reaction - Southgate future, Three Lions return (2024)

Bellingham frustration laid bare

England travel message

England's players and staff will be travelling back on a charter flight and will leave the airport via a private terminal, so there will not be an opportunity for the public to greet them on arrival. We thank you, our incredible fans for all of your supporter throught the tournament.

Southgate lifts lid on Kane

England boss Southgate once again highlighted that Kane came into the tournament off the back of an injury but praised his leadership following defeat to Spain.

Southgate revealed he replaced England's captain to introduce a forward who would run in behind Spain's backline.

Ouch"

Former Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini was in attendance last night and it appeared to spark some memories.

“It takes me back, seeing the English so enthusiastic and happy, remembering how quickly their mood can change," said the former Juventus star before the game.

Carragher defends Southgate

Jamie Carragher believes England's stars must first look at themselves before Southgate takes any blame for the Three Lions' defeat last night.

The former Liverpool defender doesn't believe the big players turned up at Euro 2024.

Damning statistic

Across England's two Euros finals, Harry Kane has managed just one touch in the opposition area. That is one fewer than Jack Grealish who played 21 minutes against Italy in 2021.

Harsh words for Harry

Time - and some frank reflection - will tell if he had been carrying a physical problem through this tournament but to see him labour on the grandest stage was sad. And to see Gareth Southgate persevere for over an hour with a labouring Kane was to see an England coach indulging a big name at the risk of his team’s chances of lifting a major trophy. Simple as that.

In the wake of this agonising defeat, Kane should not be pilloried. Absolutely not. Who had been, for four weeks, the leader of this fantastic bunch of players? Harry Kane.

There is, though, no glossing over Kane’s ineffectiveness in this biggest of games. That Kane had more first half touches in his penalty area than he did in Spain’s penalty area told you all you need to know.

Shearer tips Southgate exit

Alan Shearer believes that Gareth Southgate has managed his last England game, having fallen short in the final of Euro 2024.

“I suspect he might say ‘over to someone else’. I suspect it will be Southgate’s last game,” said Shearer.

“There will be great disappointment at home. Yes, we could have played more attacking football, but they have got to the final – but when you are here, you have got to get over the line.

“The reality is he got us to a final three years ago (at Euro 2020) and got us to a final here, and hasn’t won. That will hurt him and maybe he will think it’s time for someone else.”

Good morning

It's the morning after the night before.

More hearbreak for England and Gareth Southgate.

We'll continue to bring you all the reaction as the Three Lions return home.

Goodnight

Right that's all from us on what has been a difficult night.

We'll be back tomorrow with all the latest as the fallout begins.

All eyes will be on Southgate and his next move.

Watkins backs Southgate's England record

The future of Southgate may be a subject of debate but Watkins has made his views clear as he underlined the manager's success as England boss.

He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “He brings a real togetherness. It is a tight-knit group, so close. Since he has come in, he has been the most successful England manager there is. I think he deserves a lot more praise than he gets.

“Back to back finals. He deserves a lot of credit – his record speaks for itself. I would have loved for us to win tonight because he deserves it more than anyone, him and Steve Holland. I am really gutted.”

More from Southgate as he reflects on England's final loss

He said: "The players have pushed it until the 85th minute of the final game. They couldn't have given any more

"I told the players I am very proud of them. They couldn't give the country any more and ultimately we lost to the better side.

"So many of our players came into the camp having missed the end of the season. That physical toll was definitely an issue for us - but that's exacerbated when you don't keep the ball.

"You have to hold your hands up and admit Spain were better. I think the team have done the country proud by reaching the first final away from England and the second final in succession.

"But we had an opportunity to win - and we haven't been able to take it."

Van der Vaart hammers Rice

Van der Vaart, the ex-Dutch international, hammered England after they beat the Netherlands in the last four just days ago.

Now, after Spain downed the English in the final of the Euros, he's taken aim at Rice for his performances throughout the tournament.

He told NOS: "€100M for Declan Rice. What does he do? He comes to collect a ball only to pass it back to John Stones. He is useless. If you are truly worth €100M, then you should be able to play a ball forward."

Southgate's loyalty to Kane costs him

It would have been a brave man not to start Harry Kane in this final but, with hindsight, Gareth Southgate’s loyalty to his captain has cost him dear.

There have been doubts about the skipper’s fitness from day one and he did nothing in Berlin to dispel those doubts.

A bold call from the manager would have been to hook Kane at half-time. Ironically, Kane shares the Golden Boot award and there is no doubt he has led this England team with his usual distinction and class.

But on the pitch, this was a night to forget. Expect to hear more details of how he was always struggling with a physical problem.

Carragher takes aim at players - not Southgate

Sven played 442, Fabio was too strict, Gareth is too defensive!
Funny how it’s always on the manager isn’t it?!!
The fact is our big players didn’t turn up in this tournament. And other tournaments going back years.

— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) July 14, 2024

Some words from Palmer

The super sub said: "Spain have been brilliant all tournament, they're a great team and congratulations.

On the narrow loss he added: "We got to another final so positives to take, but everyone wanted to go one step further and disappointed we didn't."

Keane delivers ruthless verdict on England

The former Man Utd captain told ITV: "The best team won tonight and the best team won the tournament. They've got a lovely mix, they've got pace, they've got youth, they've got experience. They've got talent and have worked their socks off."

On England, he added: "What they lacked tonight is quality. They've lacked quality maybe throughout the tournament, probably that fight and desire, options off the bench that got them to the final. But when you're watching it, and again I've always said top level sport is brutal, it really is.

"We've lost big games. Sometimes the opposition are just better than you. Spain were excellent. We're talking about options off the bench, those boys done okay. They deserved it. To win seven games in a row, that's amazing."

Read more here.

Some reflections by our man in Berlin.

The heartbreak and agony gets worse and more painful each time.

Another defeat in a Euros final will not stop us dreaming but it will leave us wondering whether England’s time will ever come. Gareth Southgate and his heroic England players still deserve praise after their remarkable rollercoaster ride to the final in Berlin’s Olympiastadion.

But that will not offer any consolation to the players who slumped to their knees on the pitch at the end as a chance to write their names into English football folklore passed them by. Instead, England’s men only have the memories of the 1966 World Cup triumph which now seems further away than ever. It’s 58 years of hurt and counting.

Ultimately, England were second best in a final dominated by Spain’s wingers Nico Williams and their teen sensation Lamine Yamal.

Read the full piece here.

Maguire remains determined

He didn't make the Euros due to injury, but is adamant England's moment can still come.

I’m gutted We will go again.

Congratulations to Spain, the best team won. You’ve been brilliant to watch all tournament.

— Harry Maguire (@HarryMaguire93) July 14, 2024

Southgate refuses to be drawn on his future

He told ITV: "I don’t think now is a good time to make a decision like that. I need to talk to the right people. It’s not for now."

Some words from the King

Although victory may have eluded you this evening, nevertheless my wife and I join all my family in urging you and your support team to hold your heads high. All those who have participated in sporting activities at any level will know how utterly despairing such a result can feel when the prize was so near - and will join me in sending heartfelt sympathy, even as we congratulate Spain.

"But please know that your success in reaching the European Championship final is a really great achievement in itself, and one that brings with it the pride of a nation which will continue to roar for the Three Lions today – and in the many triumphs which I have no doubt lie ahead.

Charles R

Southgate speaks out

He said: "I think we've competed until the very end. I think today we didn't keep the ball well enough, especially when we defended well. You've got to get out of the pressure and we couldn't do it which meant they had more control, which wears you down.

"A big chance at the end to equalise so it is fine margins, but I think they were the best team in the tournament and I think they deserved to win."

Southgate also confessed: "There's a disadvantage to having a day less to prepare, but at 80 mins we were still in. It'll take some time to pick all the bones out of it."

The England boss admitted that Kane didn't reach the level they'd hoped.

Spain rejoice as Euro champions

Kane's final heartache

Kane has endured another final that didn't go his way as his wait for a winner's medal goes on.

The stats don't make for great reading as he struggled to make an impact.

In the 181 minutes he played across both the Euro 2020 and 2024 finals, he had just one shot, one touch in the opposition box and had just 58 touches of the ball.

"We are the champions" is playing in Berlin. If only!

Some Spanish dominance

Only once before had a country won the Euros in the same year a team from their country won the Champions League.

That was back in 1988 when the Netherlands won the Euros and PSV conquered Europe.

This year Spain have emulated them with Real Madrid landing Champions League glory.

It is also a fourth Spanish success at the Euros - the most of any country in history.

England collect their medals

The likes of Kane, Foden, Bellingham, Stones and Pickford have all picked up a runners-up medal at the Euros for the second time in three years.

They're not getting their hands on the prize they want.

Southgate walks off with his medal around his neck. His future will dominate over the coming days.

Rodri named Player of the Tournament

The Man City man literally doesn't know how to lose.

He came off in the final, but he's been a linchpin at the base of the Spanish midfield.

A simply sensational player.

Some words from captain Kane

He said: "Losing in a final is as tough as it gets. We done well to get back to 1-1 but we couldn't use that momentum to push on. We couldn't keep the ball and we got punished for it late on, as painful as it can be in a football match."

The Bayern star reflected on his and the team's tournament: "It has been a tough tournament, we've needed to show a lot of resilience. Ultimately we were going to be judged on this game, we wanted to do it for us and the fans and just a huge disappointment."

Kane also claimed it "wasn't the time" to talk about Southgate's future.

Jude's frustration boils over

He won La Liga, he won the Champions League and victory in the Euros might have set him up for the Ballon d'Or.

Instead Bellingham endured a difficult tournament and frustration clearly got the better of him.

Is that it for Southgate?

There's no way he'll be drawn on his future tonight, at least I doubt it, but there was a lot of talk about whether this would be Southgate's farewell.

He claimed he hadn't made a decision but he's had four gos in major tournaments and hasn't quite been able to get it done.

The nation adore him and all he's done, but we know that all good things come to an end eventually.